Social Media Communication in the News: Real-Time Classroom Discussion Starters
Facebook Pivots To Labels and Simplicty
The #Election2020, #Covid-19 and calls for criminal justice reform have marked social and economic upheaval this year. In this context, social media giant Facebook is among sites fighting back against misinformation and disinformation with new labels. The Associated Press reported this week that U.S. posts about voting may be followed by "an addendum to their messages --
labels directing readers to authoritative information about the upcoming
presidential election." Voting by mail has become a hotly contested policy issue within social media spaces. Facebook also is banning "implicit hate speech," blackface posts and anti-Semitic use of "stereotypes," Business Insider reported. Civil rights groups have claimed that Facebook is a platform for "the spread of hate speech and misinformation."
On yet another front, Facebook said that Covid-19 made it more difficult this year to remove harmful content. The AP reported that, "Sending its
content moderators to work from home in March amid the pandemic led the
company to remove less harmful material from Facebook and Instagram
around suicide, self-injury, child nudity and sexual exploitation."Facebook used more content and less technology to monitor posts.
Question: How could Facebook improve its news feed to better meet your needs as a user during this election year and global pandemic?
#SMC2021 In-Brief
ICYMI:House Would Ban Federal Employee Use of TikTok
Meanwhile, some TikTok users developed fake "safety calls" to play if they become worried about a meet-up, Mashable reports.
"In one, TikTok user donteatmycheeseburger reminds the viewer to
charge their phone, noting that they downloaded a location sharing
app," the story explained. "In another, TikTok user graciddy pretends to
be annoyed at the viewer
for running late" and "pretends that she can see their location." The
safety calls also may suggest that someone will be waiting for them when
they arrive at a location. Men also have said they find themselves in
unsafe situations.
Question:
What other ways could social media communication posts be created and
used to help people fearing personal harm? How do you see users
practicing social good on your news feed?
SMC news is curated for Social Media Communication: Concepts, Practices, Data, Law and Ethics, third edition (2021).The Politico Morning Tech newsletter reports
that some Democrats and Republicans in Washington are moving forward
with efforts to curtail the influence of TikTok, which is owned by a
company in China: "Lawmakers will this week consider a proposed defense
bill amendment
that would bar government workers from using the video sharing app."
Meanwhile, some TikTok users developed fake "safety calls" to play if they become worried about a meet-up, Mashable reports.
"In one, TikTok user donteatmycheeseburger reminds the viewer to
charge their phone, noting that they downloaded a location sharing
app," the story explained. "In another, TikTok user graciddy pretends to
be annoyed at the viewer
for running late" and "pretends that she can see their location." The
safety calls also may suggest that someone will be waiting for them when
they arrive at a location. Men also have said they find themselves in
unsafe situations. The original
video concept has been adapted by TikTok users in other places. Personal
safety has been added to previous efforts during the global Covid-19
pandemic, #BlackLivesMatter and "civil unrest."
