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New Research Reveals Positive Associations Between Online Content Creators and Community Connection for LGBTQ+ Young People

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6 months ago

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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — New research from Hopelab, in collaboration with media psychology expert Dr. Bradley Bond, sheds light on the powerful role that social media and parasocial relationships play in the lives of LGBTQ+ young people. The study, Parasocial Relationships, AI Chatbots, and Joyful Online Interactions Among a Diverse Sample of LGBTQ+ Young People provides a nuanced understanding of how unique online connections with media figures, such as social media content creators, contribute to the positive experiences, community connection, and identity development for Queer young people. The study also features data on LGBTQ+ young people’s use of AI chatbots to engage in interactive conversations.

The findings suggest that parasocial relationships—one-sided relationships formed with media figures—are strong sources of support and connection for LGBTQ+ young people, a group that experiences loneliness and depression at significantly higher rates than their peers. The data suggest that parasocial relationships are also especially important for transgender and nonbinary young people.

“Conversations about the well-being of LGBTQ+ young people often focus primarily on harms, rather than ways to improve joy,” said Dr. Mike Parent, Principal Researcher at Hopelab. “Our data highlight that visibility matters and relatable content creators provide a pathway to the development of programs and policies that support Queer young people as they navigate an evolving technology ecosystem.”

Key Findings:

Transgender and nonbinary young people benefit most from parasocial relationships: These connections are linked to higher levels of transgender pride and community connectedness among transgender and nonbinary young people.Smaller-scale content creators resonate deeply: LGBTQ+ young people often identify with smaller, relatable creators whose content feels authentic and less curated. These creators frequently focus on personal growth and LGBTQ+ identity.High chatbot use among transgender and nonbinary youth: 40% of respondents report engaging with AI chatbots for ongoing conversations, with another 16% indicating openness to using chatbots in the future.Online interactions foster joy and connection: LGBTQ+ young people report finding joy through supportive online conversations, connecting with others who share similar identities, and experiencing relatability that helps them feel less alone.

Additionally, the report examines the use of social media and generative AI, highlighting that tools such as chatbots may lessen the impact of in-person isolation and loneliness for transgender and nonbinary young people. A greater understanding of the ways LGBTQ+ young people navigate emergent technology and leverage parasocial relationships is crucial to informing efforts that minimize harm while constructing social media literacy and developing policies and programs in support of Queer joy.

“In a hetero- and cisgender-normative society, it is essential for marginalized populations, such as transgender and nonbinary young people, to have access to resources as they develop their sexual and gender identities,” said Dr. Bradley Bond, media psychology and parasocial relationship expert. “Parasocial relationships and technology like generative AI can play a vital role for LGBTQ+ young people who are dealing with isolation and lack of in-person support.”

Data for this study was collected via a national survey of 1,715 U.S.-based LGBTQ+ teens and young adults, ages 13-22. To provide additional depth and context, Hopelab conducted co-distillation and sense-making sessions with nine LGBTQ+ young people, offering a fuller perspective on the findings.

Download the full report here.

About Hopelab
Hopelab envisions a future where young people have equitable opportunities to live joyful and purposeful lives. As a researcher, convener, and science translator, Hopelab is dedicated to fostering greater mental health and well-being outcomes for young people. Learn more at hopelab.org.

Bradley J. Bond, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Communication at the University of San Diego. His research examines the development and maintenance of parasocial relationships with media personae and the influence of media on identity and outgroup attitudes. Much of his current work focuses on the depiction of marginalized individuals in entertainment media and the effects of exposure on identity, stereotypes, and prejudices. He serves as a Research Associate with the Media and Diversity Center, on the Advisory Council for the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, and as Board President for FilmOut San Diego.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-research-reveals-positive-associations-between-online-content-creators-and-community-connection-for-lgbtq-young-people-302263271.html

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Axon Global CEO Israel Martinez Named Security Expert of the Year at HMG Strategy Summit in Dallas

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April 5, 2025

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Israel Martinez, CEO and Global CTO of Axon Global, was named Security Expert of the Year at the HMG Strategy Summit in Dallas, the largest network of CIOs and CISOs in the U.S. with over 300,000 technology executives globally. Martinez was honored for his groundbreaking work in AI-driven cybersecurity and a 20-year track record of zero reportable breaches across high-risk, high-impact environments. He also spoke on a featured panel addressing the escalating threat of geopolitical cyberattacks and the critical need for global cyber resilience.

