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Instagram and Facebook are stalking you on websites accessed through their apps. What can you do about it?

<p>Social media platforms have had some bad <a href="https://theconversation.com/concerns-over-tiktok-feeding-user-data-to-beijing-are-back-and-theres-good-evidence-to-support-them-186211" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press</a> in recent times, largely prompted by the vast extent of their data collection. Now Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has upped the ante.</p> <p>Not content with following every move you make on its apps, Meta has reportedly devised a way to also know everything you do in external websites accessed <em>through</em> its apps. Why is it going to such lengths? And is there a way to avoid this surveillance?</p> <p><strong>‘Injecting’ code to follow you</strong></p> <p>Meta has a custom in-app browser that operates on Facebook, Instagram and any website you might click through to from both these apps.</p> <p>Now ex-Google engineer and privacy researcher Felix Krause has discovered this proprietary browser has additional program code inserted into it. Krause developed a tool that <a href="https://krausefx.com/blog/ios-privacy-instagram-and-facebook-can-track-anything-you-do-on-any-website-in-their-in-app-browser?utm_source=tldrnewsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> Instagram and Facebook added up to 18 lines of code to websites visited through Meta’s in-app browsers.</p> <p>This “code injection” enables user tracking and overrides tracking restrictions that browsers such as Chrome and Safari have in place. It allows Meta to collect sensitive user information, including “every button and link tapped, text selections, screenshots, as well as any form inputs, like passwords, addresses and credit card numbers”.</p> <p>Krause published his <a href="https://krausefx.com/blog/ios-privacy-instagram-and-facebook-can-track-anything-you-do-on-any-website-in-their-in-app-browser?utm_source=tldrnewsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">findings</a> online on August 10, including samples of the <a href="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/pcm.js" target="_blank" rel="noopener">actual code</a>.</p> <p>In response, Meta has said it isn’t doing anything users didn’t consent to. A Meta spokesperson said:</p> <blockquote> <p>We intentionally developed this code to honour people’s [Ask to track] choices on our platforms […] The code allows us to aggregate user data before using it for targeted advertising or measurement purposes.</p> </blockquote> <p>The “code” mentioned in the case is <a href="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/pcm.js" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pcm.js</a> – a script that acts to aggregate a user’s browsing activities. Meta says the script is inserted based on whether users have given consent – and information gained is used only for advertising purposes.</p> <p>So is it acting ethically? Well, the company has done due diligence by informing users of its intention to collect <a href="https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an expanded range</a> of data. However, it stopped short of making clear what the full implications of doing so would be.</p> <p>People might give their consent to tracking in a more general sense, but “informed” consent implies full knowledge of the possible consequences. And, in this case, users were not explicitly made aware their activities on other sites could be followed through a code injection.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Facebook reached out to me, saying the system they’ve built honours the user’s ATT choice.</p> <p>However, this doesn’t change anything about my publication: The Instagram iOS app is actively injecting JavaScript code into all third party websites rendered via their in-app browser. <a href="https://t.co/9h0PIoIOSS">pic.twitter.com/9h0PIoIOSS</a></p> <p>— Felix Krause (@KrauseFx) <a href="https://twitter.com/KrauseFx/status/1557777320546635776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><strong>Why is Meta doing this?</strong></p> <p>Data are the central commodity of Meta’s business model. There is astronomical value in the amount of data Meta can collect by injecting a tracking code into third-party websites opened through the Instagram and Facebook apps.</p> <p>At the same time, Meta’s business model is being threatened – and events from the recent past can help shed light on why it’s doing this in the first place.</p> <p>It boils down to the fact that Apple (which owns the Safari browser), Google (which owns Chrome) and the Firefox browser are all actively placing restrictions on Meta’s ability to collect data.</p> <p>Last year, Apple’s iOS 14.5 update came alongside a <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/privacy/control/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requirement</a> that all apps hosted on the Apple app store must get users’ explicit permission to track and collect their data across apps owned by other companies.</p> <p>Meta has <a href="https://krausefx.com/blog/ios-privacy-instagram-and-facebook-can-track-anything-you-do-on-any-website-in-their-in-app-browser?utm_source=tldrnewsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">publicly</a> said this single iPhone alert is costing its Facebook business US$10 billion each year.</p> <p>Apple’s Safari browser also applies a default setting to block all third-party “cookies”. These are little chunks of <a href="https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/definition/cookies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tracking code</a> that websites deposit on your computer and which tell the website’s owner about your visit to the site.</p> <p>Google will also soon be phasing out third-party cookies. And Firefox recently announced “total cookie protection” to prevent so-called cross-page tracking.</p> <p>In other words, Meta is being flanked by browsers introducing restrictions on extensive user data tracking. Its response was to create its own browser that circumvents these restrictions.</p> <p><strong>How can I protect myself?</strong></p> <p>On the bright side, users concerned about privacy do have some options.</p> <p>The easiest way to stop Meta tracking your external activities through its in-app browser is to simply not use it; make sure you’re opening web pages in a trusted browser of choice such as Safari, Chrome or Firefox (via the screen shown below).</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/478879/original/file-20220812-20-6je7m8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/478879/original/file-20220812-20-6je7m8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=548&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/478879/original/file-20220812-20-6je7m8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=548&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/478879/original/file-20220812-20-6je7m8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=548&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/478879/original/file-20220812-20-6je7m8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=689&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/478879/original/file-20220812-20-6je7m8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=689&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/478879/original/file-20220812-20-6je7m8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=689&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></p> <p><em><span class="caption" style="color: #999999; text-align: center;">Click ‘open in browser’ to open a website in a trusted browser such as Safari.</span><span style="color: #999999; text-align: center;"> </span><span class="attribution" style="color: #999999; text-align: center;">screenshot</span></em></p> <figure class="align-right "><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>If you can’t find this screen option, you can manually copy and paste the web address into a trusted browser.</p> <p>Another option is to access the social media platforms via a browser. So instead of using the Instagram or Facebook app, visit the sites by entering their URL into your trusted browser’s search bar. This should also solve the tracking problem.</p> <p>I’m not suggesting you ditch Facebook or Instagram altogether. But we should all be aware of how our online movements and usage patterns may be carefully recorded and used in ways we’re not told about. Remember: on the internet, if the service is free, you’re probably the product. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188645/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-tuffley-13731" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Tuffley</a>, Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics &amp; CyberSecurity, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Griffith University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/instagram-and-facebook-are-stalking-you-on-websites-accessed-through-their-apps-what-can-you-do-about-it-188645" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Digital inequality: why can I enter your building – but your website shows me the door?

