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Social Media can help you know what's medically wrong with you and give you a solution or a method to make you better

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How You Use It Matters

Technology has changed the way we interact with each other. Social media puts other people just keystrokes away. This helps some feel like they have more social support. But for others, it can increase isolation and depression.

Researchers are investigating how social media affects mental health. They're learning that who you meet and what you find online can mean the difference between helpful and harmful effects.

Use Your Time Wisely

Logging into social media can lead you in many directions. Actively engaging and connecting with others online can help build your social supports-both online and offline. But spending many hours passively scrolling through upsetting content can send you spiraling into negative thoughts and feelings.

Increased social media use has been linked to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. But it's not always clear which comes first: Is more time online causing the symptoms or a result of the symptoms?

Depression or anxiety can cause you to isolate yourself. Spending more time online may be a sign that you're withdrawing from others.

Studies have also found that some online activities can worsen your mental health. Passively watching what others are doing online can make you feel more isolated. You might feel you're missing out or being left out. Or it can make you think that other people have better lives than you.

What you click on then affects what you see next. If you click on things that bother you, you're likely to be shown more of those things. Repeated scrolling through disturbing content can increase your stress and anxiety.

Teens are especially at risk from the effects of social media. Studies have found links between patterns in teens' social media use and mental health problems.

"There has been a growth in social media use, smartphone use, and teens' lives being online over the last 10 years," says Dr. Katherine Keyes at Columbia University. Rates of teen depression and suicide also rose over the past 10 years. Researchers have been looking at social media's role in that increase.

Keyes's studies have shown that digital media use alone doesn't account for these recent rises in depression and suicide. Other factors must also play a role. More research is needed to figure out what those are.

What seems most important is how teens are using social media and how their time online is affecting their offline social networks and activities, Keyes says.

In other words, time online takes away from time you could be spending with others, being physically active, or doing a hobby. These are things that help protect your mental health.

Connect Carefully

You can find countless different people and communities online. "Many meaningful and beneficial connections can be made online," says Keyes. "This is especially true for teens who have more marginalized identities. Sometimes they can find community and connectivity online that they can't get in their day-to-day lives."

But the digital world can also expose you to harmful health behaviors. Excessive drinking, substance use, and eating disorders are sometimes misleadingly shown as what everyone's doing or wants to do.

People also see ads about tobacco use, cannabis use, and drinking online. Dr. Patricia Cavazos-Rehg at Washington University in St. Louis studies the effects of ads on teen substance use. Her research has shown that even passively viewing tobacco content online increased the likelihood of using tobacco products. Keyes found similar trends for alcohol and cannabis.

"My concern is that social media can make substance use behaviors seem normal," Cavazos-Rehg explains. That can affect both teens and adults.

"We've seen a lot of messages online about 'wine-mom' culture that link alcohol use with 'mommy needs a break at the end of the day,'" Keyes says. "These messages link alcohol with positive self-care." But using alcohol to manage stress is not a healthy coping strategy. In recent years, women have had a higher increase in alcohol use than men.

Cavazos-Rehg is researching ways to deliver information about the risks of substance use on social media. She's also looking at how to get quality treatment information to people talking about mental health issues and substance use online.

Seek Out Help

Social media can be a tool to improve your mental health. You can search for health information, hear about others' experiences, or find treatment options.

"We have found that social media can be very helpful for people who are feeling stigmatized about in-person recovery," Cavazos-Rehg says. "Plus, social media can help those who are curious or ready to engage in treatment but want advice from their online peers first."

Her team looked at what prevents people with symptoms of depression from seeking treatment. They found that many people worry about being stigmatized. Others have trouble accessing or paying for treatment.

Her team is looking for ways to reduce those barriers through social media. They've created tools to identify social media posts that may indicate someone needs treatment for an eating disorder. They also created a treatment app for teens with eating disorders. The team is working to reach teens in need of treatment through online ads as well.

"There is a lot of support for recovery and for mental health that individuals can get off of social media," says Cavazos-Rehg. "But there's often misinformation that can spread as well." Find tips for evaluating online health information at go.usa.gov/xSv9n and go.usa.gov/xSv9P.

