Social Media
Facebook's Privacy Parole Officer Faces an Immense Regulatory Task
Along with a multiple-billion dollar fine, Facebook is required to have an "outside assessor"–a sort of privacy cop–to monitor violations of users' privacy, the targeted spread of harmful content, and instances of collecting far more data than is warranted.
Twitter Will Remove Dehumanizing Content Against Religious Groups
The expansion of the social media company's hateful content policy doesn't go as far as initially promised.
Viewfinder: Protests Erupt Over Philadelphia Cops' Alleged Racist Facebook Posts
Demonstrators gather in the council chamber to protest at Philadelphia City Hall on June 20th, 2019, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Tricky Ethics of Using YouTube Videos for Academic Research
There's no one-size-fits-all for researchers to determine whether using publicly available data is appropriate, but there is certainly room for more discussion.
How Russian Trolls Helped Elect Donald Trump
A new analysis of Russia-generated tweets from 2016 reveals a two-pronged attack.
A Simple Way to Reduce Harassment in Online Discussion Groups
New research finds that prominently posting community rules can make a big difference in deterring trolls.
How Scientists Are Using Selfies to Challenge Stereotypes
Many scientists have flocked to Instagram and other social media platforms to share science more accessibly.
Community Can Offer a Cure to Our Technology Addictions
The solution is not to turn off our phones; it's to develop social, economic, and political structures that address deeper issues of social disconnection and overwork.
How Gen Z'ers Are Remaking Religion to Suit Their Values
Many are no longer passing on the old sacred teachings, but they are imparting a new one: that everyone has not just a right but a duty to choose their own worldview.
What It's Like to Grow Up Surrounded by Fragments of Your Past
With access to seemingly unlimited social archives, young people still understand nostalgia. It might just be a bit different from their parents' version.
Generation Z Isn't Defined by Technology
Digital platforms don't define Gen Z—but young people's use of technology is helping them create new communities.
Does the Media Need to Report on Extremist Manifestos?
An extremism scholar discusses the ways in which journalism has been hijacked by bad faith actors in the wake of the Poway and Christchurch shootings.
The FTC Is Fining Facebook Over Data Privacy Concerns. Users Don't Seem to Care.
The tech giant announced the $3-5 billion fine alongside an 8 percent annual usership increase.
I Helped Create the Internet, and I'm Worried About What It's Doing to Young People
At some level, we are all experiencing the Web's toxic possibilities. But as with other toxins, young developing bodies and brains are more susceptible.
Tumblr Helped Me Plan My Eating Disorder. Then It Helped Me Heal.
There are upsides and downsides to social media—and I'm proud to be part of a generation tackling these issues to create a healthier future.
Can Artificial Intelligence Solve Our Problems With Harassment Online?
The right kind of A.I. can respond to any threat of violence, thereby encouraging bystanders to take action to maintain responsible online communities.
Generation Z Is Far More Nuanced About Tech Than Its Predecessors
Take some time to talk with the young adults in your life about recent technological changes—their responses may surprise you.
How We Can Teach Gen Z a Better Kind of Media Literacy
Young people's ability to navigate the Internet can be summed up in one word: bleak.
Can a Hashtag Inspire People to Keep Their Communities Clean?
The #trashtag challenge inspired people to clean up beaches, parks, rivers, or just random trash strewn on the street.
Facebook Announces Plans to Stop Discrimination in Housing, Employment, and Credit Advertising
The company announced Tuesday that it would stop allowing advertisers of housing, jobs, and credit to target people based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, national origin, family status, and disability.
How YouTube Has Become Fertile Ground for the Spread of Hate
In recent months, YouTube has emerged as something of a flourishing option for white supremacist and neo-Nazi videos—spreading ideas cited by the alleged New Zealand mosque gunman.
Growing Up on Social Media, We Learned About Ourselves. Facebook Learned More.
A Facebook event planned seven years in advance became observational comedy about the weird geography of a world built by Palo Alto coders.
A Video-Sharing App Collected Sensitive Data From Millions of Children Under 13
The Federal Trade Commission has fined the video-sharing social media app TikTok $5.7 million for illegally collecting data of children under 13, a record-setting amount for a child privacy violation.
We're Hiring an Assistant Editor for Social Media and Engagement
This new hire will oversee our social media outreach and help build a deeper relationship with our audience.