Internet platforms will struggle to dislodge extremism

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Political Pressure ◽  
Select Committee ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Firms ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Selection Of

Subject Extremism online. Significance In late December 2017, the UK parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee met technology firms Google, Facebook and Twitter to discuss the platforms' role in “radicalising and grooming users” and creating "bubbles of hate" through algorithmic filtering and automated recommendations of extremist content. Until recently these firms have been resistant to this argument, citing in-house research that an individual user’s own choices play a larger role than computational filtering in the selection of content that they are shown. However, this position is becoming increasingly untenable. They are under heightened pressure to accept a level of responsibility for the content hosted on the platforms and the effect this content can have on users. Impacts Suspension of extremist accounts will drive even more of these groups to seek out alternative platforms. More committed individuals may find themselves in an increasingly isolated ‘bubble of hate’. The changes will increase costs for social media providers, but will remove the immediate political pressure on platforms.

UK White Paper on online harms faces major obstacles

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Digital Culture ◽  
Investigative Journalism ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Firms ◽  
Open Source Intelligence ◽  
The Uk

Subject Forthcoming UK White Paper on online harms. Significance The UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is expected soon to publish a White Paper on online harms, which will also propose new regulations for technology firms and penalties for non-compliance. Impacts Increased encryption would help tighten privacy but limit law enforcement’s capacity to monitor online criminal activity. This change may reduce the scope of investigative journalism and open-source intelligence. Social media will focus on improving technological filters to monitor extremist content.

scholarly journals Social media and sentiment in bioenergy consultation

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Uren ◽  
Daniel Wright ◽  
James Scott ◽  
Yulan He ◽  
Hassan Saif
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
New Media ◽  
Sentiment Analysis ◽  
Opinion Mining ◽  
Public Consultation ◽  
Short Paper ◽  
Consultation Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Uk

Purpose – This paper aims to address the following challenge: the push to widen participation in public consultation suggests social media as an additional mechanism through which to engage the public. Bioenergy companies need to build their capacity to communicate in these new media and to monitor the attitudes of the public and opposition organizations towards energy development projects. Design/methodology/approach – This short paper outlines the planning issues bioenergy developments face and the main methods of communication used in the public consultation process in the UK. The potential role of social media in communication with stakeholders is identified. The capacity of sentiment analysis to mine opinions from social media is summarised and illustrated using a sample of tweets containing the term “bioenergy”. Findings – Social media have the potential to improve information flows between stakeholders and developers. Sentiment analysis is a viable methodology, which bioenergy companies should be using to measure public opinion in the consultation process. Preliminary analysis shows promising results. Research limitations/implications – Analysis is preliminary and based on a small dataset. It is intended only to illustrate the potential of sentiment analysis and not to draw general conclusions about the bioenergy sector. Social implications – Social media have the potential to open access to the consultation process and help bioenergy companies to make use of waste for energy developments. Originality/value – Opinion mining, though established in marketing and political analysis, is not yet systematically applied as a planning consultation tool. This is a missed opportunity.

scholarly journals Defining user risk in social networking services

2015 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Haynes ◽  
Lyn Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Social Networking Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Purposive Sample ◽  
Risk Categories

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the risks faced by users of online social networking services (SNSs) in the UK and to develop a typology of risk that can be used to assess regulatory effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach – An initial investigation of the literature revealed no detailed taxonomies of risk in this area. Existing taxonomies were reviewed and merged with categories identified in a pilot survey and expanded in purposive sample survey directed at the library and information services (LIS) community in the UK. Findings – Analysis of the relationships between different risk categories yielded a grouping of risks by their consequences. This aligns with one of the objectives of regulation, which is to mitigate risks. Research limitations/implications – This research offers a tool for evaluation of different modes of regulation of social media. Practical implications – Awareness of the risks associated with use of online SNSs and wider social media contributes to the work of LIS professionals in their roles as: educators; intermediaries; and users of social media. An understanding of risk also informs the work of policy makers and legislators responsible for regulating access to personal data. Originality/value – A risk-based view of regulation of personal data on social media has not been attempted in such a comprehensive way before.

scholarly journals Big data analytics of corporate internet disclosures

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed A.K. Basuony ◽  
Ehab K.A. Mohamed ◽  
Ahmed Elragal ◽  
Khaled Hussainey
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Firm Size ◽  
Data Science ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Corporate Disclosure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Science Approach ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Corporate Office ◽  
The Uk

Purpose This study aims to investigate the extent and characteristics of corporate internet disclosure via companies’ websites as well via social media and networks sites in the four leading English-speaking stock markets, namely, Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. Design/methodology/approach A disclosure index comprising a set of items that encompasses two facets of online disclosure, namely, company websites and social media sites, is used. This paper adopts a data science approach to investigate corporate internet disclosure practices among top listed firms in Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. Findings The results reveal the underlying relations between the determining factors of corporate disclosure, i.e. profitability, leverage, liquidity and firm size. Profitability in its own has no great effect on the degree of corporate internet disclosure whether via company websites or social media sites. Liquidity has an impact on the degree of disclosure. Firm size and leverage appear to be the most important factors driving better disclosure via social media. American companies tend to be on the cutting edge of technology when it comes to corporate disclosure. Practical implications This paper provides new insights into corporate internet disclosure that will benefit all stakeholders with an interest in corporate reporting. Social media is an influential means of communication that can enable corporate office to get instant feedback enhancing their decision-making process. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is amongst few studies of corporate disclosure via social media platforms. This study has adopted disclosure index incorporating social media as well as applying data science approach in disclosure in an attempt to unfold how accounting could benefit from data science techniques.

