【推荐1】Have you ever wondered why so many apps are free to use? After all, they cost money to run. Well, instead of paying with money, you’re paying by sharing your personal data (资料). Then, businesses buy and use the data so that they can show you targeted ads (定向广告).

What happens to personal information online? Many free apps get paid by businesses who want to know about the users of the apps. What a business wants is the exact information about customers. Companies called “data brokers” collect your data—everything from your name, location and education level to the topics you search for, the websites you visit and the people you follow—and sell them to other brokers and businesses.

Why do companies want the data? The data is valuable. Businesses can use the information from data brokers to target their ads. It means they will show their ads to the people who are most likely to be interested in their products or services.

What can we do about it? Many countries have made laws to protect personal information. For example, a law in the United States says companies must get parents’ permission to collect personal data from kids under 13. China’s law on personal information protection came into effect on November 1, 2021. At the same time, we ourselves should try to guard our data. If an app asks for something like your location, consider saying “No” first. Many apps also have privacy settings (隐私设置), which you can manage to increase your privacy.

In short, information about you is very valuable. Try to protect it.

【推荐2】Huawei is firing back against the US-led campaign(运动、战役) to push it out of major markets, insisting it’s still on track to lead the world in the introduction of 5G technology.

Despite efforts in markets creating fear for Huawei, using politics to interfere(干预) with growth, customers continue to trust us and continue to work with us and build networks with our technologies, Deputy Chairman(副董事长) Ken Hu told reporters in the Chinese city of Dongguan on Tuesday.

Hu was speaking during a turbulent period for the Chinese company, one of the world’s biggest makers of smartphones and telecommunications equipment. Its chief financial officer Ms. Wanzhou Meng is under irrational arrest(不合理的逮捕) in Canada, facing possible extradition(引渡) to the United States, and its products are coming under increasingscrutinyfrom businesses and governments over security(安全) concerns.

Despite decisions this year by Australia and New Zealand to stop wireless operators(无线设备) from using Huawei to build their 5G networks, Hu expressed confidence that the company’s technology is “significantly more advanced”than that of its rivals(对手), giving it a head start of 12 to 18 months and the ability to attract new customers.

【推荐3】On the morning of May 30th, 2019, Huawei helped the BBC use 5G to report news. It was the first time that 5G was used in the world! Actually, China just began to use 5G in June 2019. What’s the most special about 5G? 5G lets us send and receive information in a very short time. Now, 4G takes about 100 to 200 milliseconds(毫秒) to send and receive information. But 5G will help the time down to 1 millisecond or less. The big change that 5G brings will not only make our mobile network faster, but also deeply change our lives in many ways.

First, 5G can connect with amusements. 5G is about 100 times faster than 4G. This means you can download a movie in seconds by using 5G. Also, VR games will become more popular with 5G. 5G will make people feel the games even more real.

Second, 5G can connect with traffic. 5G will also make self-driving cars safer. These cars can send messages to each other. They also “talk” to traffic lights and road sensors(传感器). 5G will allow self-driving cars to have faster reaction(反应) than human drivers.

Third, 5G can connect with smart homes. 5G also makes the IOT possible. IOT is a large network that connects everything to the Internet. Smart homes are part of it. Smart homes can make the machines automatic. For example, if the sensor feels the floor becoming dirty, a smart floor cleaning robot will sweep the floor by itself. And your bread maker could start making breakfast ahead of time or before you get up.

Although not everyone can use 5G networks now, China is trying its best to let everyone use 5G as soon as possible!

【推荐2】When you want to invite friends to a party, you’d better send them invitations. This is a good way to show your respect. Here are some ways of inviting friends to your party.

Mailed Invitation

The most traditional (传统的) way to invite your friends is to mail invitations. You need to write down all the information about the party, such as the party time, place, clothes to wear, things to bring, phone number and so on.

Online Invitation

You can also invite friends to a party through the Internet. You can buy some online invitations, put pictures and videos in the online invitations and then e-mail them to your friends.

Phone Call

If you want to save more time, you can just make a phone call. In this way, you can tell them more about your party. And you can hear if they are interested in the party.

In-person (亲自的) Invitation

An in-person invitation can let you talk to your friends about the party and know their interests. But when you talk to the friends, you may forget some important information. So you’d better prepare an invitation for them, too.

【推荐3】There is no doubt that technology has had a huge influence on our lives. People from all around the world can now contact each other almost with mobile phones and the Internet.

    1     Even so, there have been worries about technology. Some are afraid that it might make people feel lonely and lose touch with others around them.

So, does this mean that technology makes us lonely? I don’t think the answer is as simple as yes or no.     2     It is true that humans need social interaction（互动）. If we depend too much on technology to communicate with others, this can have a bad influence on our mental（精神的）health.

For me, technology is a tool. And, just like any other kind of tool—like a kitchen knife. There is a right way and a wrong way to use it. If you hurt yourself when you are cooking, can you say it is the kitchen knife’s mistake? Of course not.     3    

Take social media as an example.     4     However, if you use it as a tool to connect with friends and family or to start a new community to talk about your hobbies and interests, that loneliness will turn into love and friendship.

    5     To avoid this, maybe you can reach out to a friend and invite them out for lunch or coffee.