Social Media and the Public Interest: Media Regulation in the Disinformation Age

Facebook, a platform created by undergraduates in a Harvard dorm room, has transformed the ways millions of people consume news, understand the world, and participate in the political process. Despite taking on many of journalism’s traditional roles, Facebook and other platforms, such as Twitter and Google, have presented themselves as tech companies―and therefore not subject to the same regulations and ethical codes as conventional media organizations. Challenging such superficial distinctions, Philip M. Napoli offers a timely and persuasive case for understanding and governing social media as news media, with a fundamental obligation to serve the public interest.

Axial age Thought: Buddhism

Siddattha Gotama—the “Awakened One”—advised pupils not to accept anything simply because it is traditional or comes from sacred text or charismatic teacher. He emphasized the need to check one’s views, test ideas, and guard against the possibility of bias. He emphasized the quality of mindfulness—awareness without judgment of mind, body, and environment. He taught that … Continuer la lecture de Axial age Thought: Buddhism

The Science of Fake News

The scientific understanding of how and why false news spreads is currently based on ad hoc rather than large-scale systematic analysis. The amount of false news online is clearly increasing, with serious consequences. It can drive the misallocation of resources during terror attacks and natural disasters, the misalignment of business investments, and misinformed elections. Unfortunately, … Continuer la lecture de The Science of Fake News

Our Moral Endowment

Our Moral Endowment Humans evolved with innate abilities that help us live together in diverse groups. Studies show that infants are born with a foundational appreciation of the minds of others. From a very early age, babies begin to demonstrate innate cooperative and helpful tendencies, a capacity to tell kindness from cruelty, a rudimentary sense … Continuer la lecture de Our Moral Endowment

Algorithmic Gatekeepers

Social Networks Algorithmic Gatekeepers By Shawn Fuller Contributing Writer Instead of being the central points from which news is broadcast directly to the public, the news media are now part of a much larger information ecosystem. They broadcast to the public on their websites, on their Facebook pages, and via their Twitter feeds, and YouTube … Continuer la lecture de Algorithmic Gatekeepers

The Axemakers Gift: Technology’s Capture and Control of Our Minds and Culture

Featured Book The Axemaker’s Gift Technology’s Capture and Control of Our Minds and Culture James Burke and Robert OrnsteinPaperback edition 1997 Each time the axemakers offered a new way to “cut and control” the world to make us rich or safe or invincible or knowledgeable, we accepted the gift and used it. And when we … Continuer la lecture de The Axemakers Gift: Technology’s Capture and Control of Our Minds and Culture

Can Schools Improve?

Khan Lab School Few would disagree that access to public education is a good thing, but many would argue that we can do better. Study of successful educational systems can offer valuable insights. By Kathleen Mazor, EdD, MSContributing Writer Whether and how leaders and educators in the United States and other countries might identify, learn … Continuer la lecture de Can Schools Improve?

Our Emotions

Emotions signal that something important is happening. They trigger a physical response in our bodies and get us ready for action. Our emotional state “colors” – that is, it defines or organizes – how we experience events, ourselves, and others. Robert Ornstein, PhD; David Sobel, MD, MPH; and Sally MallamContributing Writers The content of this section, … Continuer la lecture de Our Emotions

You CAN Get There from Here

Education holds transformative power when it takes into account diverse learners’ needs, bridging gaps, and empowering individuals and communities alike. Educators strive to meet learners where they are and are inspired by stories of intrepid learners who overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles on their educational journeys. By Kathleen Mazor, EdD, MSContributing Writer Some children enter school … Continuer la lecture de You CAN Get There from Here

Origins of Fragmentation

Jack Mancino, Wikimedia Commons As with previous technological advances, social media has become the new battleground, in which the goal is to shape and distort our perceptions of reality. By Shawn Fuller Contributing Writer It is natural for people to disagree on important issues, but social media magnifies the political, cultural, and ethnic divisions within … Continuer la lecture de Origins of Fragmentation