<p>When people hear the term “accessibility” in the context of disability, most will see images of ramps, automatic doors, elevators, or tactile paving (textured ground which helps vision impaired people navigate public spaces). These are physical examples of inclusive practice that most people understand.</p> <p>You may even use these features yourself, for convenience, as you go about your day. However, such efforts to create an inclusive physical world aren’t being translated into designing the digital world.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A large wheelchair sign is visible to the left of a wheelchair ramp." /></a><figcaption><em><span class="caption">New buildings are required to comply with a range of physical access requirements, which may include tactile paving (seen in yellow).</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></em></figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Accessibility fails</strong></p> <p>Digital accessibility refers to the way people with a lived experience of disability interact with the cyber world.</p> <p>One example comes from an author of this article, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2019-07-13/dark-patterns-online-captcha-accessibility-disability-community/11301054" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott</a>, who is legally blind. Scott is unable to purchase football tickets online because the ticketing website uses an image-based “CAPTCHA” test. It’s a seemingly simple task, but fraught with challenges when considering accessibility issues.</p> <p>Despite Scott having an IT-related PhD, and two decades of digital accessibility experience in academic and commercial arenas, it falls on his teenage son to complete the online ticket purchase.</p> <p>Screen readers, high-contrast colour schemes and text magnifiers are all assistive technology tools that enable legally blind users to interact with websites. Unfortunately, they are useless if a website has not been designed with an inclusive approach.</p> <p>The other author of this article, Justin, uses a wheelchair for mobility and can’t even purchase wheelchair seating tickets over the web. He has to phone a special access number to do so.</p> <p>Both of these are examples of digital accessibility fails. And they’re more common than most people realise.</p> <p><strong>We can clearly do better</strong></p> <p>The term “disability” covers a spectrum of <a href="https://www.apsc.gov.au/working-aps/diversity-and-inclusion/disability/definition-disability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">physical and cognitive conditions</a>. It can can range from short-term conditions to lifelong ones.</p> <p>“Digital accessibility” applies to a broad range of users <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/people-use-web/abilities-barriers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with varying abilities</a>.</p> <p>At last count, nearly <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings/2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one in five Australians (17.7%)</a> lived with some form of disability. This figure increases significantly when you consider the physical and cognitive impacts of ageing.</p> <p>At the same time, Australians are becoming increasingly reliant on digital services. According to a <a href="https://www.pwc.com.au/consulting/connected-government/potential-of-digital-inclusion.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 survey</a> by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, 45% of respondents in New South Wales and Victoria increased their use of digital channels during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p>In contrast, research undertaken by <a href="https://www.infosys.com/australia/digital-accessibility-journey/executive-summary.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Infosys in December 2021</a> found only 3% of leading companies in Australia and New Zealand had effective digital accessibility processes.</p> <p><strong>But have we improved?</strong></p> <p>Areas that <em>have</em> shown accessibility improvement include <a href="https://blog.hootsuite.com/inclusive-design-social-media/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media platforms</a> such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, food ordering services such as <a href="https://www.afb.org/aw/20/4/16411" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uber Eats</a>, and media platforms such as the ABC News app.</p> <p>Challenges still persist in <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognizant/2022/03/03/how-to-make-online-banking-disabled-people-friendly/?sh=21a3d5dda4a5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">online banking</a>, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Websites-critiqued-on-accessibility-to-disabled-customers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">travel booking sites</a>, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahkim/2020/12/30/accessibility-of-online-shopping/?sh=66a9d883e49e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shopping sites</a> and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10209-021-00792-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">educational websites and content</a>.</p> <p>Data from the United States indicates lawsuits relating to accessibility <a href="https://www.essentialaccessibility.com/blog/web-accessibility-lawsuits">are on the rise</a>, with outcomes including financial penalties and requirements for business owners to remedy the accessibility of their website/s.</p> <p>In Australia, however, it’s often hard to obtain exact figures for the scale of accessibility complaints lodged with site owners. <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/disability-rights/publications/overlooked-consumers-20-australian-population-disabilities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This 1997 article</a> from the Australian Human Right Commission suggests the conversation hasn’t shifted much in 25 years.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><em><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=257&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=257&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=257&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=323&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=323&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=323&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A rendered illustration of a disabled man in a wheelchair and woman with a hearing aid lifting weights." /></a></em><figcaption><em><span class="caption">It’s a human right to have fair and equal access to the web and all its services.