Remember, you don't need to struggle with mental health problems alone. "There's a common misconception that we can handle our mental health problems on our own, and that they're not severe enough to warrant medical care," Cavazos-Rehg says. "But that's a misconception." Don't hesitate to reach out to a health care provider or mental health professional.

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Researchers are investigating how social media affects mental health. They're learning that who you meet and what you find online can make a difference.

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Social Media is a great way of increasing your knowledge and learning new things for example kids could use it to help them with there school work or when they are studying for exams. You could use it for anything else you want to learn for example if you wanted to learn how to build anything social media would have a step by step guide.

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World of Better Learning | Cambridge University Press

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Teacher and teacher trainer Kat Robb tells us why she thinks it's time to accept the use of phones in the classroom... but use them for good!

Back in 2015 I gave a workshop titled "Mobile phones: friends or foe?". While only 6 years ago, the teachers who attended were somewhat divided in their views regarding the use of phones for teaching and learning purposes. Back then, many saw it as a "distraction". I think it would be fair to say that if I gave the same talk today, I would be met with more or less the same divided audience. However, now, amongst the teachers that see the value of using phones to engage learners, they may also see the value of using social media for the same reasons. Many of them may even be TikTokers and YouTubers themselves!

Phones in class

I've always believed that rather than forbid phones in the classroom, their potential as personal computers should be harnessed. They can be great learning tools to engage learners. Most of them are glued to their phones all day long anyway, so why not show them how they can be exploited for learning purposes?

According to the Global Web Index (GWI), 95% of the online population use social media websites or apps (GWI Social Media Report, 2021). I think this is strong enough evidence to demonstrate the ubiquity of social media usage, and would therefore argue it has become an integral part of our lives for whatever reason; socialising or information seeking. I also feel it is such a valuable tool in the learning landscape, as it is brings the outside world into the learning environment, whether that be in the physical or digital classroom. Not only does social media engage students, it also allows them more freedom to connect and collaborate with each other outside of the classroom.

It won't always be appropriate for all your teaching activities, but here are some ways I have exploited social media with my learners that have received positive feedback:

Create a class blog

A blog is a great way to consolidate student work. It can be a central place where work created in any medium can be uploaded. As well as engaging learners and motivating them to produce content, it can also help promote learner autonomy because they can also be in charge of administering it. As a teacher, I give homework and lesson tasks to orientate learners, but allow them the freedom and creativity to produce the work they want as long as they stick to some basic guidelines.

Activities range from individual tasks to ongoing themed class projects which this year, for example, was about the Tokyo Olympics. Learners took on the roles of reporter, media crew, athlete, spectator, and coach. The athletes were interviewed by the journalists who had created their own questions; video content of the interviews was created by the media crew using their phones; the reporters recorded audios of the interviews using their phones; a group of students transcribed the interviews for the reporters; the videos were edited and uploaded to the blog in short clips; and finally another group wrote up an interesting article about the athlete's experience of participating in an Olympic event. The collaborative element was facilitated because all the class were working on the same project. Perhaps more importantly they also had a place to display their work on the blog.

Facebook and/or Twitter

Facebook can work in the same way as a blog in that it is a central place for learners to post content produced for homework and lesson tasks. It can also be a place to upload links and posts about the creation of the class blog. Both Facebook and Twitter are good for sharing content that leaners can comment on, including students from other English courses.

While Twitter have doubled their character limit from 140 to 280, sharp editing skills are still required to comment eloquently on posts in such few characters. According to Social Media Knowledge (SMK, 2021), the average Tweet length is only 28 characters!

YouTube

YouTube contains a plethora of engaging and informative content for all levels. It can be exploited during lessons as a fun and motivating medium for learners of all ages. There is a multitude of authentic audio and visual material to practice listening and speaking skills; captioning activities to subtitle short clips can be easily designed; and muting the audio and activating subtitles for students to create the audio to is another fun and fruitful activity too. You'll also be surprised at the digital literacy skills of your learners as they create their own content.

