Repository of problems worth solving
World Solve is a public institutional repository for identifying real unresolved problems across science, society, health, governance, economics, and local systems. Each entry is intended to be citable, inspectable, and actionable.
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4194Total
4194Open
0Solved
9Humans
Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving bullying continuing online and offline. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.
solutions
bullying
continuing
online
offline
social-civic-problems
Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving online courts excluding the offline. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.
online
courts
excluding
offline
establishing
social-civic-problems
Addressing online scams stealing people's money is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
online
scams
stealing
people
money
mathematics-logic
people believing online lies remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.
people
believing
online
lies
strengthening
local-regional
The problem of digital divide preventing poor children from studying online continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
sustainable
digital
divide
preventing
poor
other
As more government activity moves online, corruption may shift from visible cash handling to invisible data manipulation, access control, and procurement capture. The challenge is detecting abuse in systems that look efficient on the surface. This becomes particularly difficult in informal settlements, because public institutions must remain fair, resilient, and accountable while adapting to new risks.
society-governance
resilient
systems
informal
settlements
creating
anti-corruption
digital
states
government
activity
public
technology-computing
institutions
across
corruption
As benefits move online, errors can become opaque and difficult to reverse. The challenge is creating fast, accessible grievance systems that help ordinary people correct eligibility mistakes without requiring legal expertise. The challenge is especially acute in informal settlements, where legacy systems, coordination failures, and weak oversight can magnify harm.
technology-computing
asia
indonesia
systems
grievance
informal
settlements
trustworthy
redress
digital
welfare
benefits
move
society-governance
public
climate-environment
across
economics-resources
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Instruction manuals generated automatically for online product listings sometimes contain fabricated or inaccurate safety information, since the process isn't always reviewed by someone with real product knowledge. This creates real safety risks for consumers.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
product
manuals
contain
build
fully
reliable
systems
detect
ai-generated
fake
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
prevent
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Online marketplaces can host sellers using fabricated business identities or locations, making it difficult for buyers to know who they're actually purchasing from. Reliable, scalable seller verification remains an unresolved marketplace trust issue.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
online
seller
business
yet
build
technology
reliably
verifies
whether
stated
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
resolved
haven
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Convincing but entirely fabricated testimonials generated by AI can influence purchasing decisions without shoppers realizing the reviews aren't from real customers. Platforms are still developing reliable ways to detect and remove this content at scale.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
testimonials
shoppers
haven
solved
prevent
ai-generated
fake
customer
misleading
online
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
resolved
technology-computing
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Counterfeit medications sold through unauthorized online channels can be difficult to distinguish from legitimate products without lab testing, putting patients at serious risk. Scalable, affordable detection at the point of purchase remains an unresolved challenge.
health-biology
global-unspecified
affordable
counterfeit
patients
online
yet
build
reliable
technology
detect
pharmaceuticals
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
technology-computing
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Scammers use AI to generate convincing fake investment platforms, testimonials, and marketing materials that can specifically target and convince vulnerable or inexperienced investors. Detecting and shutting these operations down quickly enough remains an unresolved challenge.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
fake
investment
vulnerable
haven
solved
prevent
ai-generated
opportunities
convincingly
targeting
philosophy-ethics
whether
way
resolved
technology-computing
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
AI can now generate entirely fake but convincing photos and personas used to build fraudulent romantic or social relationships online for financial exploitation. Detecting and removing these fake profiles quickly enough remains an unresolved platform challenge.
society-governance
global-unspecified
fake
social
profiles
haven
found
way
prevent
ai-generated
media
being
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Scammers can now use AI to generate convincing images of products that don't exist or don't match what's actually shipped, making it harder for shoppers to identify fraudulent listings. Detection tools on marketplaces remain inconsistently effective.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
don
images
have
scalable
way
detect
fake
ai-generated
product
online
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
prevent
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many apps still handle intermittent internet connectivity poorly, causing data loss or conflicts when switching between offline and online states. Truly seamless offline-first design remains inconsistently implemented across the software industry.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
offline-first
connectivity
yet
build
fully
reliable
applications
sync
seamlessly
once
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Age verification systems designed to protect minors from inappropriate content often require handing over sensitive personal information, creating a tradeoff between child safety and privacy for all users. A method that achieves both effectively remains unresolved.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
age
users
privacy
yet
build
technology
reliably
verifies
online
compromising
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
haven
systems
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
When companies discontinue software or online services, users often lose access to their data or functionality with little warning or support for migrating elsewhere. Standardized, consumer-friendly transition processes remain largely absent from the industry.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
software
users
don
have
widely
adopted
way
make
end-of-life
transitions
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Fake reviews generated at scale by AI can be nearly indistinguishable from genuine customer feedback, undermining trust in online shopping decisions. Detection tools are struggling to keep pace with how convincing these fakes have become.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
have
fake
reviews
online
shopping
don
reliable
way
prevent
ai-generated
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Search results are increasingly cluttered with content engineered to game ranking algorithms rather than genuinely help users, and search engines are struggling to keep pace with these tactics. This has made finding trustworthy information online noticeably harder over time.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
search
engines
genuinely
information
content
yet
build
reliably
separate
useful
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Connectivity and device gaps widened during school closures, harming poorer students most. Low-cost offline-capable digital learning tools can bridge gaps.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
digital
students
learning
divides
keep
low-income
online
gaps
connectivity
device
technology-computing
low
african
remains