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Everything You Need to Know About The Facebook Cambridge Analytica Scandal

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Cambridge Analytica

Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal is dominating the news. From Elon Musk to Keith Weed, experts in the industry have been keeping a close eye on the story’s development around the globe. So, how did the scandal come to be and where is it going from here?

A Tale of Two Lawsuits

The giant scandal engulfing Facebook and user privacy has made lesser-known Cambridge Analytica a household name. Cambridge Analytica is a British, data-driven, political consulting company. Cambridge Analytica contracted Kogan GSR to harvest data from Facebook users via an application called This Is Your Digital Life.

The application was created in 2014 and banned in 2015 from Facebook when they realized that Kogan “lied” about the utilization of their harvested data. They reportedly ordered Kogan and all parties given access to that data to delete it.

There are two lawsuits raging against SCL Group (CA’s parent company), Kogan GSR and Facebook in the UK and US. The lawsuit in the UK is by Jason McCue, who alleges that the defendants abused the human right to privacy.

The case aims to ensure that violation of privacy will not happen again in the future, specifically the extraction of names, phone numbers, mail and email addresses, religious and political affiliations and other data.

About 270,000 users installed Kogan’s application to take a personality quiz, so why is the number 70 million affected? The permissions on the application allowed Kogan to collect data from friends of the 270,000 users who took the quiz.

While these users’ willingly gave out personal information, Kogan claimed the information would have an academic application. The lawsuit asserts the information was, in fact, used for commercial and political services. The 70 million user figure only covers those affected in the US. worldwide, that number is estimated to be almost 87 million, with over 1 million in the UK alone.

The US-based lawsuit puts the pressure on Facebook. Lead Counsel for the case, Robert Ruyak places heavy blame on Facebook, stating that Facebook failed to secure the personal information of millions of its users, in addition to failing to take appropriate action even when aware of this failure.

The Current Pulse of Litigation

Cambridge Analytica

In the past few weeks, there has been an influx of memes associated with Mark Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg is testifying in the US lawsuit though refused the UK’s request to interview for their lawsuit. The US lawsuit is still ongoing and continues to generate more questions than answers.

The affair also highlights how out of touch many in Congress are with current technologies, with videos of aging Congressmen struggling to understand some of Zuckerberg’s tech-based answers and reply in kind. In the UK, the Cambridge Analytica and Kogan investigation is also ongoing.

An Uncertain Future for Facebook Stocks

Facebook saw its first downgrade since January this Wednesday. Stocks fell 1.7%. However, the company has seen an overall increase of 3.9% in its stock since the scandal broke in mid-March.

With a lack of consumer confidence, both companies are not as enticing to veteran investors as they once were.

A Leaderless Organization

News first broke about the scandal via the New York Times on March 17, 2018. A Channel 4 news video leaked the following Monday, adding further evidence to the claims asserted. The video produced footage of CA’s CEO, Alexander Nix, seemingly engaging in illegal political techniques such as entrapment.

Nix was suspended the following day and recently stepped down from the CEO position. Alexander Taylor, CA’s chief data officer, sat down as quickly as he stood up to take the CEO position, serving only a few days. It is unclear who will lead the company during this tumultuous time. Alexander Nix refused parliament’s request to testify, showing additional distaste from the general public.

The Future of Digital Privacy

There is an aura of doubt clouding the general public’s faith that Facebook will take preventative actions to ensure a data breach of this level does not occur again. Many wonder how Silicon Valley’s brightest minds could let a mistake this large pervade its data for over a year. More importantly, Facebook did not alert authorities to the morally gray and illegal data collection.

With scandals like Equifax’s 2017 data breach still fresh, the public sees an unwillingness for companies to take responsibility. The unspoken protocol of these breaches appears to err on the side of deception rather than transparency. Equifax was aware of their breach, which exposed nearly half of the US population’s personal financial information, weeks ahead of the news breaking.

Additionally, the company sought to turn a profit by offering data-protection services after the incident. Even more frustrating, is that the only recourse for consumers affected was to freeze their credit and to unfreeze credit comes with fees.

Facebook

The lack of accountability and transparency means that these data breaches could simply be warning signs of far larger scandals to follow.

When companies are unwilling to make ethical decisions, it’s ideal that laws enter the creation process to ensure the safety of the public. A bipartisan effort is on the way in the US to give power back to the consumer. In a country where regulation is a dirty word, it’s unclear how this effort will be received.