Creating a class YouTube channel is one way I have effectively helped learners that are less confident with their speaking skills to practice and feel more confident. The audio/visual medium of YouTube lends itself to creating videos, or videoblogs (vlogs). When given a task of creating a vlog about an activity they enjoy doing, learners inevitably want to practice lots before creating the final version of the recording, which they then upload to the YouTube channel. This has a great impact on pronunciation and speaking confidence because they are spending more time on speaking than they would normally, until they get the "perfect" cut.

TikTok

As previously mentioned with YouTubers, digital assignments are a fantastic way to engage learners on a platform they can relate to. They also promote group-based tasks and peer-to-peer learning. Learners can create 15-second videos, or string together videos for a total of 60 seconds, when recorded within the app. They can create videos in lieu of written assignments or make videos as part of a presentation. By promoting the use of the app to complete the assignment learners become more engaged. This is because it is an app they are familiar with in a social context. Take advantage of the fact this is something they know how to use, and use it to show you are taking interest in what they do outside of class!

While the platform is built to make music videos, lip-sync and dance, comedy shorts are another way it is exploited socially. This can be a great way for learners to work on a comedy project/activity. They will learn about the nuisances of humour in English, practicing different intonation, and of course pronunciation. Access to content can be public or restricted to the class and teacher only. One tip is to ensure the "duet" function is turned off so others can't make fun of a video, this is a recognised form of digital bullying.

As with all social media, some guidance and house rules need to be laid down to make sure it is it used to engage learners and make learning happen. It is a good idea to ensure the privacy settings are set to the class or school only. This can help guarantee online safety.

In summary...

Social media is a great way for learners to engage with their peers and demonstrate their creative skills, in English, while keeping them engaged and giving them an opportunity to show off their tech literacy skills.
Kat Robb is a teacher and teacher trainer who enjoys sharing her ideas and research at conferences and in publications. Her passion lies within educational technology. This has seen her move increasingly in the direction of authoring digital teaching and learning solutions, including AI and autonomous systems. Want to read more from Kat? Check out 'WhatsApp: more than an instant messaging app!' You can also read part one of the 'A teacher's experience...' blog series, all about hybrid classes, here.

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Using social media to engage students | Cambridge English

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Have you ever used social media in your classroom? Teacher and teacher trainer Kat Robb tells us why she feels it's time to accept the use of phones in the classroom... but use them for good!

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Find your answers to questions about Twitter Ads eligibility, pricing, and descriptions of our products.

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Social Media can be addicting enough to drive you away from doing even the things you enjoy doing.

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If you find yourself losing several minutes (or even hours) at a time after using social media, you're not alone.

While social media first started as a way to connect with friends and family, it's since evolved into a coveted hobby used by all age groups.

You may enjoy social media and use it on a daily basis, but are you "addicted" to it?

There's no such thing as an official diagnosis of "social media addiction." But social media overuse is increasingly commonplace today, and it may have some serious repercussions to your physical and mental health.

Learn how to identify problematic social media use and what you can do about it.

Whether you use social media to connect with friends and loved ones, watch videos, or simply "kill time," the popularity of this pastime has increased significantly over the last decade.

This is especially the case in children and teenagers, as well as young to middle-aged adults.

So, how does a seemingly harmless hobby turn into an "addiction"?

Like other types of behavioral addictions, using social media can influence your brain in harmful ways. You may use social media compulsively and excessively. You can become so accustomed to scrolling through posts, images, and videos that it interferes with other areas of your life.

Some experts estimate up to 10 percent of people in the United States have social media addiction. However, due to how common social media use is in general, the number of those who have social media addiction may be higher.

Not everyone who uses social media will develop an addiction. Since this activity is becoming more accessible to more people, though, more people may develop an addiction to social media at some point in their lives.

While social media can seem like mindless and relaxing fun, it actually has a significant effect on your brain.

Whenever you log on to your favorite apps, dopamine signals in your brain increase. These neurotransmitters are associated with pleasure.

When you experience more dopamine after using social media, your brain identifies this activity as a rewarding one that you ought to repeat. Such a reaction may be more felt whenever you make a post of your own and gain positive feedback.

