Social Media
Elon Musk Warned He Must Protect Twitter Users
Elon Musk has been warned he must protect Twitter users from harmful content after he struck a $44bn deal to buy the social media giant. The billionaire vowed to relax content restrictions, sparking fears from human rights groups it could lead to a rise in bullying and misinformation. “Regardless of ownership, all social media platforms …
Ex-Twitter Jack Dorsey Admits He’s to Blame for Centralized Web – Musk Comes to Rescue?
Jack Dorsey, Twitter’s co-founder, has spoken out about the problems with a centralized internet — and he admits that he’s partially to blame for it. In a series of tweets, Dorsey summarized that the internet has become too centralized, with a few big companies dominating the space. He was highlighting that this concentration of …
Digging Your Own Digital Grave: How Should You Manage The Data You Leave Behind?
Throughout our lifetimes we consume, collate, curate, host and produce a staggering quantity of data – some by our own hand, some by others on our behalf, and some without our knowledge or consent. Collectively, our “digital footprints” represent who we are and who we were. Our digital legacies are immortal and can impact those …
If Big Tech Has The Will, Here Are Ways Research Shows Self-Regulation Can Work
Governments and observers across the world have repeatedly raised concerns about the monopoly power of Big Tech companies and the role the companies play in disseminating misinformation. In response, Big Tech companies have tried to preempt regulations by regulating themselves. With Facebook’s announcement that its Oversight Board will make a decision about whether former President …
Parental Restrictions On Tech Use Have Little Lasting Effect Into Adulthood
A new study of more than 1,200 individuals found that time spent with digital technology during adolescence has little impact on long-term use, suggesting that worries about widespread tech addiction may be overblown. Parental limits on youth tech use had no lasting impact on use in adulthood. “Put your phone away!” “No more video games!” …
Social Media Giants Have Finally Confronted Trump’s Lies. But Why Wait Until There Was A Riot In The Capitol?
Amid the chaos in the US Capitol, stoked largely by rhetoric from President Donald Trump, Twitter has locked his account, with 88.7 million followers, for 12 hours. Facebook and Instagram quickly followed suit, locking Trump’s accounts — with 35.2 million followers and 24.5 million, respectively — for 24 hours. We are locking President Trump’s Instagram …
People Want Data Privacy But Don’t Always Know What They’re Getting
The Trump administration’s move to ban the popular video app TikTok has stoked fears about the Chinese government collecting personal information of people who use the app. These fears underscore growing concerns Americans have about digital privacy generally. Debates around privacy might seem simple: Something is private or it’s not. However, the technology that provides …
Is Anything Ever ‘Forgotten’ Online?
When someone types your name into Google, suppose the first link points to a newspaper article about you going bankrupt 15 years ago, or to a YouTube video of you smoking cigarettes 20 years ago, or simply a webpage that includes personal information such as your current home address, your birth date, or your Social …