Fact-checking on social media will not curb falsehoods

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Presidential Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fact Checking ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Media Firms

Subject Falsehoods on social media Significance Recent reports that Russia is continuing its attempts to meddle with the 2020 US presidential elections has once again spotlighted efforts by social media firms to tackle the circulation of falsehoods on their platforms. Impacts Major geopolitical events, such as US elections, remain the primary focus of large disinformation campaigns by state-linked adversaries. The use of images, videos and fringe platforms will make tackling disinformation harder. Small changes to how social platforms work will prove ineffective.

Groupon: let's make a deal?

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-38
Author(s):  
Susan White
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Initial Public Offering ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Media Companies ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Public Offering ◽  
Media Firms ◽  
Term Performance

Synopsis Groupon, an online coupon company, was one of many companies that considered an initial public offering (IPO) during what might be a second technology/internet/social media IPO boom in 2011. Some companies chose to postpone their IPOs, while others took advantage of the media attention focussed on technology companies, and in particular, social media firms. Should investors hop on the tech IPO bandwagon, or hold off to better evaluate the long-term prospects of tech companies, and in particular social media companies? Would the valuation of Groupon justify an investment in IPO shares? Research methodology The case was researched from secondary sources, using Groupon's IPO filing information, news articles about the IPO and industry research sources, such as IBIS World. Relevant courses and levels This case is appropriate for an advanced undergraduate or MBA corporate finance or investment elective. Most introductory finance classes do not have the time to cover later chapters in a finance textbook, where information about IPOs is generally found. It could also be used at the end of a core finance course, where the instructor wanted to introduce this topic through a case study of a hard-to-value internet-based company to illustrate the difficulties in setting IPO prices. The case could also be used in an equity analysis class, an entrepreneurial finance class or an investment class, to spur discussion about valuing an internet company and choosing appropriate investments for pension fund investing. This case could also be used in a strategy class, focussing on the five forces question, and eliminating the valuation question. Theoretical basis There is a great deal of literature about IPOs and their long-term performance. An excellent source is Jay R. Ritter's research, http://bear.warrington.ufl.edu/ritter, which has a longer time period and more data than could be contained in this case. IPO puzzles include persistent undervaluing of IPOs; in other words, the offer price is lower than, and sometimes substantially lower than, the first day close price. A second issue is the generally poorer long-run performance of companies after their IPO when compared to similar firms that did not do an IPO.

Election meddling will take new insidious forms

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Harmful Content ◽  
Media Firms ◽  
Regulatory Challenge ◽  
User Content ◽  
Election Meddling ◽  
The Eu

Subject Election meddling. Significance With elections due in the EU, Canada and Australia in 2019 and the United States next year, social media firms have made significant efforts to prevent further misuse of their platforms. These efforts are likely to be effective, and manipulation of the kind attempted between 2016 and 2018 will not re-occur. However, the nature of the adversary has changed. The platforms are at risk of preparing to re-fight yesterday’s battles. Impacts Containing the spread of harmful content via fringe platforms is a significant regulatory challenge. Governments may increase their reliance on offensive cybersecurity campaigns to contain foreign interference. Increased privacy on Facebook will make policing fake content harder as the platform will have restricted access to user content.

US poll security will likely still be issue in 2020

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Presidential Election ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Pressure ◽  
Election Results ◽  
Election Systems ◽  
Media Firms

Significance The bill will move to the Senate, where Republicans fear it over-reaches into states’ powers to manage elections. The standoff takes place within the context of the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election, in which Russians interfered via informational techniques and social media. The bill is designed to prevent another such occurrence, but the ability for actors to manipulate election results is more far-reaching than the methods addressed in this bill. Impacts The bill would authorise federal money annually to improve and maintain states’ election systems. Social media firms will face more government and public pressure to prevent foreign election interference via their platforms. Social media firms will find it difficult to police their platforms without increasing editorial control.