scholarly journals The UK private housebuilding sector: social media perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel Craig ◽  
Nick Pilcher ◽  
Rebecca MacKenzie ◽  
Chris Boothman
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Social Media Data ◽  
Negative Image ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
The Uk ◽  
House Building ◽  
Media Data ◽  
Media Forum

Purpose The UK private housebuilding sector is the key supplier of new-build homes for customers, constituting a fifth of the entire UK construction industry. Yet, despite the high average cost of houses, and official reports advocating improvement, the sector remains blighted by criticism and a negative image of its quality. However, social media now offers customers new sources of advice and information. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to analyse social media forum posts from new-build homebuyers to reveal perceptions of the industry and illustrate the value of such data for others. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents and thematically analyses 147 comment posts from nine online Facebook forums under the themes of safety; standards; quality; workmanship; customer service; finance and money; advice; National House Building Council; ombudsman; and page closures. Findings Customers express frustration, anger, feelings of neglect and of an abdication of responsibility by the sector. Fundamentally, change is suggested at a systemic level, and it is urged this occurs through powerful and independent bodies. Originality/value To date, social media data has not been analysed in the context of the housebuilding sector. Yet, such data is key not only for its open and wide-reaching nature but also because it can be incorporated into government reports. It is hoped such data will be used by the new home ombudsman the UK Government hopes to establish in 2020 and help rectify many of the performance issues experienced and protect homebuyers.

EU seeks overhaul of digital markets with new rules

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
State Aid ◽  
Bright Spot ◽  
Policy Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Eu

Significance The EU has exercised significant authority over the digital economy in areas ranging from data privacy and antitrust to illegal state aid and social media disinformation. Under President Ursula von der Leyen, the Commission is maintaining the pace of digital policy and regulation. Impacts The digital package will intensify the debate on where the balance should lie between national and EU regulatory responsibilities. EU willingness to apply core elements of the UK approach to digital competition is a bright spot in the otherwise fraught Brexit talks. Post-Brexit, UK and EU authorities are likely to cooperate on digital taxation at the OECD level. Online disinformation will remain an extremely difficult policy area.

New EU plan for online extremism has modest promise

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Online Content ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Firms ◽  
Commission President ◽  
Media Firms ◽  
Annual Turnover ◽  
The Eu

Significance Proposed measures include a plan outlined by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in September, wherein the EU would oblige technology firms to remove terrorist and extremist content within one hour of being notified by the authorities or face fines of up to 4% of their annual turnover. Impacts Social media firms will invest more in automated filters -- regardless of their drawbacks. Removing extremist online content may impair law enforcement work by limiting their access to relevant materials and networks. Terrorist and extremist outfits will adapt to evade filters.

US housing woes will hit ‘big tech’ expansion

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Presidential Election ◽  
Support Staff ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Firms ◽  
Technology Workers

Subject Political hurdles to 'big tech' expansion plans. Significance The 2020 presidential election is pushing discussions of social media disinformation, ‘big tech’ monopoly and the high cost of housing in several cities, often seen to be worsened by technology workers. These issues are hurting the image of large technology firms, and will affect their expansion plans. Impacts The 2020 elections will intensify political scrutiny of big tech’s control over news distribution. Organised labour may be able to leverage tech expansions into unionisation of property services and other support staff. Growing tech clusters in small western states could enable Democratic candidates to compete in statewide races.

ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING (SMM) IN HEI’S ADMISSION

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Awais Mehmood ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Specific Objective ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
Promotional Messages ◽  
Admissions Process ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose: Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) are shaping their operational approach in a more business oriented manner due to intensification of competition to recruit quality students. This requires adaption of various marketing communication tools to develop, sustain and improve brand image. The invent of Web 2.0 technologies have offered many such options to organizations including social media (SM) that is being now used by many (HEIs) to connect with their stakeholders especially students. The specific objective and purpose of this study is to investigate the use of SM marketing in the higher education sector in Pakistan and its perceived impact on admission of students. Methodology: It is a qualitative study based on inductive approach where in-depth interviews were conducted with the university’s administrators responsible to manage the SM activities. The interviews were transcribed using NVivo to determine content type placed online by the HEIs in Pakistan, benefits accrued and their perceived impact on student admission. In addition ethnography technique was used to find the type of content on SM being placed by the Pakistani HEIs. Findings: The study illustrates that Facebook and Twitter are the most commonly used social media accounts by the Pakistani HEIs. The content placed on SM by the Pakistani HEIs include announcements, admissions, events, community messages, promotional messages, achievements, greetings, endorsements and job/internships opportunities. Through this content HEIs areable to better engage with their students, obtain necessary feedback, correct any misperceptions and help in career building. These benefits are consequently contributing directly and indirectly to the elements considered important by students for selection of HEIs as highlighted in students’ preference theories(Soutar & Turner, 2000; Maringe, 2006; Mangan, Hughes, Davies, & Slack, 2010). Implications: This study will help the HEIs to understand common benefits they can accrue through their SM use and its potential in facilitating their admissions process. The study will also let the managers of SM in HEIs know of ways to optimize their usage of SM that will consequently help them better gauge the identified benefits and ultimately help in achieving desired objectives pertaining to students’ recruitment.

Facebook’s business model set to withstand exposé

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Pressure ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Children’S Wellbeing ◽  
The Social ◽  
Model Set ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Harmful Effects

Significance This followed the Senate testimony of former Facebook employee and whistle-blower Frances Haugen that the company puts "profits over people". Her critical testimony about the social media giant's alleged harmful effects on democracy and disregard for children’s wellbeing is again raising hopes among the company's critics that Congress will rein it in. Impacts Haugen's forthcoming testimony to the UK parliament and possibly the European Parliament will intensify international pressure on Facebook. Tighter supervision over big tech will be limited by trade-offs between innovation and consumer and societal protections. Facebook may yet revive its Instagram for Kids project.

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