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></em></figcaption></figure> <p><strong>There are solutions at hand</strong></p> <p>There’s a clear solution to the digital divide. The World Wide Web Consortium’s <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Web Content Accessibility Guidelines</a> (WCAG) standard has been widely adopted across the globe. It’s universally available, and is a requirement for all Australian public-facing government websites.</p> <p>It guides website and app developers on how to use web languages (such as HTML and CSS) in ways that enable end users who rely on assistive technologies. There are no specialist technologies or techniques required to make websites or apps accessible. All that’s needed is an adherence to good practice.</p> <p>Unfortunately, WCAG is rarely treated as an <a href="https://www.rev.com/blog/web-accessibility-laws-australia-new-zealand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">enforceable standard</a>. All too often, adherence to WCAG requirements in Australia is reduced to a box-ticking exercise.</p> <p>Our academic work and experience liaising with a range of vendors has revealed that even where specific accessibility requirements are stated, many vendors will tick “yes” regardless of their knowledge of accessibility principles, or their ability to deliver against the standards.</p> <p>In cases where vendors do genuinely work towards WCAG compliance, they often rely on automated testing (via online tools), rather than human <a href="https://zoonou.com/resources/blog/why-automated-accessibility-testing-tools-are-not-enough/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testing</a>. As a result, genuine accessibility and usability issues can go <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262352732_Benchmarking_web_accessibility_evaluation_tools_Measuring_the_harm_of_sole_reliance_on_automated_tests" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unreported</a>. While the coding of each element of a website might be WCAG compliant, the sum of all the parts may not be.</p> <p>In 2016, the Australian government adopted <a href="https://www.accessibility.org.au/policy-and-research/australian-policy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">standard EN 301549</a> (a direct implementation of an existing European standard). It’s aimed at preventing inaccessible products (hardware, software, websites and services) entering the government’s digital ecosystem. Yet the new standard seems to have achieved little. Few, if any, references to it appear in academic literature or the public web.</p> <p>It seems to have met a similar fate to the government’s <a href="https://www.governmentnews.com.au/national-transition-strategy-web-accessibility-in-transition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Transition Strategy</a> for digital accessibility, which quietly disappeared in 2015.</p> <p><strong>The carrot, not the stick</strong></p> <p>Accessibility advocates take different approaches to advancing the accessibility agenda with reticent organisations. Some instil the fear of legal action, often citing the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1RbzjUBT1s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maguire v SOCOG case</a>, where the 2000 Olympic website was found to be inaccessible.</p> <p>In a more recent example, the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-05/blind-woman-launches-court-action-against-coles-over-its-website/5869874?nw=0&amp;r=HtmlFragment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manage v Coles settlement</a> saw Coles agree to make improvements to their website’s accessibility after being sued by a legally blind woman.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=448&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=448&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=448&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=563&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=563&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=563&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Screenshot of the top of Coles's 'accessibility' section on the company's website, with a red Coles logo on the top-left." /></a><figcaption><em><span class="caption">After getting sued by a legally blind customer in 2014, Coles made improvements to its website’s accessibility features.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Screenshot/Coles</span></span></em></figcaption></figure> <p>In the Coles case, the stick became the carrot; Coles went on to win a <a href="https://www.accessibility.org.au/award-winners-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national website accessibility award</a> after the original complainant nominated them following their remediation efforts.</p> <p>But while the financial impact of being sued might spur an organisation into action, it’s more likely to commit to genuine effort if this will generate a <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/business-case/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">positive return on investment</a>.</p> <p><strong>Accessible by default</strong></p> <p>We can attest to the common misconception that disability implies a need for help and support. Most people living with disability are seeking to live independently and with self-determination.</p> <p>To break the cycle of financial and social dependence frequently associated with the equity space, governments, corporations and educational institutions need to become accessible by default.</p> <p>The technologies and policies are all in place, ready to go. What is needed is leadership from government and non-government sectors to define digital accessibility as a right, and not a privilege. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/182432/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/scott-hollier-1337594" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott Hollier</a>, Adjunct Senior Lecturer - Science and Mathematics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Edith Cowan University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/justin-brown-1344442" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justin Brown</a>, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), School of Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Edith Cowan University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/digital-inequality-why-can-i-enter-your-building-but-your-website-shows-me-the-door-182432" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Technology

