Why a social media detox may not be as good for you as you think – new research

Our study found abstaining from social media led to a reduction in positive emotions.

Michael Wadsley, PhD student, Durham University • conversation
Nov. 21, 2023 ~7 min

AI makes Silicon Valley’s philosophy of ‘move fast and break things’ untenable

AI is one of many reasons the tech company mantra should be reconsidered, says an expert.

Constance De Saint Laurent, Assistant Professor of Sociotechnical Systems, Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland Maynooth • conversation
Nov. 21, 2023 ~6 min


People dig deeper to fact-check social media posts when paired with someone who doesn't share their perspective – new research

A new study unexpectedly found a way to help people assess social media posts with less bias and more care – pairing them up with partners who have a different perspective.

Eli Gottlieb, Senior Fellow in Education and Human Development, George Washington University • conversation
Nov. 9, 2023 ~5 min

It's not just about facts: Democrats and Republicans have sharply different attitudes about removing misinformation from social media

One person’s content moderation is another’s censorship when it comes to Democrats’ and Republicans’ views on handling misinformation.

Ruth Elisabeth Appel, Ph.D. Candidate in Communication, Stanford University • conversation
Nov. 3, 2023 ~8 min

How to redesign social media algorithms to bridge divides

Algorithms have been blamed for dividing society. What if they could support social cohesion instead?

Aviv Ovadya, Affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Harvard University • conversation
Oct. 27, 2023 ~8 min

How often do you lie? Deception researchers investigate how the recipient and the medium affect telling the truth

Researchers are interested in whether who you’re communicating with and how you’re interacting affect how likely you are to lie.

Christian B. Miller, A. C. Reid Professor of Philosophy, Wake Forest University • conversation
Oct. 26, 2023 ~8 min

Let the community work it out: Throwback to early internet days could fix social media's crisis of legitimacy

In the days of online bulletin board systems, community members decided what was acceptable. Reviving that approach to content moderation offers Big Tech a path to legitimacy as public spaces.

Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci, Research Fellow, Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure, UMass Amherst • conversation
Oct. 24, 2023 ~10 min

Is someone using your pictures to catfish? Your rights when it comes to fake profiles and social media stalking

Depending on what the fake account is doing, the law may not be on your side.

Aislinn O'Connell, Senior Lecturer in Law, Royal Holloway University of London • conversation
Oct. 17, 2023 ~7 min


Spicy food might burn in the moment, but it likely won't harm your health in the long term

After a 14-year-old died doing a viral spicy chip challenge, many parents have called for more awareness about the risks of these challenges.

Paul D. Terry, Professor of Epidemiology, University of Tennessee • conversation
Oct. 10, 2023 ~7 min

The 'Zoom effect' and the possible link between videochatting and appearance dissatisfaction

With our faces seemingly everywhere − from Zoom meetings to selfies − more people are developing anxieties about how they appear online.

Emily Hemendinger, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus • conversation
Oct. 5, 2023 ~9 min

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