DALLAS, April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Israel Martinez, CEO and Global CTO of Axon Global, was honored with the HMG Global Leadership Institute Award for Security Expert of the Year at the HMG Strategy Executive Leadership Summit in Dallas. The event brought together top technology executives from across the country for a day of thought leadership, innovation, and strategic insights.

“Israel is fearlessly committed to innovation and integrity—and when lives are on the line, his team shows up.” — August Pelliccio, Executive Editor, Digital, HMG Strategy,

Martinez also took the stage as a featured speaker during the Executive Panel: Securing the Future Against Geopolitical Cyber Risks, joining Mignona Cote (CISO, Infor Global Solutions) and Art Harvey (CISO, Dovenmuehle) for a dynamic conversation on the rising threat of state-sponsored cyberattacks and the critical importance of international collaboration, proactive threat intelligence, and executive-led cyber resilience.

During the award presentation, HMG Strategy highlighted Martinez’s exceptional track record:

“Israel has helped protect everything from billion-dollar enterprises to space programs, with a track record of zero reportable breaches—by the way—across twenty years and countless high-risk clients.

Right now he’s pioneering an AI agent-driven model, building out a team of two hundred LLM-powered experts that already compete and win against the best in the world.

How’s this for a case study? One of the teams he worked with monetized IT for the Olympics, turning it into a profit engine rather than just a cost center. They increased media revenue by 300% and eliminated redundant global oversight.

Israel is fearlessly committed to innovation and integrity, and when lives are on the line, his team shows up. As one Commander put it, ‘Thank you for pulling so many technology resources together to rescue my daughter.’

There are only so many clips I can share in the brief time we have on stage, but I hope what I’ve shared expresses some of the gravity of the work Israel has done—and how deserving he is of this honor.”

HMG Strategy is recognized as the largest network of CIOs and CISOs in the United States, with over 300,000 IT executives globally. Its Executive Leadership Summits are known for convening top-tier professionals to tackle the most urgent challenges in technology and business.

Media Contact

Kaitlyn Procter, Axon Global, 1 2027055053, kaitlynpr@axoncyber.com, https://axoncyber.com

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Ramki Sankaranarayanan Receives EGA’s Hermes Lifetime Achievement Award for Pioneering Innovation in Global Content Operations

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April 4, 2025

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LOS ANGELES, April 4, 2025 /CNW/ — The Entertainment Globalization Association (EGA) has honored Ramki Sankaranarayanan, Founder and Global CEO of Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), with the 2025 Hermes Lifetime Achievement Award. The accolade recognizes Ramki’s visionary leadership and transformative impact on entertainment localization and media technology worldwide.

Presented at the prestigious Hermes Awards for Entertainment Localization Excellence, the honor celebrates Ramki’s role in reimagining global media supply chains—seamlessly blending AI innovation with human creativity to enable scalable, culturally authentic storytelling across geographies.

A trailblazer in media tech for over two decades, Ramki spearheaded the launch of the industry’s first Media ERP, laying the foundation for cloud-based Supply Chain that subsequently was articulated within the MovieLabs 2030 Vision. Under his leadership, PFT has continuously pushed the boundaries of localization—leveraging AI-assisted subtitling, dubbing, and metadata solutions through its CLEAR® and CLEAR® AI platforms. Early innovations such as automated subtitle retiming and hybrid AI pipelines have redefined scale and speed in global content delivery.

PFT’s localization capabilities span an impressive 150 unique languages globally, including 92 European, 24 African, 18 from the Indian subcontinent, 10 East Asian, and 6 Central Asian languages, showcasing unparalleled depth and reach. Today, PFT supports over 2 million subtitled minutes and 1 million dubbed minutes annually for leading platforms including Star TV, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Warner Bros. Discovery, Crunchyroll, etc.

With 13+ patents and seven NAB Product of the Year Awards, including a 2023 win for AI-led localization, CLEAR® AI exemplifies contemporary Agentic AI, defined by its autonomous Localization Agents capable of independent decision-making, real-time collaboration, and continuous improvement. CLEAR® AI leverages Multi-Agent Collaboration, orchestrating agents specialized in several tasks across content lifecycle. This market-defining approach dramatically improves accuracy, accelerates time-to-market, and reduces manual intervention, reflecting a strategic shift towards intelligent, collaborative AI in localization.