On the tech, innovation side come solutions from a forgotten class of researchers: tech privacy experts. An unglamorous field is now finding itself at the center of fixing a growing problem.

A peer-to-peer decentralized internet (first introduced to the non-tech obsessed via the HBO show Silicon Valley), strong advertising blockers, information fiduciaries (whose purpose is to protect users’ data) and better encryption techniques are all points of notable research. May their innovation spawn a new era of data privacy.

The on-demand economy continues to grow quickly and with it comes many avenues for illicit data collection. There is a struggle to balance convenience with privacy. Tech privacy experts are working to ensure their solutions mesh well with consumers’ expectations for efficiency.

Flailing Confidence

Facebook’s rise as a tech giant may be in jeopardy. Their business model is strongly based on consumer trust. Zuckerberg’s decision not to alert authorities deny a request from parliament, his evasiveness in his testimony with Congress and his negative public image (he’s frequently touted as overly robotic and was presented unfavorably in The Social Network) has generated contempt from many consumers.

The #deletefacebook hashtag also gained organic momentum. For a company dependent on users for profit, a tall order for their public relations team is in store.

Kayla Matthews is a tech journalist and writer whose work has been featured on The Week, VICE and MakeUseOf. Read more posts by Kayla on productivitybytes.com.

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What’s the Deal With Elomir? Is Axis Klarity a Scam?

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Surprisingly, MLMs have become one of the most lucrative scams in recent years. But to sum it all up, its structure is only beneficial for those at the top, as they are the ones making all the money. Meanwhile, the new recruits are at the bottom, waiting for scraps.

Although various efforts have been underway to expose these pyramid schemes, many people still fall for them. It seems that the trend has never really died down, as we often see a new trend of scrappy moms and fresh-outta-college girls going ga-ga over these weird products. One of the more controversial is Elomir’s Axis Klarity.

Before this was launched, many distributors posted videos and images of themselves with photoshopped Post-its on their tongues. And of course, they were passing it off as a real product. Soon enough, the hashtag #Changetheconversation was plastered all over social media.

So, what could have gone wrong? Let’s go over the story of Axis Klarity and its parent company, Elomir.

About Axis Klarity and Elomir

axis klarity from elomir
From https://www.bellevuereporter.com/

Axis Klarity is a product created by Elomir, making a buzz in 2022. It still exists today, but seems to be operating under the radar. That said, let’s get to know it better.

If you’re familiar with those Listerine strips that dissolve on your tongue, then you’ll find this product to be similar. Only, instead of making your breath smell minty fresh, Elomir claims that it’ll improve your mood, calm your mind, and increase your cognitive abilities. How does it do this, exactly? Who the f*ck knows? Their website doesn’t explain much.

It does offer a few testimonials, mostly from women who happen to be distributors. There is one testimonial from a 13-year-old girl, claiming that Axis Klarity had helped her in school. 

There’s only one problem with that: on the bottom of their website, in tiny print, Elomir states that their flagship product is not intended for those under 18. 

Strange. But I’m sure it’s nothing, right?

Red Flags… Red Flags Everywhere!

axis klarity from elomir
From https://onlinewealthchronicles.com/

Now, here’s the deal with Axis Klarity; the ingredients are alarming.

Before Axis Kalrity’s launch date, people searched their website for an ingredient list. Here’s what’s in these “cure-all” yellow strips:

  • Curcumin Conjugate
  • NAC Conjugate
  • Thiamine Conjugate

First off, there’s really nothing here that would cause a change in mood, clarity, or any other benefits listed by their distributors. But what’s even shadier is the ingredient “NAC Conjugate.” This is an antioxidant that should be inaccessible to the general public.

So how does Axis Kalrity, an unregulated supplement, include this ingredient? It seems that the FDA is pretty lax about NAC Conjugate, despite declaring that it is not a supplement. Unless a company is promoting their NAC Conjugate as a cure-all, they don’t have to worry about the FDA busting down their door. 

Still, I personally wouldn’t take prescription drugs from an unregulated source (unless I’m trying to party). 

Okay, so we now know the product is crap. But what about their business practices?

For the longest time, Axis Klarity was in this “pre-enrollment phase”. It’s basically like preordering a game on Origin, but surprisingly shadier. Because instead of preordering products, people were signing up as future sellers. Before making any actual sales, Elomir was already making millions off recruitments alone.

But that’s not all. When Elomir finally launched their knock-off dental strips, it was a MASSIVE flop. Hundreds of orders went unfulfilled, as the number of products they had in stock couldn’t cover the number of people buying them. Still, Elomir took the money from everyone who ordered, offering no refunds. 