The positive feelings experienced during social media use are only temporary. The way your brain engages in this positive reinforcement is also seen in other addictions.

Thus, as the feel-good dopamine wears off, you'll go back to the source (in this case, social media) for more.

In some cases, social media can be a welcome distraction if you're isolated due to work or an illness. The more you engage, the more your brain will tell you that this is an activity that can help reduce loneliness (which may not necessarily be the case, actually).

Engaging in social media once in a while is unlikely to be harmful. However, there are negative effects to consider when overusing social media.

Some possible downsides of social media include:

A mental health professional can help you determine whether you truly have social media addiction or just really enjoy using it a lot.

But there are a few key differences between social media addiction and a habit that you enjoy. These include:

negative effects to your job or schoolwork due to the overuse of social media (e.g., scrolling through your apps at work or instead of studying)

increased use during other activities, such as hanging out with friends and family, or while eating

increased reliance on social media as a way to cope with problems

restlessness and irritability whenever you're not using social media

anger whenever social media usage is reduced

thinking about social media whenever you aren't using it, so much so that it's the first thing you turn to whenever you have the opportunity

Whether you have social media addiction or are just on your apps more than you need to be, the good news is there are ways you can help decrease your overall use.

Consider the following tips to help you achieve a healthier balance with social media:

Delete your social media apps from your smartphone. While you can still access them from your personal computer, keeping them off your phone may help decrease the amount of time spent on social media overall.

Turn off your personal phone during work, as well as during school, meals, and recreational activities. You can also adjust the setting on each social media app so you can turn off certain notifications.

Set aside a certain amount of time dedicated to social media per day. Turn on a timer to help keep you accountable.

Leave your phone, tablet, and computer out of your bedroom.

Take up a new hobby that's not technology-related. Examples include sports, art, cooking classes, and more.

Make it a point to see your friends and family in person when possible.

It's also important to take regular breaks from social media altogether to help find some real-life grounding.

Depending on your needs, your break can last for 1 day per week, a whole month, or an entire season. Let yourself be in control of this decision - not your social media account.

Social media is increasingly omnipresent today, but this doesn't mean you'll automatically develop an addiction to it.

By taking frequent breaks and setting clear boundaries for yourself and your children, you can help prevent an overreliance on social media before it becomes harmful.

If you do suspect you have social media addiction, there are ways you can treat it to increase your overall well-being. Don't hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional for help with this type of addiction.

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Social Media Addiction: What It Is and What to Do About It

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Social media addiction is becoming more commonplace, and it may have serious repercussions to your physical and mental health. Learn how to identify this type of addiction and what you can do about it.

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Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook were created to universally connect us. These applications are an excellent way to meet new people and reconnect with old friends.

While it's well known that social media platforms can divide us, it has also given us an opportunity to make connections with others. Making the world a much smaller place.

Here are the ways that social media brings people together...

1. Keeping in Touch With Friends and Family

Many people around the world experience loneliness. It may be because you are newly single, widowed, have moved away from family and friends for work-or you may just be shy and uncomfortable with in-person interaction.

Thankfully, social media allows us to connect with anyone, at any time.

It's a great way to reconnect with people you have lost touch with and keep in contact with your loved ones. Check out our guide on stopping strangers from seeing your Facebook if you want to up your privacy settings.

2. Maintaining Long-Distance Relationships

Sometimes, life keeps couples physically apart from one another. But through social media, you and your partner can stay connected without needing to constantly chat.

You can look through each other's photos and reminisce, then connect via Messenger chat. Facebook's Messenger application also has a video call option available when you want some face-to-face time.

To use Facebook Messenger's video call feature:

1. Open Messenger.

2. In the search box at the top, search for the person you wish to chat with.

3. Click on their conversation and press the video camera icon.

Long-distance relationships are easier to maintain than ever with the help of social media. If you and your partner are separated by distance, never fear: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are here.

If you're looking for different messaging apps to try, consider checking out the best all-in-one messaging platforms to simplify your communications.

3. Sharing Pictures With Your Family and Friends

Many families live away from each other and this can be very difficult for everyone involved. Grandparents, especially, have a difficult time being away from their grandchildren. But social media is an easy way to stay connected even when you're far apart.

