Seven Letter

We're incredibly proud of our very own Annalyse Keller & Benji Englander, who attended the PRNEWS Platinum Awards gala this week as finalists for Podcast of the Year for CONTROL! A special shoutout to Benji for being recognized as “One to Watch” in the 2024 People of the Year awards by PRNEWS! Celebrate with us by checking out the latest episode of CONTROL here: https://lnkd.in/e-uCkaZ9

New from Seven Letter Insight - Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Protecting Yourself from the Growing Threat of Digital Scams As we prioritize safeguarding our digital lives, now is an opportune time to examine the cyber threats that exist online. The Third Annual Consumer Cyber Readiness Report, published by Consumer Reports, Aspen Digital, and the Global Cyber Alliance, provides valuable insights into the current state of Americans' battle against cybercrime. Based on a survey conducted in April with over 2,000 U.S. adults, the findings highlight the alarming prevalence of these threats. A significant percentage of Americans are encountering cyber threats. The report states that almost half of Americans (46%) have experienced a cyberattack or digital scam attempt within the last year. These attacks are not limited to a single platform; scammers are taking advantage of every available digital medium, with the majority of incidents arising from email (30%), social media (23%), and text messages/messaging apps (20%). While email continues to be the primary tool for scammers, social media has emerged as a preferred hunting ground. The report indicates that two-thirds (67%) of individuals have received friend requests from unknown users, a major red flag for potential fraud. Moreover, nearly half (48%) of respondents reported receiving direct messages that appeared to be scams, aimed at tricking them into disclosing personal information or clicking on harmful links. Additionally, 47% experienced direct messages from unfamiliar individuals. It's important to note that the issue extends beyond unsolicited messages. Among those who fell victim to scams, 22% reported having their social media accounts hacked, while 11% faced email breaches. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a reminder that there are simple ways to protect yourself from online threats. Remember to avoid accepting friend requests from unknown users and to never respond to or open attachments from unfamiliar individuals. Full report: https://lnkd.in/e_-a8P3r 

With just weeks until Election Day, hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller kick-off a series of special bonus episodes focused on some of the races and dynamics that will determine control of the House and the Senate. They are also joined by Doug Thornell to hear the Democrats path to re-taking the House. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/ehY3AFZk

New from Seven Letter Insight - The Silent Majority: How Social Pressure Shapes America’s True Opinions  In today's polarized world, it often feels like everyone is at odds, but what if the loudest voices don't tell the full story? The Social Pressure Index (SPI) was fielded by Populace from May to June of 2024. SPI is a private opinion research study that reveals Americans' true opinions on sensitive topics through a nationally representative sample of adults, specifically the gap between Americans' privately held beliefs and their publicly stated opinions. It is based on 19,879 online interviews by YouGov, including a base sample of U.S. adults (N = 7,144).   One of the most significant findings is the social pressure to have the “right” opinion. Majority of Americans (58%) believe people cannot share their honest opinions about sensitive topics. In the past year, 61% of Americans reported avoiding expressing their true beliefs out of fear that others might find them offensive. This self-silencing behavior spans across all demographic groups.    Private opinion methods reveal that every demographic group is misrepresenting their true beliefs on various issues. For 66% of the topics—including abortion rights, school choice, legal immigration, and voter ID requirements—90% of demographic groups privately align on the same side. Suggesting that, despite disputes, there is more agreement on key issues when people feel free to speak privately.   Private misalignment extends to trust in American institutions. Public confidence in institutions like the Supreme Court (36%), the government (22%) and the media (24%) is low, but private opinion reveals even deeper distrust. In private, only 21% express confidence in the Supreme Court, 4% in the government, and 7% in the media— indicating that Americans are even less trusting of these institutions than public opinion suggest. Read more here:  https://lnkd.in/ejCtDSsy See the full report here: https://lnkd.in/guu9jvRz 

It’s VP debate day. The '24 race is tight. Partner Adam Abrams tells The Hill that campaigns are built for this moment but content, targeting and delivery are more important than ever: “Especially in the final weeks, what candidates and their campaigns say matters and so does how they deliver that message. … The campaign apparatus is built for the home stretch to reach as many voters on as many channels as possible.”   The same is true for reaching any important audience. Read the whole story: https://lnkd.in/eruyk8eB  

