Brian and Colin discuss whether information from a particular source can be trusted or not. If the information is strictly fact-based this is not a complicated issue, but sometimes sources will avoid certain aspects and then the issue becomes more complicated. We discuss the website and app, Factual which rates articles and news sites based on an algorithm rather than personal opinions.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
This conversation focuses primarily on the Twitter environment. Brian and Colin agree that this is a difficult process. No matter if you want content moderation to be strict and others wish it to be more relaxed and allow users to moderate their own feeds. How does the debate over the ‘public square’ affect social media?
The article that Colin references from Gizmodo.
Here is a link to the YouTube video.
With recent revelations regarding the authenticity of the laptop, should media have handled the news differently when it broke 3 weeks before the election in 2019. Was the news suppressed? Should the media outlets have reported the news even when they could not verify the details? How much validating should social media conduct?
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
Some aspects of social media are habit forming and some aspects are downright addictive. Treating social media as such gives you the tools to break the habit and the addiction.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
Critiquing both parties in government. The party out of power tends to demand great change and become less motivated to change once they have power. We also consider the idea that the bias in media is a result of market forces, meaning that the consumers of media want the bias. We then spend a few minutes talking about the quality of presidential candidates in recent years and reminisce about past presidents.
You can find the link to the YouTube video, here.
The basis for our conversation is this website which has a very useful graphic at the top of the page, posted below.
We also spend a few minutes talking about the Hierarchy of Evidence which is also shown below and this is the website source.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
Colin and Brian had different experiences in the previous conversation about whether or not there is bias against conservatives in social media and so we thought it would be wise to look back at the conversation. We also address the fact that one of our first videos was pulled out of circulation by YouTube, a few days ago.
Here is a link to the YouTube video.
Seven minutes into the recording, Brian references a study regarding the hard-right groups posting more junk news than all other groups combined. Here is the source (page eight).
A bit more than eleven minutes into the recording, Brian references a report that Facebook relaxed its rules for certain right leaning personalities. Here is the source (first two paragraphs).
Twelve minutes into the recording, Brian references an investigation into Facebook policies led by a former Republican politician. Here is the source (page 10).
Thirteen minutes into the recording, Colin references a report of anonymous sources stating conservative stories were being removed within Facebook. He also talks about the high number of employees that support Democrat candidates. Here is the source (page six).
Around the minute 35:30, Brian references a study that shows greater amplification of right wing tweets. Here is the source.
If you are interested in reading more on the topic, here are the sources we used for the conversation.
NYU False Accusation: The Unfounded Claim that Social Media Companies Censor Conservatives
Why The Right Wing Has A Massive Advantage On Facebook
Algorithmic Amplification Of Politics On Twitter
Here is a link to the YouTube video.
What is their purpose and are they achieving it? How is it different from a trial? Have there been other such investigations before this one? Is anyone responsible for the events of Jan 6? All answers are coming.
This is not a new phenomenon and it will rear its ugly head again, probably soon. We try to elect people who will vote for issues we value, regardless of their personal behavior because we don’t have another option (in the current political climate of the US). The solution in ranked choice voting. We can vote for our favorite candidate without throwing away our vote.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
