Deplatforming online extremists reduces their followers – but there's a price

Online extremists may lose followers when removed from mainstream social media, but their remaining supporters can become even more toxic.

Emiliano De Cristofaro, Professor, UCL • conversation
Aug. 26, 2022 ~8 min

#EmptyOldTrafford: why Manchester United's attempt to recruit global fans may be backfiring

Social media calls for a boycott of the club’s upcoming match against Liverpool seem to mostly becoming from outside the UK.

Simon Chadwick, Global Professor of Sport | Director of Eurasian Sport, EM Lyon • conversation
Aug. 17, 2022 ~7 min


How 'living architecture' could help the world avoid a soul-deadening digital future

The late Christopher Alexander’s groundbreaking work on patterns has informed the development of technology for decades, but it’s the architect’s later work that holds the key to a healthier digital life.

Tim Gorichanaz, Assistant Teaching Professor of Information Studies, Drexel University • conversation
Aug. 9, 2022 ~14 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

Elon Musk could roll back social media moderation – just as we're learning how it can stop misinformation

Elon Musk will need to tackle false information on Twitter, say researchers.

Tracie Farrell, Research Associate - Web Science, The Open University • conversation
May 12, 2022 ~7 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 comments about Twitter don't square with the social media platform's reality

Elon Musk has an idea of what ails Twitter and what needs to be done to fix it. The problem is his assumptions are wrong.

Jessica Maddox, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Creative Media, University of Alabama • conversation
May 3, 2022 ~8 min

Elon Musk won't have a board to watch him when he takes Twitter private – does that matter?

Musk’s tweets badgering Twitter’s board raised important corporate governance questions about a board’s purpose and whether its members should own shares in the company they oversee.

Steven Boivie, Professor of Management, Texas A&M University • conversation
April 25, 2022 ~9 min

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