“Film Your Hospital” – the anatomy of a COVID-19 conspiracy theory

It's not just bots which spread misinformation on social media.

Wasim Ahmed, Lecturer in Digital Business, Newcastle University • conversation
Oct. 15, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: social-media covid-19 twitter conspiracy-theories covid-19-myths coronavirus-insights social-media-platforms twitter-bots

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

Twitter posts show that people are profoundly sad – and are visiting parks to cheer up

Research that measures the public mood based on Twitter posts shows that it's currently at its lowest point in a decade. One exception: when people visit parks and green spaces.

Taylor Ricketts, Professor and Director, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont • conversation
Aug. 6, 2020 • ~8 min
Tags: social-media mental-health covid-19 twitter parks city-parks outdoors san-francisco cincinnati minneapolis george-floyd-protests

Twitter hack exposes broader threat to democracy and society

Hackers demonstrated they can take over Twitter's technology infrastructure, a brazen move that hints at how such an attack could destabilize society.

Laura DeNardis, Professor and Interim Dean, American University School of Communication • conversation
July 17, 2020 • ~8 min
Tags: social-media cybersecurity hacking internet cybercrime twitter technology technology-companies

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

Working from home: Twitter reveals why we’re embracing it

#WFH? It seems a lot of people have quickly become used to it.

Simon Thorne, Senior Lecturer in Computing and ​Information Systems, Cardiff Metropolitan University • conversation
May 22, 2020 • ~6 min

Tags:  social-media  coronavirus  twitter  zoom  working-from-home  lockdown  covid-pandemic

Don't rely on a quarantini to boost your immune system during coronavirus

OK, we're all getting a little stir-crazy from staying at home. But is a mixed drink with vitamins added really something we should consider?

Katherine Basbaum, Clinical Nutritionist, Cardiology, University of Virginia • conversation
April 8, 2020 • ~3 min

Tags:  covid-19  coronavirus  alcohol  immune-system  twitter  minerals  vitamins  moderation

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

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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