Iran will expand its monitored national internet

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Presidential Elections ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Access Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Media Applications ◽  
High Chance

Significance Under development for over a decade, the NIN had its first major trial when Tehran imposed an internet blackout in response to mass protests last November, with mixed success. Impacts Tehran could increase efforts to enforce bans on foreign social media applications. If dissent were to rise in Iran, citizens would likely become more suspicious of the NIN. Security services may become more overtly involved in internet access management. If Joe Biden wins in US November presidential elections, there is a high chance sanctions affecting internet access will be eased.

Terrorism could hit social media firms in ASEAN

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Media Firms

Headline ASEAN/INDONESIA: Terrorism could hit social media

Political anxiety over social media in Africa to grow

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Presidential Elections ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Virtual Private Networks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Sub Saharan

Subject Outlook for social media in sub-Saharan Africa. Significance Across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in recent months, several high-profile protests have been coordinated using social media platforms, including the #ThisFlag demonstrations in Zimbabwe and opposition unrest following Uganda's presidential elections. This is spurring governments to tighten rules governing online platforms and content, and block platforms such as Twitter and Whatsapp. Impacts Opposition activists will increase use of virtual private networks to circumvent blocks on censored websites. Initiatives such as the Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation will help governments to police online content. Nevertheless, some Western donors will continue to sponsor initiatives, such as radio call-in shows, encouraging free speech. Clampdowns on social media will mainly affect political mobilisation in urban areas, for now, given poor rural internet penetration. Unit and subscription-related costs for web-enabled phones will continue to fall, increasing social media usage.

Thai junta deepens repression amid king's challenge

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Regimes ◽  
Media Firms

Significance Interim Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha's government has already retained power for twice the length of the usual time between a coup and return to elected government, compared to recent military regimes (1991-92 and 2006-07). If elections are held in late 2018 as currently planned, it will be three times that length. Impacts Foreign social media firms such as Facebook will likely slow plans to expand their Thai operations. Bangkok will do what it can to keep both Washington and Beijing on side. Restrictions on the activities of journalists and rights activists are tightening.

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.

scholarly journals Viral misinformation and echo chambers: the diffusion of rumors about genetically modified organisms on social media

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1547-1564
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Wang ◽  
Yunya Song
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Content Type ◽  
User Attitudes ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Echo Chamber ◽  
Fact Checking ◽  
Chamber Effect

PurposeThe spread of rumors on social media has caused increasing concerns about an under-informed or even misinformed public when it comes to scientific issues. However, researchers have rarely investigated their diffusion in non-western contexts. This study aims to systematically examine the content and network structure of rumor-related discussions around genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on Chinese social media.Design/methodology/approachThis study identified 21,837 rumor-related posts of GMOs on Weibo, one of China's most popular social media platforms. An approach combining social network analysis and content analysis was employed to classify user attitudes toward rumors, measure the level of homophily of their attitudes and examine the nature of their interactions.FindingsThough a certain level of homophily existed in the interaction networks, referring to the observed echo chamber effect, Weibo also served as a public forum for GMO discussions in which cross-cutting ties between communities existed. A considerable amount of interactions emerged between the pro- and anti-GMO camps, and most of them involved providing or requesting information, which could mitigate the likelihood of opinion polarization. Moreover, this study revealed the declining role of traditional opinion leaders and pointed toward the need for alternative strategies for efficient fact-checking.Originality/valueIn general, the findings of this study suggested that microblogging platforms such as Weibo can function as public forums for discussing GMOs that expose users to ideologically cross-cutting viewpoints. This study stands to provide important insights into the viral processes of scientific rumors on social media.

Big tech's anti-Trump activism to have limited impact

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Hate Speech ◽  
Public Speech ◽  
Content Type ◽  
White House ◽  
Media Companies ◽  
Capitol Hill ◽  
Democratic Control ◽  
Media Firms

Significance Facebook has indefinitely suspended Trump from its main platform and Instagram, while Twitter has done so permanently for his role in instigating violence at US Capitol Hill on January 6. These developments spotlight the role of social media firms in spreading and tackling hate speech and disinformation, and their power unilaterally to shut down public speech. Impacts Democratic control of the White House and Congress offers social media companies a two-year window to ensure softer regulation. The EU will push its new digital markets legislation with vigour following the events at US Capitol Hill. Hard-right social media will find new firms willing to host their servers, partly because their user numbers run to millions not billions.

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