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Software engineer EASILY hacks airline website to find lost luggage

<p dir="ltr">A software engineer has shared just how easy it was – scarily so – for him to hack an airline’s system.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nandan Kumar was on a domestic flight on Indian airline IndiGo and revealed that he and a passenger had mistakenly taken each other’s bags. </p> <p dir="ltr">He tried calling IndiGo multiple times and was unsuccessful, so decided to put his skills to use and find whoever took his bag.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nandan shared the entire ordeal on Twitter, showing how easy it was to hack IndiGo’s website and find other passengers’ details. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I reached home when my wife pointed out that the bag seems to be different from ours as we don’t use key based locks in our bags,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So right after reaching home I called your customer care. After multiple calls and navigating through @IndiGo6Eand of course a lot of waiting I was able to connect to one of your customer care agents and they tried to connect me with the co-passenger. But all in vain. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Long story short, I couldn't get any resolution on the issue. And neither your customer care team was not ready to provide me with the contact details of the person citing privacy and data protection.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Nandan said customer service assured him they would call back in the morning but when they didn’t he knew it was time to “take the matter in my own hands”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“After all the failed attempts, my dev instinct kicked in and I pressed the F12 button on my computer keyboard and opened the developer console on the @IndiGo6E  website and started the whole checkin flow with network log record on.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And there in one of the network responses was the phone number and email of my co-passenger. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I made note of the details and decided to call the person and try to get the bags swapped.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Luckily the pair were not far from each other and agreed to meet at a central place to exchange the bags.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nandan, however, went one step further and urged IndiGo to update their website – as it was way too easy to hack! </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Fake Banksy print sold on the artist’s website for over $450,000

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A hacker has been forced to return over $450,000AUD to a British art collector after he tricked him into purchasing a fake Banksy print. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NFT (non-fungible token) print was posted on Banksy’s official website, fooling many fans of the elusive street artist. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The auction of the print ended early after the art collector offered 90% of rival bidders. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Banksy’s team spoke to the </span><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58399338"><span style="font-weight: 400;">BBC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and assured art fans that, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">"any Banksy NFT auctions are not affiliated with the artist in any shape or form."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">NFT’s are a relatively new phenomenon in the art world, which show artworks that can be “tokenised” to create a digital certificate of ownership that can be bought and sold. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They often don’t give the buyer the actual artwork of copyright, but are seen as more of an investment. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The man who got duped by the site believed he was buying Banksy’s first ever NFT. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The man, who wished to remain anonymous, explained over Twitter that he suspected Banksy’s official site was hacked and that he was the victim of an elaborate scam. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The hacker returned all the money, with the exception of $9,000AUD transaction fee once he was caught out. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The prominent NFT collector used the online name Pranksy, and said the whole experience was bizarre but that the hacker may have got scared.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The refund was totally unexpected, I think the press coverage of the hack plus the fact that I had found the hacker and followed him on Twitter may have pushed him into a refund. “</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I feel very lucky when a lot of others in a similar situation with less reach would not have had the same outcome," he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NFT was called Great Distribution of the Climate Change Disaster, and is not linked to the famous street artist.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Banksy</span></em></p>

