PHYS.org: “USC researchers may have found the biggest influencer in the spread of fake news: social platforms’ structure of rewarding users for habitually sharing information. The team’s findings, published Tuesday by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, upend popular misconceptions that misinformation spreads because users lack the critical thinking skills necessary for discerning truth… Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Category Archives: Social Media
How you could build a search that the fediverse would welcome
Anil Dash – “Mastodon and the fediverse are clearly taking off, bringing in millions of new users, and also organically inspiring a wave of technical innovation that dwarfs all of the efforts that the bribes and empty promises of the Web3 crypto bubble couldn’t touch. I’m even enjoying having settled into a relatively permanent new… Continue Reading
Gonzalez v. Google
Techdirt: “In early December 2022, a former Israeli Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, three other retired Israeli generals, a former Commissioner of the Israeli Police, and a former head of the Mossad’s Intelligence Directorate filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court in Gonzalez v. Google arguing… Continue Reading
Quote Tweeting: Over 30 Studies Dispel Some Myths
Absolutely Maybe, PLOS Blogs, Hilda Bastian, January 12, 2023: “The first myth to dispense with: That there’s almost no research on quote tweets! I added to this misconception with my December post. I’d heard there was next to no research so often, that when I had trouble finding studies, I assumed digging harder would be… Continue Reading
Courts Find That Twitter Can Restrict More Than Just Your Character Count
ABA: “The 21st century court system has seen a surge of internet-related cases as websites and social media platforms continue to connect more individuals around the globe. While only 5 percent of adults in the United States reported using social media in 2005, the number has now skyrocketed to more than 70 percent. Today, people… Continue Reading
8 Ways to Discover the Most Popular Online Content
The return – again of RSS via Make Use Of: ” With the internet fill of content, it can be hard to know where to turn. Here are some ways to discover popular content online. These days, most people get their daily dose of news from Facebook posts, Twitter, Reddit threads, and more. However, if… Continue Reading
Top AI conference bans use of ChatGPT and AI language tools to write academic papers
Follow up to previous post – NYC education department blocks ChatGPT on school devices, networks – via The Verge: “One of the world’s most prestigious machine learning conferences has banned authors from using AI tools like ChatGPT to write scientific papers, triggering a debate about the role of AI-generated text in academia. The International Conference… Continue Reading
Journalists and others should leave Twitter
Dan Gillmor, Techdirt – Here’s how they can get started: “Elon Musk has demonstrated contempt for free speech in general, and journalism in particular, with his behavior at Twitter. He is demonstrating why anyone it is foolhardy for anyone to rely on centralized platforms to create and distribute vital information.” Continue Reading
What social media regulation could look like: Think of pipelines, not utilities
Via LLRX – What social media regulation could look like: Think of pipelines, not utilities – Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, and his controversial statements and decisions as its owner, have fueled a new wave of calls for regulating social media companies. Elected officials and policy scholars have argued for years that companies like Twitter and… Continue Reading
There’s never been a better time to stop tweeting
engadget – Twitter, how do I leave thee? Let me count the ways: “There’s never really been a shortage of reasons to spend less time on Twitter. Even before Elon Musk’s chaotic takeover, the platform was long plagued by misinformation, hate speech, harassment and other ills that made it less than welcoming. There’s never been… Continue Reading
Twitter v. Mastodon v. Post v. Other Possibilities
Teri Kanefield’s long read is an articulate, in-depth analysis of the rapid, jarring, deeply troubling shifts occurring on social media giant Twitter, and the choices she recommends users should make moving forward. Kanefield’s expansive knowledge of social media, writing, teaching and the law make this article a compelling read. LLRX and beSpacific have been posting… Continue Reading
Librarians Are Meeting Younger Readers Where They Are: TikTok
The New York Times – “The pandemic hurt children’s reading skills. Librarians are doing what it takes to connect them with books — including dance routines. The pandemic wiped out decades of progress in children’s reading skills. So what’s a librarian hoping to engage children and teenagers with books and reading to do? “Meet them… Continue Reading