Sharing photos to your Instagram account is a great way for your family to feel like they are involved in your everyday activities. The platform lets you share as many photos as you like and it's easy to use even for beginners. You can add artistic filters to your photos, tag people in them, and privately chat via their message application.

Instagram can be used on your phone or computer. If you want to make a new post on Instagram, follow the tips in this article detailing how to post on Instagram from your PC or Mac. Your family will enjoy seeing what you're up to every day!

4. Connecting Through Facebook Groups

Social media has given us the amazing ability to connect with people on the internet and turn them into friends. Many strong bonds have been forged through shared hobbies and interests.

Facebook lets you search for and join various groups and communities where you can chat, post questions, and engage with other people. There are groups available for physical illnesses, mental health diagnoses, television shows, and places of employment.

If you are feeling lonely, joining a Facebook group is a perfect way to meet people who share the same interests as you.

How to Join Groups on Facebook

To join a group on Facebook, follow these steps:

1. Go to the search bar at the top of your Facebook homepage.

2. Type in a topic.

3. Select the "Group" option at the top of your screen.

4. When you find a group you want to join, press the "+Join" button. Some groups may ask qualifying questions to see if you're right for the group, answer them, and click submit.

Then, wait for your request to be approved and start connecting!

Remember to protect your personal safety: you should never volunteer information about yourself online. If anyone you meet in a Facebook group asks you for your personal information, be sure to report it to the group's administrator.

Facebook groups are an excellent way to make friends and business connections. After all, a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet.

Social media has brought many of us closer together. One of the major ways people are uniting is via social media movements like the "Me Too" movement against sexual harassment and assault, which is one of the many Twitter hashtags that have shaped history.

People who have experienced these terrible crimes have come together to tell their stories and stand up against the exploitation of vulnerable people.

The birthplace of many social media movements is on Twitter. People use hashtags such as #metoo to unite all the posts in one place and tell their stories. Hashtags have brought attention to many injustices in the world and have also bonded people together in times of tragedy.

6. Meeting New People

We spoke earlier about how social media helps you connect with your existing loved ones, but platforms like Instagram and Twitter are also excellent for meeting new people with similar interests. For example, if you have a hobby like photography, you could potentially make lifelong friends by meeting these people in real life and going for regular photoshoots.

Sports fans can similarly use social media networks to meet fans of the same or different teams, and even watch games together. The more niche your interests are, the better social media is for helping you find like-minded people. Consider trying these great social media apps for making friends in your community if you're looking to build your network.

7. Helping People Reunite With Others and Items

In addition to raising awareness for important global issues, social media is also powerful in potentially dangerous situations. For example, some people have used Facebook and Twitter to share details of missing people or pets-which has allowed others to inform the original poster if they see or know something.

Similarly, social media is useful for reuniting people with items that they might have lost-such as their house keys or wallet.

These are just a few of the many ways that social media connects us all in our daily lives. Because when you open yourself up to the idea of making friends online, the possibilities for connecting are endless.

Sure, many people will condemn social media for being a negative influence on our lives-but it's up to us to use social media as a force for good rather than bad.

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7 Ways Social Media Brings People Together

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While social media sometimes divides us, it can also help us connect. Here are some ways social media brings people together.

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Social media is a way of making money you could start an online business sell any belongings on websites to get money or become a youtuber get verified and make money that way

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Summary

This article covers some of the best options for social media entrepreneurs to monetize their social media accounts even if they don't have hundreds of thousands of followers.

You will learn

7 ways you can generate revenue via social media

How you can work with brands and create revenue-generating partnerships

How to generate revenue directly from your audience

You don't need a huge audience to start making money from your social media audience.

In fact, it's worth noting that many micro-influencers get better results (i.e. earning a higher rate per 1000 followers) than influencers with larger followings.

In this article, you will learn about the best ways to make money on social media (ranked by the least amount of work needed) and will be inspired by some creators who are executing these ideas well.

1. Build a paid membership

One of the most popular ways to make money on social media today is to produce exclusive content, accessible only to followers who pay a monthly subscription via a membership platform.