Art

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Royal Fab Four’s new video sends mental health website into a crash

<p>A new video narrated by the Royal Family’s ‘Fab Four’ has sent a UK government website into a crash as more than ten million people rushed to view it online.</p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have joined forces to voice a short film for the Public Health England’s new platform, Every Mind Matters.</p> <p>Written by <em>Love Actually</em> screenwriter Richard Curtis and directed by British photographer Rankin, the clip also featured celebrities such as Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close, Sir Bradley Wiggins and more.</p> <p>The three-minute ad, which was broadcast across multiple British TV channels, is aimed at encouraging people to take simple steps to look after their mental health and boost their wellbeing.</p> <p>“Everyone knows that feeling, when life gets on top of us,” Prince William could be heard saying in the ad.</p> <p>Prince Harry added: “We feel stressed, low, anxious or have trouble sleeping. Me, you, your brother, your mother, your friend, colleague, or your neighbour…</p> <p>“We think there’s nothing to be done, nothing we can do about it.”</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ThvogdoC-q4"></iframe></div> <p>“There’s a new way to help turn things around,” Duchess Meghan said. “Every Mind Matters will show you simple ways to look after your mental health.”</p> <p>Duchess Kate concluded, “It will get you started with a free online plan designed to help you deal with stress, boost your mood, improve your sleep and make you feel more in control.”</p> <p>According to <em><a href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2019100778657/prince-william-kate-middleton-meghan-markle-harry-reunite-nhs/">HELLO!</a></em>, the launch of the initiative follows 18 months of planning and piloting with the help of clinical and academic experts, national mental health charities and input from people with experience of poor mental health.</p> <p>The Every Mind Matters website crashed following the broadcast, with users being shown an error page that read: “Something went wrong. Please refresh the page or try again later.”</p> <p>A Public Health England spokeswoman said: “We’re back up and running now. We think it was due to high [traffic]. We had technicians working on it immediately and we’re back up and running now.”</p> <p>A Public Health England survey of more than 3,000 adults found that 83 per cent of people had experienced early signs of poor mental health in the last 12 months, including feeling anxious, stressed, having low mood or trouble sleeping.</p> <p><a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/every-mind-matters-advert-demand-to-view-royal-couples-mental-health-campaign-ad-crashes-website-a4256311.html">More than a quarter of these</a> waited longer than six months before addressing the issue, with more than half reporting coping mechanisms such as smoking, drinking, unhealthy eating and avoiding social situations.</p>

News

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Social media: 6 steps to take back control