The company later claimed that this ordeal was due to machinery issues. But anyone with a brain could tell that they were simply unprepared.

Elomir continues to push forward, promoting Axis Klarity with flaky testimonials while their distributors and customers lack compensation for their orders. 

Conclusion

axis klarity from elomir
From https://www.bellevuereporter.com/

It’s an MLM, through and through – ‘nuff said. If you’re thinking about buying Axis Klarity or becoming a seller, just… don’t. I recommend saving your time and money by purchasing some of those Listerine strips. You’ll actually get what you pay for.

Featured image from Elomir

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The Best Ways to Recession Proof Your Business

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How can you recession-proof your business?

This is a common question among business owners who are concerned about how well they will fare in an unpredictable economy.

Whether or not we’re officially in a recession, many companies are feeling the pressure—rising costs, shifting consumer habits, and ongoing market uncertainty. While no business is completely immune to downturns, there are practical strategies you can adopt to strengthen your resilience.

But what is a recession-proof company?

A recession-proof company is a business that can maintain stable revenue and demand even during economic downturns. These ventures typically offer products or services that consumers continue to need regardless of financial conditions.

In this guide, we’ll explore key ways to make your business more recession-proof and help you navigate today’s challenges with confidence.

Are We in a Recession?

30 Rock Matthew Broderick "We're not in a recession" GIF recession proof your business

The term “recession” often sparks panic, but its technical definition is more specific. A recession typically refers to two consecutive quarters of negative gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

As of 2025, many economies have shown signs of slowing down, like higher inflation, cautious consumer spending, and volatile markets. However, most experts agree we are not currently in a formal recession.

Key indicators, such as GDP growth, employment rates, and consumer demand, remain relatively stable in the U.S. and many parts of the world. Still, uncertainty looms due to persistent global conflicts, supply chain disruptions, and high borrowing costs.

Even if we’re not in a recession by definition, businesses are feeling the squeeze. That’s why preparing now and building a recession-proof business is crucial to staying strong through future economic shifts.

Will There Be a Recession?

Predicting a recession is tricky, and even seasoned economists debate its timing. While the economy may not be in a technical recession today, many experts warn that a downturn could still happen in the near future. High inflation, fluctuating interest rates, and global instability keep businesses on edge.

That’s why building a recession-proof business now is a smart move. Some industries can weather economic storms better than others. What business does well in a recession, and what sells best in a recession? If we look back at history, the ventures that thrived in the 2008 recession included:

  • Discount retailers
  • Repair services
  • Healthcare
  • Essential goods providers

These businesses focused on solving everyday problems and offering cost-effective solutions, something customers prioritize when money is tight.

On the flip side, the worst businesses to start during a recession are often those that rely on: 

  • Luxury spending
  • Large capital investments
  • Non-essential services (high-end travel, event planning, niche hobby stores, etc.)

These ventures typically struggle when consumers cut back on discretionary spending.

Even if the next recession doesn’t arrive tomorrow, building flexibility and resilience today will help you prepare for whatever comes next.

5 Ways to Recession-Proof Your Business

If you’re a business owner concerned about the economy, these 5 tips can help.

1. Find Low-Cost Solutions

Survive a recession by saving money. Brilliant, right? But this isn’t just about cutting temporary costs to weather the storm. To truly recession proof your business, you need to set up for the future.

Some businesses choose layoffs and department closures when times are tough, but this shouldn’t be your first resort. For starters, think about scaling back your operating costs. Consider migrating to cloud storage, or finding cheaper software alternatives.

For example, many businesses rely on freelancers to supplement their creative team, which can start to add up when you need a lot of designs.

Recession proof your business by turning to low-cost services like Penji
Penji’s website

You might find that you save money by switching to a subscription-based graphic design service like Penji. Check out our review to see why we recommend it. You can also sign up with our special 35% off promo code — PREP35.

2. Put People First

In a recession, you may have to scale down your business operations, and that can mean letting people go. But if you intend to survive the recession, mass layoffs may do you more harm than good.

Recession proof your business by prioritizing your people
Image by StockSnap on Pixabay

A business is made up of people, and each worker plays a role in developing your brand’s unique personality. Layoffs can sour long-term relationships, but they can also change who your company is on a fundamental level.

In a recession, some downsizing might be inevitable. But to recession proof your business, aim for transparency. Talk to employees about your difficult decisions, let them know where you’re cutting costs and what prospects may look like down the road.