PFT’s latest breakthrough, CLEAR® AI Content Studio, further exemplifies this momentum by turning dormant archives into dynamic, revenue-generating content libraries.

“This award is deeply meaningful,” said Ramki. “It honors not just my journey, but the passion and relentless innovation of our PFT team & the pivotal role clients have played in embracing the innovation—and the vibrant localization community driving global storytelling forward.”

EGA’s recognition underscores the rising strategic importance of AI-led, human-enhanced localization—and the visionaries who are shaping its future.

About the Entertainment Globalization Association (EGA)
The EGA is the leading professional body for executives driving content globalization. Its Hermes Awards celebrate excellence in localization and the innovators behind cross-cultural storytelling.

About Prime Focus Technologies (PFT)
Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) is the creator of CLEAR®. It offers streaming platforms, studios, and broadcasters AI technology and media services powered by the cloud that help them enable creativity, efficiency, and, most importantly, revenue generation. PFT works with major companies like Channel 4, ITV, Sinclair Broadcast Group, A&E Networks, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, Crunchyroll, Insight TV, JioStar, BCCI, Tegna, Amazon MGM Studios, and more.

For more information, visit: www.primefocustechnologies.com.

Press Contact
T Shobhana
Senior Vice President and Global Head of Marketing
Prime Focus Technologies
Los Angeles, CA
t.shobhana@primefocus.com

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S’moresUp Launches “It’s a Family Thing!” to Help Moms Get Their Pink Back This Mother’s Day

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1 hour ago

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April 4, 2025

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From the Team Behind Two-Time App of the Day S’moresUp, Comes a Smarter Family Management App

LOS ALTOS, Calif., April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — S’moresUp, the trusted family management platform with over 300,000 users, announces its next evolution: It’s a Family Thing! (IAFT)—just in time for Mother’s Day.

Inspired by the phrase “getting your pink back,” IAFT is designed to help moms reclaim their energy and joy while navigating the invisible labor of parenting. Like flamingos that regain their color with care, moms too can thrive with the right support.

S’moresUp has twice been named Apple’s App of the Day. IAFT builds on that success with AI-powered tools, personalized insights, and family-focused features made specifically for today’s overwhelmed parents.

Developed by a single mom and a generative AI technologist—both former PayPal leaders—IAFT reflects seven years of insights from the S’moresUp community.

Key Features:

AI Family Agent: A virtual assistant for managing chores, schedules, and planning.Parenting Weather (PUP Score): Gauges parenting stress and suggests solutions.Chore & Reward System: Includes Photo Proof, Late Penalties, and gamified tracking.Family Analytics: Tracks skill development and offers personalized support.Mood Management: Encourages emotional check-ins and open family communication.Campfire: A private space for sharing updates, celebrations, and memories.AI-Driven Planning Tools: Features like “How To Do Today” and “Weekly Plan.”

More than a digital organizer, IAFT is a lifeline – helping moms reduce decision fatigue, prioritize self-care, and restore balance at home.

Pricing starts at just $3.49/month, with premium features available up to $49.95/month.

Available now on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

“Working mothers are constantly fighting an uphill battle to balance career and home life,” says Priya Rajendran, CEO and co-founder. “IAFT is here to do the heavy lifting so moms can breathe again.”

“With IAFT, we’re doubling down on innovation and family wellness,” adds Reeves Xavier, CTO and co-founder. “This is a lifeline for the modern family.”

About S’moresUp

S’moresUp and now It’s a Family Thing! are family management solutions created by Priya Rajendran and Reeves Xavier, technologists and parents with a passion for empowering families. With experience at companies like PayPal, Microsoft, and Intuit, they bring heart, humor, and cutting-edge AI to parenting. S’moresUp’s mission is simple: Raise independent, responsible, and joyful kids—while making parenting a little less exhausting.

Visit www.smoresup.com

Contact: Ann Dunning, ann@amurraypr.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smoresup-launches-its-a-family-thing-to-help-moms-get-their-pink-back-this-mothers-day-302421261.html

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