<p>We’ve heard a lot in recent months about the dark side of social media: excessive use to the point of addiction, lack of privacy, and data capture without informed consent. But in all of this melee, now is the time to remember that the way we use social medial is up to us. In other words, it may be convenient to believe that social media applications are thrust upon us and we don’t have much choice in the matter – but that is not entirely true.</p> <p>It is time we remembered why we use these applications in the first place – to enrich our relationships – and not to have them take over our lives in a dysfunctional way. So, here are some tips for taking back control</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>1. Be selective in your responses</strong></p> <p><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057%2Fejis.2014.3">Research shows</a> that social overload – where your friends frequently ask you for advice on things such as restaurants in a new city, prom dresses for their kids, birthday cake recipes (pretty much anything really) – is stressful. Be selective about the posts you respond to. If a friend is posting 100 times a day you don’t have to respond to all or any of them. Trust me, they won’t mind, because anyone who is doing that amount of posting is not keeping tabs on who is responding anyway.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>2. Stop worrying about missing out</strong></p> <p>You have no control over what gets displayed on your screen and when. The social media provider decides that. Which means you have no control over what you don’t see either. Checking frequently is not going to change that – of all of the thousands of things your friends post, you have no idea what you will see and what you won’t – so FOMO (fear of missing out) is pointless. There will always be things you’ll miss no matter how frequently you check.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>3. Don’t let it be a distraction</strong></p> <p>Don’t let interruptions in the form of social media updates distract you. Though this can be easier said than done – because updates can happen anytime, while you are working, playing with your kids or, worse, driving. The <a href="https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-dark-side-of-information-technology/">dangers of such interruptions</a> are well known – reduced attention, productivity and effectiveness at tasks. So make a choice, either don’t let the notifications disrupt you or if you can’t do that, turn them off.</p> <p><br /><strong>4. Don’t be fooled</strong></p> <p>Don’t take everything you see on social media at face value. <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/facebook-social-media-make-unhappy-jealous-people-particularly-sad-copenhagen-university-study-a7490816.html">Research shows</a> that people might experience all sorts of negative emotions – envy, worry, depression – when they see friends post pictures of where they’ve travelled, new houses they’ve bought and how well their children are doing. But it’s important to understand that posts can be misleading because they present only partial views of other peoples’ lives. Don’t compare your “behind-the-scenes” with everyone else’s “highlight reel”.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>5. Set limits</strong></p> <p>Set time limits for how long you’ll spend on your laptop, tablet or phone – even if you are doing other things on that device and are not using social media. While working on these devices, it is natural to take a break, but if you don’t actually step away physically, then your break might consist of browsing social media and getting stuck in an endless cycle between work and social media.</p> <p>Discipline yourself to get up every time you hit your limit, walk around, stretch, talk to someone, go into another room to see what the kids are doing, go to the office water cooler to get a drink – anything. This not only gives you a break from whatever you were doing to replenish your energy, it also prevents you from looking at your social media applications as the predominant alternative to work-related tasks.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>6. Remember reality</strong></p> <p>Finally, actively seek ways to interact with your friends away from social media – meet up in person or call them. Social media is fine for sharing pictures and brief updates, but when you want to share the really important things in your life with those you care about, there is hardly a substitute for hearing their voice or looking into their eyes.</p> <p>Human empathy – the kind that forms the bulwark of a meaningful social life – is very hard to convey through mass posts and text-based responses. A lot is lost between you and your friends when social media is the primary or only means of communication. Going for a walk or a run, having a meal, watching a movie, talking about your job and your kids, seeking support in difficult life situations – all of these things (and more) are what make your friendships warm and alive and real.</p> <p><em>Written by Monideepa Tarafdar. Republished with permission of <span><a href="https://theconversation.com/social-media-six-steps-to-take-back-control-95814">The Conversation.</a></span> </em></p>

Caring

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Duchess of Sussex’s bio undergoes sneaky update on official royal website

<p>When the new Duchess of Sussex’s profile was added to the royals’ official website, fans were not happy that the former <em>Suits</em> star’s 15-year acting career wasn’t given any credit or mentioned.</p> <p>Her new bio on <a href="https://www.royal.uk/">www.royal.uk</a> went live the day after her wedding to Prince Harry, and happily highlighted in great detail Meghan’s activism and humanitarian work with UN Women, World Vision and One Young World.</p> <p>However, it downplayed her successful acting career with merely a passing mention to “filming in Toronto”. </p> <p>“While filming in Toronto, The Duchess actively volunteered at a Canadian soup kitchen from 2011-2013,” the official royals’ website noted.</p> <p>“She also established the program at her place of work to ensure that leftover meals from the set were donated to local homeless shelters.”</p> <p>Many fans were quick to point out the lack of detail regarding the former actress’s acting career, including appearing on seven seasons of <em>Suits</em> as Rachel Zane.</p> <p>“I’m so very much in love with Meghan Markle bio on the royal website, BUT WHERE IS HER SUITS AND DEAL OR NO DEAL CAREER,” @vodkamuffin tweeted on Twitter.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I'm so very much in love with Meghan Markle bio on the royal website, BUT WHERE IS HER SUITS AND DEAL OR NO DEAL CAREER 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/eSAMj16wC0">https://t.co/eSAMj16wC0</a></p> — Meg (@vodkamuffin) <a href="https://twitter.com/vodkamuffin/status/998777677040373760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>“As inspirational as it is that the new #DuchessofSussex #MeghanMarkle has been given the blessing of the royal family to continue her charitable efforts and voice her feminist opinions, it is sad that her bio excludes her background as an actress. She should be celebrated,” wrote @StyleSeeLondon on Twitter.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">As inspirational as it is that the new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DuchessofSussex?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DuchessofSussex</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeghanMarkle?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MeghanMarkle</a> has been given the blessing of the royal family to continue her charitable efforts and voice her feminist opinions, it is sad that her bio excludes her background as an actress. Should be celebrated not lost</p> — Tamir Davies (@StyleSeeLondon) <a href="https://twitter.com/StyleSeeLondon/status/998477395790385152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Since the backlash on social media, Meghan’s royal bio has undergone a sneaky update.</p> <p>It now states: “After university Her Royal Highness worked as an actress, appearing in film and television. She most notably played the role of Rachel Zane on the series <em>Suits</em> for seven seasons, completing over 100 episodes. While working on <em>Suits</em>, The Duchess moved to Toronto, Canada where the show was filmed; she feels very connected to Canada, as it became a second home to her.”</p> <p>Speaking about her retirement from acting in her first joint interview with then-fiance Prince Harry late last year, Meghan said, “I’ve ticked this box, and I feel very proud of the work I’ve done there, and now it’s time to work with [Harry] as a team.”</p>