3. Rethink Your Architecture

Every application has an architecture. If you produce tech, you can recession-proof your business by rethinking how you deliver it.

For example, you may consider a microservices architecture, which is sometimes less expensive than a singular (“monolithic”) setup. This considers each element of your service as its own mini-service.

For instance, an ecommerce site might use different services for accessing a user’s account, their shopping cart, and processing their payment. The user still sees one website, but under the hood, they’re accessing different services.

4. Demonstrate Your Value

Chances are, you’ve already given a lot of thought to what, exactly, your business offers. It should be at the core of all your marketing materials, your whole brand strategy.

Recession proof your business by demonstrating your business value
Image by This_is_Engineering on Pixabay

But to recession-proof your business, you’ll need to double down. It’s not just, “What can we do for you?” It’s, “Why do you need us?”

Some of the best ways to demonstrate your business’ value include:

  • Money saved
  • Life improved
  • Everyday problems solved
  • What sets you apart from competitors

5. Be Flexible

On the one hand, you want to hold onto your business fundamentals to survive a recession. Your people, your values, your product. But when something needs to change, you can’t afford to be too precious about your current processes.

Recession proof your business by being flexible
Image by expresswriters on Pixabay

Be willing to make changes, but make informed ones. Test out new messaging, new products, new pricing models. If your ads are losing ROI, it might just be a sign of the times, but it’s worth looking into different strategies that could give you a boost.

You might think that in order to recession-proof your business, you need to avoid showing signs of weakness. The fact is, the most stubborn businesses are often the first to go.

Markets change a lot during a recession. When you come out the other side, you want to be ready to meet whatever new challenges come your way.

The Lowdown

Learning how to recession-proof your business isn’t about avoiding risk but creating stability in an unstable economy

While you can’t control the economy, you can control how you prepare. Focus on cutting unnecessary costs without sacrificing your team, demonstrate clear value to your customers, and stay flexible with your strategies.

Businesses that survived the 2008 recession didn’t just hold on; they evolved. The best way forward? Start building resilience now so your business can thrive, no matter what the market throws your way.

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Discover 2025’s Top 10 Online Banks for Smart Savings

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best online banks

McKinsey & Company reveals that 73 percent of bank transactions worldwide now take place online, such as in digital banks and payment systems. The increasing demand of customers for more flexible banking options is attributed to the rise in online banking channels. People prefer online banks because they offer simple tools and resources to manage their money. With this trend, online banking is here to stay. 

Best Online Banks: A Quick Guide

money and finance

Image Source: Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels 

An online bank should cater to your financial needs like any traditional alternative. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing online banks:

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

The annual average yield offered under each account will tell you how much interest your money will earn. When comparing online banks, consider one that offers competitive rates across all of its deposit accounts. 

Products and Services

Some online banks offer a complete package of banking products, including checking, savings, certificates of deposit (CDs), and money market accounts. They also offer loans and credit cards. So, look at the products and services offered by online banks before making a decision. You may also combine the services of an online bank with a traditional brick-and-mortar bank. 

Account Access

Typically, online banks offer 24/7 access to your account through their website or app. However, you should also consider how the bank handles deposits and withdrawals. It is crucial to know the restrictions, if any, on transfers, the limitations on withdrawals, and whether the bank accepts free cash deposits. 

ATM Network

An ATM network is essential if you frequently withdraw or deposit cash. An extensive ATM network will help you avoid transaction fees. If the bank is not associated with a large ATM network, you should look for one that will reimburse out-of-network ATM fees.  

Digital Tools

The best online banks offer innovative digital tools to help you accomplish financial goals. For example, Ally will help you organize your savings goals with savings buckets and analyze your spending habits to safely transfer available funds from your checking to your savings account.

Fees

You should avoid any bank, online or otherwise, that charges monthly fees or has extensive requirements to avoid them. Many online banks offer no-fee deposit accounts, require a low or $0 initial deposit to open the account, and don’t need a minimum balance to avoid maintenance fees. However, make sure you know whether the bank charges excessive withdrawal fees, paper statement fees, or fees for other services that you may want to use regularly.

Customer Service

Since you won’t have access to in-person customer service with an online bank, determine how you can contact a customer service representative if needed. Most online banks offer telephone support, live chats, or assistance via email. Some online banks also offer access to live support via extended hours or 24/7.