New from the Seven Letter Insight team:  Teens Outsmart Adults Once More: Generative AI Widening the Tech Divide    A new report by Common Sense Media highlights a growing trend among teenagers: generative AI is becoming an integral part of their daily lives. The survey, conducted from March 15 to April 20, 2024, polled a nationally representative sample of 1,045 U.S. adult parents and 1,045 U.S. teens, ages 13 to 18. Teen respondents were invited to participate through their parents, resulting in 1,045 parent-teen dyad interviews.    According to the findings, 70% of teens say they have used at least one type of generative AI tool. These tools tend to fall into four categories: - Chatbots/text generators: ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Snap's My AI   - Image generators: DALL-E, Bing Image Creator, Photoshop with gen AI features   - Video generators: Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Google VideoPoet   - Search engines with AI-generated results: Bing, Google SGE, Brave Summarizer  Out of these categories, search engines are used the most (56%), followed by chatbots (51%), image generators (34%), and video generators (22%). Generative AI is not just a tool for entertainment; teens are using it for various purposes, with the top three uses including homework help (53%), fighting boredom (42%), and language translation (41%). A key issue raised by the report is that parents often don’t know their teens are using AI. Among parents whose teens admitted to using AI, only 37% were aware of this activity. One in four of parents believed their teens weren’t using AI at all, and 39% were unsure. The disconnect extends to schools as well. Only 7% of teens reported that their teachers “mostly allow” students to use gen AI. While 42% said teachers “mostly do not allow” it, 23% were unsure of their teacher’s stance, and 27% said teachers haven’t mentioned AI at all. The fact that AI is most often used for homework help while only a small number of teenagers indicate that their teachers permit its use highlights a disconnect between how teens engage with technology and teachers' understanding or acceptance of it. One clear takeaway from the report is that teens are outpacing both their parents and schools in adopting generative AI. While this isn’t entirely new—teenagers are often ahead of the curve when it comes to technology—the stakes are higher now. The rapid advancement of AI means that teens are experimenting with tools that can significantly impact their education and personal development. To ensure that generative AI is used responsibly and effectively, schools and parents must develop clear policies, communicate effectively, and provide ongoing education. Full report here: https://lnkd.in/e2M6kCgQ 

This week on CONTROL, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller debate how various election scenarios will impact Speaker Johnson’s standing in the conference and quest to keep his job, following his failed six-month CR plan. Jonathan Tamari from Bloomberg Government guest stars joins to offer his perspective on the funding fight CR and shares some insights about the pivotal state in this election: Pennsylvania. Tune in here: https://lnkd.in/ePEQ4xnx

There’s a lot of hype built around the idea of lame duck being productive for Congress, but will it really be? On CONTROL, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller talk about the upcoming lame duck session and more. There’s a new episode every Tuesday Congress is in session. Be sure to subscribe and listen to the latest:https://t.co/9e0Jf2bg3n

New from Seven Letter Insight - Shocking News: No One Wants a Rotten, Inconvenient Grocery Store As the grocery industry evolves, two critical factors are reshaping consumer decisions: fresh food and convenience. Deloitte’s sixth annual report on the state of fresh food highlights a unique opportunity for grocery retailers to blend their traditional strengths in fresh produce with a growing demand for convenience. The study, which surveyed 100 grocery retail executives from large companies and 2,000 U.S. consumers, provides insights that could shape the future of grocery shopping. It’s no surprise that fresh food is a top priority for consumers. Freshness is closely linked to health and nutrition, which is why nearly 90% of consumers say fresh food makes them happy. With the rise of health-conscious trends, 86% of shoppers now cite personal health and wellness as "important" or "very important" factors in their choice to buy fresh food. Despite their commitment to freshness, 67% of consumers admit they still opt for convenient food options on busy days, even if that means choosing more processed foods. Fresh food alone isn’t enough to win over today’s customers—convenience is key. In fact, more than half (52%) of consumers value convenience more than they did in the past, with Millennials (57%) and Gen Z (61%) driving this growing demand. Interestingly, while grocery executives express concern about competition from internet grocery stores (56%) and third-party shopping apps (53%), consumers still prioritize traditional grocery stores when seeking convenience. In fact, 47% of consumers turn to traditional stores for convenient shopping, compared to just 9% who use third-party apps, 3% who prefer internet grocers, and 2% who buy directly from food producers’ websites. A strategy for grocers may be as simple as capitalizing on the traditional strengths of the grocery sector. Fresh food is a strength and as noted above, traditional grocery is still the top consumer choice for convenience. What consumers really want is in-store convenience that doesn’t compromise the fresh, healthy food they seek.  Read full study here: https://lnkd.in/ejcv2rTF

On today's episode of CONTROL, hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the latest efforts to avoid a government shutdown. Plus, John Everett, SEMAFOR's congressional bureau chief, joins the show to discuss all things Senate: spending, IVF, leadership races, and more. Listen now ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eETwWfgM