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Social Media
How researchers scrub Twitter for health data from real humans—not bots
How researchers scrub Twitter for health data from real humans—not bots
For more than 10 years, Graciela Gonzalez-Hernandez has been studying natural language across social media to inform clinical care, carefully sifting through language to determine which voices qualify as patient experiences.
A new way to connect with like-minded students
A new way to connect with like-minded students
Penn students reimagine relationships with a virtual platform called Magic Connects.
Rahul Mukherjee’s life in the screen
Rahul Mukherjee’s life in the screen
In two classes, the Dick Wolf Associate Professor of Television and New Media Studies looks at the big picture of our digital life.
What you need to know about the antitrust suits against Facebook
What you need to know about the antitrust suits against Facebook
Antitrust expert Herbert Hovenkamp breaks down the recent lawsuits against Facebook, why he thinks the arguments have merit and how big tech companies can adapt.
How did echo chambers influence the 2020 election?
How did echo chambers influence the 2020 election?
Research from the Annenberg School for Communication shows that people are consuming news from more diverse sources, but many don’t consume any news at all. It’s too soon to tell what role that played in the recent race for president.
How misinformed vaccine beliefs affect policy views
How misinformed vaccine beliefs affect policy views
There is broad support in the U.S. for pro-vaccination policies, but as many as 20% of Americans hold negative views about vaccines. The Annenberg Public Policy Center shows that such misinformed vaccine beliefs are the strongest driver of opposition to pro-vaccination public policies.
How social media is shaping political campaigns
How social media is shaping political campaigns
Wharton’s Pinar Yildirim discusses how social media is changing political competition.
Countering anti-vaccination influences from social media—with conversation
Countering anti-vaccination influences from social media—with conversation
A new study explores to what extent social media messages effect vaccination behavior, and finds individuals exposed to negative online discussions about flu vaccines makes them less likely to get a flu shot.
Presidential campaigning during the coronavirus crisis
Presidential campaigning during the coronavirus crisis
From targeted ads on Facebook and Snapchat to Zoom celebrity events and email blasts, the coronavirus pandemic is forcing the Trump and Biden campaigns to get creative as they make their bids for the presidency.
The dangers of sharing personal information on social media
The dangers of sharing personal information on social media
Joseph Turow, a professor of communication at the Annenberg School for Communication, says hackers may be using your posts against you.
In the News
The New York Times
Dark under-eye circles? The kids say it’s cool
Kathy Peiss of the School of Arts & Sciences commented on a viral social media makeup trend that emphasizes dark under-eye circles. “This seems ephemeral, an aesthetic centered on pandemic tiredness, but not much more than that,” she said.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Does Twitter’s ban violate Trump’s free-speech rights? Likely not, but it raises questions about social media platforms, Philly experts say
Diana Mutz of the Annenberg School for Communication and School of Arts & Sciences said social media hasn’t enriched the quality of elected leaders’ communication with the public. “What gains traction on social media is outrageousness,” she said. “It incentivizes precisely what we don’t want in political discourse.”
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NPR
Facebook keeps data secret, letting conservative bias claims persist
PIK Professor Duncan Watts is working with Facebook to analyze its content for bias. "Mostly it's mainstream content," he said. "If anything, there is a bias in favor of conservative content."
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Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane (WHYY-FM)
Big Tech: Monopolies, misinformation and election integrity
Kathleen Hall Jamieson of the Annenberg Public Policy Center was interviewed about social media and election meddling.
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Mashable.com
Once again, there is no 'anti-conservative' bias on social media
Kathleen Hall Jamieson of the Annenberg Public Policy Center said accusations of systemic bias against conservatives by social media platforms are unfounded, in part because there’s no way to prove it. “From a methodological standpoint, it’s virtually impossible to do,” she said. “You'll never capture the full base of the content in order to start your analysis.”
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CNN
Online petitions work best when you do more than just sign
Rosemary Clark-Parsons of the Annenberg School for Communication spoke about the efficacy of online petitions. "What critics refer to as 'slacktivism' can actually create an alternative outlet for those who would typically not get involved in any movement at all,” she said.
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