social

The Perilous Power Of Social Media Platforms

Margaret R. Servin 8 months ago

Social media platforms have immense power, from shutting down voices to amplifying what we see. But is that singular power perilous to democracy?

Guests

Shoshana Zuboff, professor emerita at Harvard Business School. Author of “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism.” (@shoshanazuboff)

Guillaume Chaslot, founder of AlgoTransparency. Mozilla fellow. Advisor at the Center for Humane Technology. He helped develop YouTube’s recommendation algorithm from 2010 to 2011. (@gchaslot)

Ramesh Srinivasan, professor in UCLA’s Department of Information Studies. Director of the UC Digital Cultures Lab. Author of “Beyond the Valley.” (@rameshmedia)

Also Featured

Jason Myles, guitarist for the band Bitter Lake. Host of the This Is Revolution podcast.

Interview Highlights

On the digital century’s impact on democracy

Shoshana Zuboff: “What is this fight for the soul of our information, civilization? It’s a fight about whether or not our

… Read More

How to identify fake news online in the age of social media

Margaret R. Servin 8 months ago

TAMPA, Fla. — There are a lot of ways to inform yourself of the news of the day. More people are getting their information online, but not everything you read is accurate.

ABC Action News in-depth reporter Anthony Hill is digging deeper to find out how to know if the information you’re taking in is from a reputable source and ways you can weed out the noise.

In 2021, there is so much information online and nowadays more people are consuming their news from online sources. Whether that be on their tablets, laptops, or cell phones, we are more connected than we’ve ever been before.

The democratization and liberty of information online have made sharing and consuming content easier than ever, but there’s one problem. There’s a lot of fake news floating around online.

“The majority of the people actually believe that they can well identify fake news,” said Helen

… Read More

UPDATE 1-French watchdog says EU monitoring market risk from social media

Margaret R. Servin 8 months ago

(Adds more detail)

LONDON, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Regulators are monitoring how a surge in retail investors and online brokers during the COVID-19 pandemic risks creating bubbles inflated by social media, France’s AMF markets watchdog said on Wednesday.

Robert Ophele, chair of AMF, said the trading frenzy, fuelled by posts on the Reddit forum and surge in bitcoin prices, has shown how technology and social media can combine to bring irrationality to financial markets.

In a far-reaching evolution, online brokers and chat sites offer new and younger retail investors cheap access to markets, Ophele said.

“Empowering customers with this almost direct access to markets is very welcome but raises many questions,” Ophele told an Afore Consulting webinar.

“It opens new ways to distribute very risky and leveraged products without the proper safeguards, a new way to manipulate markets using the social media dimension of many platforms.”

Few examples of U.S.

… Read More

Ron DeSantis Proposes Fining Social Media Companies $100,000 if They Ban State Lawmakers

Margaret R. Servin 8 months ago

Social media companies would be subject to daily fines under a new law proposed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.



Ron DeSantis standing in front of a crowd: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis working on legislation that would penalize social media companies for blocking state politicians, even if they incite violence. DeSantis speaks to supporters of President Donald Trump before he arrives to give a campaign speech just four days before Election Day outside of Raymond James Stadium on October 29, 2020 in Tampa, Florida.

© Octavio Jones/Getty Images
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis working on legislation that would penalize social media companies for blocking state politicians, even if they incite violence. DeSantis speaks to supporters of President Donald Trump before he arrives to give a campaign speech just four days before Election Day outside of Raymond James Stadium on October 29, 2020 in Tampa, Florida.

DeSantis introduced a proposal to punish social media companies that suspend state politicians’ accounts. In a press conference at the Florida Capitol on Tuesday, he referred to Big Tech as a “monopoly” that controls an “unimaginable” flow of information and is inherently “discriminatory” against conservative viewpoints.

“The message is loud and clear,” DeSantis said. “When it comes to elections in Florida, Big Tech should stay out of it.”

The

… Read More