Technology

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Why you shouldn’t trust hotel star ratings

<p>Remember when the star rating of hotels would determine if you stayed at a place or not? Those days are long gone, thanks to travel review sites like TripAdvsor, which have changed the way we travel.</p> <p>No longer are stars the only information travellers have to judge the suitability of an accommodation facility.</p> <p>Today, there are so many resources available to travellers to help them decide their travel needs – from various official rating systems to consumer reviews.</p> <p>From modest beginnings in 2000, TripAdvisor is now the go-to website for hotel reviews with an ever-growing online community posting millions of reviews every year.</p> <p>The website’s “traveller ranking’’ – the TripAdvisor Popularity Index – can make or break a hotel.</p> <p>“The popularity ranking algorithm, which refreshes daily, is not solely on reviews but also looks at a number of features including recency as well as quality and quantity of reviews and the consistency of ratings over time,’’ TripAdvisor communications director Janice Lee Fang told news.com.au.</p> <p>“Every single review goes through our tracking system which maps how, what, where and when of each review and we use cutting-edge technology and investigation methods to ensure consumers find reviews accurate and helpful in determining the quality of the trip experience.’’</p> <p>But can you trust the reviews on these sites? Expedia managing director Michael Pearson says that while guest reviews are valuable, they need to be read with a discerning eye.</p> <p> “Make sure you read both positive and negative comments and keep an eye out for points that are most relevant to you such as location, room size, breakfast quality and Wi-Fi,’’ he says. “We recommend searching for a hotel with a large number of reviews, which help provide more accurate scoring and also just how popular the hotel is, and if you do come across a negative review see how it stacks up to the rest as one poor review is not necessarily providing a balanced overview.</p> <p>“It’s also important to note all Expedia reviews are verified, which means only travellers who stayed in the hotel are able to post a review.’’</p>

Travel Tips

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What 9 popular websites used to look like

<p>It was only a decade ago the internet was a different place. Facebook had just made its debut (look at them now!) and Twitter didn’t even exist. Looking back at the first iterations of what are now some of the world’s most popular sites is a reminder just how quickly things change – especially on the world wide web. Take a look at this then and now infographic, and tell us: Do you remember visiting them on the days of dial-up internet?</p> <p><img width="506" height="3461" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/17747/what-9-popular-websites-used-to-look-like-infographic_506x3461.jpg" alt="What 9 Popular Websites Used To Look Like INFOGRAPHIC (1)"/></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/01/computer-shortcuts/">10 computer shortcuts to save you time</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/01/tips-for-using-tablets/">Ingenious tips and tricks for using your tablet</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/01/how-to-spot-fake-facebook-profile/">How to spot a fake Facebook profile</a></span></em></strong></p>

Technology

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5 websites to help you make friends

<p>Most of us need friends in our lives, someone to share stories, have a laugh with, and confide in. But the older we get, the harder it can be to make new friends or for various reasons, maintain old friendships. The advent of the world wide web, however, means it’s easier than ever to connect with likeminded people and make a new friend or two. Here are five websites that will help you stay socially connected, make new friends and maintain your old ones.</p> <p><strong>The virtual world</strong></p> <p>Social media has changed the way we connect with loved ones, making it easier to keep in touch with friends and family living half way across the world. With a number of senior-centred groups online, there’s also plenty of opportunities to make new friends with like-minded people. Visit the <strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Over60-NZ-261868603973770/" target="_blank">Over60 Facebook page</a> </span></em></strong>to catch up with fellow over60s.</p> <p><strong>Not just dating</strong></p> <p>There are many online dating websites out there to help you find the love of your life, but did you know many of these websites aren’t just for love but also help you find friends as well? If you’re looking to meet some new people for friendship or love, RSVP is offering the Over60 community the first conversation for free! <a href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/301420739;128433504;u" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Visit their site here.</span></em></strong></a> </p> <p><strong>Discussion forums</strong></p> <p>The internet is a big wide world where there’s a place for everyone and anyone. There are plenty of discussion forums and chat rooms online specifically catering for the older demographic that cover every topic imaginable. Why not start chatting with fellow over60s on our <a href="/forums/" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Over60 forums today?</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><strong>Social groups near you</strong></p> <p>Sites like <a href="http://www.meetup.com" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Meetup</span></strong></em></a> help you meet people in your local community who share your interest. Whether you’re looking to find some friends to go on a bush walk, a wine tasting or watch a movie, you’re sure to find it on sites like Meet Up. Many of the events are already regularly organised events so all you have to do is turn up and participate!</p> <p><strong>Community groups</strong></p> <p>Joining community groups like <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/" target="_blank"><strong><em>Probus</em></strong></a>, <a href="http://www.rotary.org.nz/site.cfm%20" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Rotary</strong></em></span></a> and <em><strong><a href="http://www.lionsclubs.org.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Lion’s Club</span></a></strong></em> are a great way to develop friendships and give back to the community.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/relationships/2016/02/friends-are-important-for-wellbeing-infographic/">Why friends are key to our happiness</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/relationships/2016/02/best-quotes-about-friendship/">The 20 best quotes about friendship</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/01/tips-to-make-friend-after-retiring/">Tips for making (and maintaining) friends in retirement</a></strong></em></span></p>

