Understanding how news works can short-circuit the connection between social media use and vaccine hesitancy

Researchers identified a connection between low levels of media literacy and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in people who consume their news via social media.

Saifuddin Ahmed, Assistant Professor of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University • conversation
Nov. 3, 2022 • ~5 min

Experts grade Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube on readiness to handle midterm election misinformation

Misinformation has bedeviled social media companies for years, and the problem is especially consequential during elections. Are the companies up to the job as the 2022 midterm elections approach?

Scott Shackelford, Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University • conversation
Oct. 17, 2022 • ~16 min

Misinformation is a common thread between the COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS pandemics – with deadly consequences

The spread of misinformation in many pandemics, including the smallpox and 1918 influenza outbreaks, have undermined efforts to contain infections and prevent deaths.

Cristian Apetrei, Professor of Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences • conversation
Aug. 24, 2022 • ~9 min

How many bots are on Twitter? The question is difficult to answer and misses the point

Elon Musk’s focus on the number of bots on Twitter, whether genuine or a distraction, does little to address the problems of misinformation and spam. A pair of social media experts explain why.

Filippo Menczer, Professor of Informatics and Computer Science, Indiana University • conversation
May 23, 2022 • ~8 min

Countries with lower-than-expected vaccination rates show unusually negative attitudes to vaccines on Twitter

A team analyzed more than 21 million tweets about COVID-19 vaccines and found that negative sentiments on social media were tied to lower-than-expected vaccination rates in many nations.

Ali Zain, Ph.D. Student of Mass Communication, University of South Carolina • conversation
May 10, 2022 • ~7 min

Elon Musk is wrong: research shows content rules on Twitter help preserve free speech from bots and other manipulation

Elon Musk said he wants to make Twitter a platform for free speech. Here is what research shows about claims of political bias and excessive moderation.

Filippo Menczer, Professor of Informatics and Computer Science, Indiana University • conversation
May 9, 2022 • ~11 min

Elon Musk says relaxing content rules on Twitter will boost free speech, but research shows otherwise

Elon Musk said he wants to make Twitter a platform for free speech. Here is what research shows about claims of political bias and excessive moderation.

Filippo Menczer, Professor of Informatics and Computer Science, Indiana University • conversation
May 9, 2022 • ~11 min

Elon Musk's plans for Twitter could make its misinformation problems worse

Twitter, more than other social media platforms, fosters real-time discussion about events as they unfold. That could change now that Musk has gained control of the company.

Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University • conversation
April 25, 2022 • ~9 min

Cyberattacks have yet to play a significant role in Russia’s battlefield operations in Ukraine – cyberwarfare experts explain the likely reasons

Cyberattacks can be devastating, just not on the battlefield, according to researchers who looked at 10 years of armed conflicts around the world.

Erik Gartzke, Professor of Political Science, University of California San Diego • conversation
April 4, 2022 • ~9 min

Russia's false claims about biological weapons in Ukraine demonstrate the dangers of disinformation and how hard it is to counter – 4 essential reads

The Russian government used disinformation to fabricate a justification for invading Ukraine. A new campaign focused on biowarfare claims threatens to escalate the conflict.

Eric Smalley, Science + Technology Editor • conversation
March 14, 2022 • ~8 min

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