TikTok is a unique blend of social media platforms – here's why kids love it

An app that young people use to share videos of themselves dancing might seem like a silly diversion, but it's become a powerhouse social media platform.

Kevin Munger, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Social Data Analytics, Pennsylvania State University • conversation
Aug. 26, 2020 • ~9 min
Tags: social-media china twitter facebook video india young-people mobile-apps apps youtube instagram youth tiktok snapchat us-china-relations

How fake accounts constantly manipulate what you see on social media – and what you can do about it

A social media researcher explains how bots and sock puppet accounts manipulate and polarize public debate.

Jeanna Matthews, Full Professor, Computer Science, Clarkson University • conversation
June 24, 2020 • ~8 min
Tags: social-media computer-science covid-19 algorithm twitter bots facebook disinformation instagram hackers distrust media-literacy authoritarian-regimes russian-trolls divisive-politics internet-research-agency

Coronavirus has revealed the power of social networks in a crisis

The community networks that social platforms host go much deeper than the technology. They have enabled a shift in the way we communicate with each other – especially in a crisis.

Jon Chamberlain, Lecturer in Computer Science, University of Essex • conversation
May 12, 2020 • ~6 min
Tags: coronavirus social-networks facebook communities

Social media fuels wave of coronavirus misinformation as users focus on popularity, not accuracy

Social media analysts are seeing some alarming trends on Twitter, Facebook and other platforms as the new coronavirus spreads.

Jon-Patrick Allem, Assistant Professor of Research, University of Southern California • conversation
April 6, 2020 • ~7 min

Tags:  health  social-media  covid-19  coronavirus  twitter  facebook  misinformation  coronavirus-2020  youtube  technology  norms  covid-19-myths

These tools help older people connect digitally while isolating

From Facebook to WhatsApp, technology is important to keeping older generations from feeling lonely while social distancing during coronavirus

Daniel Miller, Professor of Anthropology, UCL • conversation
March 30, 2020 • ~5 min

Tags:  facebook  loneliness  social-isolation  phones  whatsapp  elderly-care  older-age  tech

Social media companies are taking steps to tamp down coronavirus misinformation – but they can do more

Facebook, Google and Twitter are stepping up to block misinformation and promote accurate information about the coronavirus. Their track records on self-policing are poor. The results so far are mixed.

Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business, The Fletcher School, Tufts University • conversation
March 30, 2020 • ~11 min

Tags:  public-health  social-media  covid-19  coronavirus  fake-news  pandemic  twitter  google  bots  facebook  disinformation  misinformation  new-coronavirus  world-health-organization-who  cdc  youtube  instagram  whatsapp

The battle against disinformation is global

A scholar who has reviewed the efforts of nations around the world to protect their citizens from foreign interference says there is no magic solution, but there's plenty to learn and do.

Scott Shackelford, Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics; Director, Ostrom Workshop Program on Cybersecurity and Internet Governance; Cybersecurity Program Chair, IU-Bloomington, Indiana University • conversation
March 20, 2020 • ~10 min

Tags:  european-union-eu  spain  twitter  europe  facebook  deepfakes  disinformation  misinformation  australia  india  france  new-zealand  indonesia  russia  united-kingdom  malaysia  information-warfare  social-media-and-democracy  russian-information-warfare  christchurch-call

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