10 Top-Performing Online Banks

person counting money

1. Alliant Credit Union

Alliant Credit Union is an NCUA-insured online credit union offering members competitive deposit account rates and minimal fees. Most accounts don’t charge maintenance fees, but these can be waived if you sign up for e-statements. Membership is available for current or former employees of Alliant’s partner businesses in the US. You can also become an Alliant Credit Union Foundation digital inclusion advocate to become eligible for membership. Signing up costs $5, but Alliant will pay the one-time fee on your behalf. 

Alliant’s certificates earn solid APYs, with terms ranging from one year to five years. Its savings account earns a respectable yield of 3.10% APY on balances of $100 or more, but there are plenty of higher-yielding savings accounts with APYs over 5%. We like that Alliant’s High-Rate Checking account pays a better yield than other checking accounts and doesn’t require a minimum balance or charge service fees.

2. Varo Bank

Varo offers checking and savings accounts but doesn’t offer deposit certificates. Savings account comes with an APY starting at 2.50%. That rate becomes 5.00% for the first $5,000 if a customer meets the monthly requirements of the bank.

Cash deposits have limits and fees, and Varo customers can only deposit cash at a 3rd party retailer that joins the Green Dot network, including CVS, 7-Eleven, or Walgreens. On the other hand, cash withdrawals can be made through an ATM in the Allpoint network for free.

3. Ally Bank

Established in 2009, Ally Bank is full-service online bank that offers competitive rates on all deposit accounts. Customers can enjoy the highest rates for all balances, regardless of tier. Overall, the high APYs, minimal fees, and reliable customer service support makes Ally an excellent banking solution for millenials who want better savings and retirement plans.

4. Discover Bank

Discover Bank offers deposit accounts, credit cards, personal loans, and student loans. We like that Discover offers deposit accounts, such as CDs, savings, and a money market account, at competitive rates with no fees. While its $2,500 minimum deposit requirement for its CDs is steep, there is no minimum deposit required to open and maintain a savings, money market, or checking account.

5. Laurel Road 

Laurel Road, powered by KeyBank, helps healthcare and business professionals achieve their financial goals. They offer student loan refinancing, mortgages, personal loans, credit card, and specialized savings accounts. Laurel Road also offer Loyalty Checking with a low APY. New customers can earn a sign-up and monthly bonus with qualifying direct deposits. In addition, both savings account and checking account has no monthly free or minimum balance requirement.

6. Capital One

capital one logo

Capital One offers an above-average 3.80% APY on its savings account, strong rates on its certificates of deposit, and 0.10% APY on all checking balances. All accounts are free, and customers can access over 70,000 free ATMs.

7. American Express National Bank

This bank offer High Yield Savings Account with a 3.80 APY. Likewise, certifcate deposits (CDs) have competitive rate and there is no minimum opening deposit. You don’t have to worry in case you encounter banking-related issues because American Express National Bank has 24/7 phone support and online chat support.

8. Marcus by Goldman Sachs

Launched in 2016, Marcus is the online-only banking arm of Goldman Sachs, one of the 15 largest banks in the US. The bank’s savings accounts and CDs offer competitive yields and no monthly maintenance fees.

While some online banks offer no minimum deposit requirement to open an account, Marcus requires a $500 deposit to get started with a CD. There’s no minimum deposit requirement for its high-yield savings account. Marcus doesn’t offer a checking account or money market account.

9. My Banking Direct

My Banking Direct is the online-only arm of Flagstar Bank, N.A., which New York Community Bancorp owns. The bank is a lean financial service that offers only savings, checking, and a five-month CD term. The APYs on its savings account and CD are among the best available today.

In addition, the bank doesn’t charge monthly or overdraft fees and provides surcharge-free ATM access through a 55,000 Allpoint and Presto network. To open a savings account, you must deposit $500. Checking accounts can be opened with just $1. During the week, you can access extended customer service hours until 8 p.m. ET and 2 p.m. ET on Sundays.

10. SoFi

SoFi (short for Social Finance) was the brainchild of Stanford Graduate School of Business students who created an alumni-funded lending source initially focused on refinancing student loans. Since then, SoFi has expanded into a variety of loan categories and now offers online checking and savings accounts.

Conclusion 

Online banks lets manage your money and account via a website, mobile device, or app. Also, online banks generally offer higher interest rates and fewer fees than traditional banks. You should remember that while technology makes everything accessible, online banks also have some limitations. For instance, online-only or internet-only banks lack in-person interaction. However, if you are comfortable managing your money online, online banks are a convenient and low-cost option.

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