Relationships

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Website tracks everywhere Johnny Cash has been

<p>Fans of Johnny Cash will be familiar with his classic hit, “I’ve Been Everywhere,” which, little-known to most, was actually a cover written by Australian singer, Geoff Mack.</p> <p>Today, ignoring that latter fact, an entertaining site has been created that tracks everywhere that Johnny Cash has “been,” man.</p> <p><img width="500" height="238" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10759/ive-been-everywhere-man-johnny-cash_500x238.jpg" alt="I've Been Everywhere Man Johnny Cash"/></p> <p>The website calculates the total distance travelled as the song’s lyrics progress, and marks the geographic locations mentioned with tiny little Johnny Cash heads.</p> <p>For a laugh, <a href="http://www.johnnycashhasbeeneverywhere.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>check it out here</strong></span></a>. </p>

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The best travel review websites

<p>Planning an overseas holiday can be an arduous task. Making the right decisions on airlines, hotels, must-see tourist attractions and best routes can be key to the whole experience. Thankfully these days you don’t have to rely solely on the slick hotel marketing blurbs or the limited recommendations of your local travel agent.</p> <p>Travel review guides like Lonely Planet have been indispensable for travellers over the years, however, the broader power of the internet now delivers a whole new layer of real advice and recommendations from the most trusted source of all – fellow travellers.</p> <p>The leader of the internet review pack up until now has been TripAdvisor. What makes this site so useful is its huge database of user reviews. When you need a broad range of honest feedback, sometimes mixed with cranky complaints about a hotel or vacation rental property, TripAdvisor is likely to have it. Sure, it also has flight, hotel, and vacation rental search and booking capabilities, but other sites handle those features better. Go to TripAdvisor for advice.</p> <p>However, TripAdvisor is not alone in the mushrooming space of online travel reviews, and with a plethora of websites, forums and traditional guides now online to choose from, where else should you go for advice on your dream holiday experience?</p> <p>All the major players on a global and national scale (think Orbitz, Travelocity, Webjet, Wotif, Hotels.com, Lastminute.com) offer some advice in areas such as location, types of available rooms, proximity to local attractions and the like.</p> <p>But beware – these sites often rehash marketing material from the hotels themselves. They are also in business with the hotels they provide information for, negotiating commissions for the bookings they take.</p> <p>Websites of this nature make no claim to independent editorial and can change the material posted at any time. Hotels even have the option of self-rating their services. However it is worth noting that many online travel agents offer the opportunity for guest reviews where users can provide their own account of a particular accommodation site, either named or anonymously.</p> <p>Other more independent options offer a real-time question and answer engine for travellers around the world to share their travel knowledge. Much better than a travel forum, questions are routed to locals and past visitors with similar interests to source the best possible answers through intelligent Q&amp;A profiles, connections on Twitter and Facebook, and geo-tagging. You're notified when new answers, comments, ratings and messages are posted and you can browse other questions and answers by topic and location.</p> <p>Trippy.com, lets globetrotting friends essentially plan your vacation for you by syncing with social sites like Facebook, thereby using your online friends to provide recommendations for your itinerary.</p> <p>Oyster.com provides reviews compiled by so called expert hotel investigators. These investigators provide untouched photos of the hotels they review, which they have taken themselves during their visit. Oyster also promotes the work of their local reporters who provide insider’s advice on food, drinks and activities once you get to your destination.</p> <p>There are more independent review sites popping up all the time and they’re well worth checking out when considering your travel needs.</p> <p><em>Image credit: <span>GongTo / Shutterstock.com</span></em></p> <p> </p>

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