The Rise of Robo Texts in NJ: When Your Phone Becomes a Nightmare

First, let’s focus on the good news. According to the data site Robokiller, robocalls dropped by 14% in the month of September, down to a total of 4.6 billion. Can we get a virtual high-five for that? 🙌
But, oh boy, brace yourself for the bad news. Robotexts, yes, you heard it right, those pesky digital messages from our robotic overlords, were on the rise. They increased by a whopping 9%, totaling a mind-boggling 12 billion texts last month. It seems like Skynet’s PR team has been working overtime!
Now, we’ve all been there. We see our phone light up with a new message, and for a brief moment, we hope it’s a message from a friend or a family member. But no, it’s another one of those robotexts that make us question our life choices.
So, just how many of these junk messages or calls do you get in a typical day? It’s like a game of Russian roulette with your phone, and you’re never quite sure if the next message will be a genuine one or just another AI trying to sell you the latest miracle weight loss plan or a free cruise to the moon.
You ever answer unknown numbers that call your phone? Well, if you’re anything like me, you’ve done it more times than you’d like to admit. There’s always that faint hope that it’s the long-lost relative who’s finally tracked you down or a billionaire benefactor looking to give you their fortune. Spoiler alert: it’s usually just a telemarketer or a robot trying to steal your personal information.
But let’s get back to those robotexts. They’ve become the unsolicited comedians of our digital lives. You never know when they’ll show up with a punchline that’s as funny as a dad joke, and just as welcome.
“Hey there, we noticed you haven’t won the lottery yet. Don’t worry; your time will come! In the meantime, why not buy our lucky charm bracelet for only $19.99?”
Or how about this gem:
“Congratulations! You’ve been pre-approved for a loan with an interest rate that’s only slightly higher than the national debt. Act now, and we’ll throw in a free stress ball!”
It’s almost like the robots are trying to compete with stand-up comedians for our attention. But instead of making us laugh, they make us want to throw our phones into a black hole and move to a remote cabin in the woods where the only thing that beeps is the microwave.
So, as robocalls decrease and robotexts increase, we find ourselves in a never-ending battle with technology. Our phones are now our sworn enemies, and we’re left to wonder if there’s a secret society of robots plotting to take over the world one text message at a time.
In the end, all we can do is sigh, press that “block” button one more time, and hope for the day when our phones will ring with the dulcet tones of an actual human being instead of a robotic imposter. Until then, stay strong, fellow smartphone warriors, and may your inbox be free of robot comedians and their terrible punchlines.
Twitter's 'X' Rebrand Sparks Hilarious Reactions
Elon Musk has dramatically revealed a brand makeover for Twitter — he’s now calling it “X” — and the reactions are pouring in. Musk has decided to discard the familiar name and the instantly recognizable bird logo.
Although the site has seen design alterations before (initially appearing as ‘Twittr’), the bird graphic became the logo of the company since its introduction in 2010. And “tweeting” and “retweet” became part of our everyday language that was specific to the platform.
Musk surprised everyone with his announcement on Sunday, and by Monday morning, he https://t.co/bOUOek5Cvy now points to https://t.co/AYBszklpkE.
Interim X logo goes live later today.
The Twitter website has now adopted the new logo, leaving behind the familiar blue bird. In a previous statement, Musk expressed his intention to bid farewell to the Twitter brand and gradually eliminate all bird-related elements.
Twitter has prominently featured its vibrant and globally recognized blue bird logo for over a decade. The rebranding can be seen as a significant attempt to revamp the company’s image. In recent months, Musk has been warning about Twitter’s precarious financial situation, with steep losses in ad revenue and concerns about potential bankruptcy.
Adding to the pressure, Threads, a rival social media platform launched by Meta, Facebook’s parent company, garnered over 100 million user sign-ups within its first week, posing further competition to Twitter.
On Sunday, Twitter’s CEO Linda Yaccarino shared on the platform: “X represents the future state of limitless interactivity – focusing on audio, video, messaging, payments/banking – building a worldwide marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities. Fueled by AI, X will connect us all in ways we’re only just starting to envision.”
Despite Yaccarino’s announcement, many users have taken to mocking the statement and questioning the motive behind the rebrand. Others suggested the “X” was a bad idea. “Imagine explaining to your wife that you watched some Xvideos today,” Imagine explaining to your wife that you watched some Xvideos today
As soon as Twitter turned into X, people didn’t waste a second and began cracking jokes about the whole transformation.
"X Gon' Give It To Ya!"
X Gon’ Give It To Ya! 😤 pic.twitter.com/ymlYPNMSuK
— X2Y2 (@the_x2y2)
X Gon' Give It To Ya! 😤 pic.twitter.com/ymlYPNMSuK
— X2Y2 (@the_x2y2) July 24, 2023In a lyrical twist, the NFT site X2Y2 chimed in on the change by referencing ‘X Gon’ Give It To Ya’ by DMX.
"A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WANT THIS"
A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WANT THIS pic.twitter.com/EHvb0diAMu
— Double D katy (@maryjuwanababy) July 23, 2023
Memes became the language of expression for some users, including one verified user named “Double D Katy,” who humorously questioned who exactly asked for the social platform’s rebrand.X-Rated
Naming it X implies this is officially a porn app.
— Alevity (@AlevityXiaku)
Naming it X implies this is officially a porn app.
— Alevity (@AlevityXiaku) July 24, 2023
The letter ‘X’ often brings to mind X-rated content, leading many users — including a verified user named “Alevity” — to associate something other than a simple rebrand with the new identity.The Letter X
The letter X will be holding a press conference later today. #TwitterX pic.twitter.com/qXKNYLTqLe
— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet)
The letter X will be holding a press conference later today. #TwitterX pic.twitter.com/qXKNYLTqLe
— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) July 24, 2023
Sesame Street joined in on the rebrand reaction fun, using their expertise in showcasing letters by presenting the letter X in a comical press conference.A bit graphic
The X era rebrand #TwitterX pic.twitter.com/AoW5XWBKvs
— Don Pappi (@_ngatia_) July 24, 2023
Amid the reactions to the rebrand, some darker sentiments emerged, including a powerful graphic depicting the iconic Twitter bird in ruins.X.com
Welcome to…X…? pic.twitter.com/4rLArWLSRa
— Mashable (@mashable)
Welcome to...X...? pic.twitter.com/4rLArWLSRa
— Mashable (@mashable) July 24, 2023
Even the digital platform Mashable didn’t hold back, pointing out that X.com doesn’t actually redirect you to the intended URL. If you type X.com into your search bar, it still shows Twitter.com.Def Leppard's 'X' Anniversary
Hello, X…just in time for the album’s 21st anniversary this Sunday 😎#TwitterX pic.twitter.com/Z0ujwGVu41
— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard)
Hello, X...just in time for the album's 21st anniversary this Sunday 😎#TwitterX pic.twitter.com/Z0ujwGVu41
— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) July 24, 2023
Coincidentally, some bands and artists have albums titled ‘X,’ including Def Leppard. The social platform’s rebranding came just in time for the 21st anniversary of the band’s X album, which falls on this Sunday.
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