Platforms such as Patreon have emerged in recent years to cater specifically to this phenomenon, and video sharing social platforms such as Youtube and Twitch have also launched features to compete in this space. Even Twitter has started testing a new "Super Follow" feature enabling users to charge a subscription for exclusive content.

A good example of a creator leveraging this method is John Bonini who launched Some Good Content last year on Patreon. Starting from $10/month, John Bonini gives his 500+ Patrons access to his best content marketing tips and strategies.

We asked John for his advice for anyone wanting to start a Patreon and he mentioned that "it's all about finding ways to allow others to relate with you". When it comes to creating social content he also recommends you "forget the algorithms" and just "start by making something good."

Another great way to monetize a social media following is to promote brands that you love by linking to their affiliate programs.

Some brands have their own affiliate programs that you can apply to individually, but most brands' affiliate programs will be accessible via an affiliate network.

There are multiple affiliate networks, each of which works with different brands, so depending on the brands you want to promote, you may need to apply to several different affiliate networks.

Otherwise, a third and easier option to get started would be to use a platform such as Skimlinks. By working with the 50 largest networks, Skimlinks enables you to instantly access up to 48,500 affiliate programs worldwide.

A great example of someone using affiliates to make money on social media is Rhiannon Ashlee.

In each one of her Vlogs on Youtube, Rhiannon lists all of the products that she mentions at some point during the video and puts an affiliate link next to almost all of them.

The links entitled "fave.co" are affiliate links and everytime someone clicks on one of these links and buys products, Rhiannon will get a commission on the total order value usually ranging from anywhere around 5% to 15% depending on the brand's affiliate program.

You might also notice that Rhiannon makes it clear and transparent which links she could make money from by having a * next to each affiliated link. This is good practice from an ethical point of view (plus it is required by the Federal Trade Commission), and in fact, this can also help with conversion rates as her fans are likely to want to support her channel while shopping.

3. Join an influencer marketing platform

Joining an influencer marketing platform is another great way to make money with social media, that can require as much, or as little time as you want to put into it.

An influencer marketing (or monetization) platform, such as ShopYourLikes, connects brands with influencers, and makes it easier for both to work together.

Most of these platforms require a certain amount of followers to get approved and may specialize in one social media platform. While links can be placed on any platform, ShopYourLikes influencers often focus on Instagram stories.

Once approved by ShopYourLikes, you will be able to access your performance dashboard and see all the brands available for you to promote.

By using the Link Generator you can create a link for any page of these brands' websites, share it on Instagram or anywhere on social media and get paid every time someone clicks or swipes on your links.

For inspiration, take a look at how Mollie @ DesignLovesDetail uses ShopYourLikes to promote Home Decor products effectively in her Instagram stories:

"I think the tactic that helped me most was that I was truly original. Don't copy others on Instagram," Mollie explains. "Try to find your own niche and be uniquely you. Also, having your own content is so important."

"This means more work," she adds. "But if you do the work, it pays off."

Mollie also recommends paying close attention to the things your audience responds to so you can better focus your time on what's selling best & giving you the best earning potential.

"What price points are you making most sales in? What categories or stores have highest sales? Ask yourself those kinds of questions and know the data so you can plan content accordingly," she advises.

4. Find brands to partner with directly

A classic way of making money with social media is by partnering directly with brands.

Julie Nolke is a Youtuber who does this well.

As well as having a Patreon community, Julie partners with brands directly to sponsor her short comedy sketch videos.

Julie has a good system for promoting brands in her videos without risking to annoy her audience.

She usually quickly mentions the brand sponsoring the video at the very beginning and mentions she will give more details about them at the end of the video. This system works well because the first few seconds are crucial to do well on Youtube's algorithm.

Julie Nolke also repurposes her videos on Instagram and sometimes does an entire comedy sketch to promote brands such as this one for Google products. Notice that this ad actually got a lot more views than her other videos, which is likely because it was filmed in a square format, which works best for Instagram, and it was also combined with a giveaway.

Instead of partnering with brands for one sponsored post, you could instead get brands to sponsor a video series.

Johnny Harris is a great example of a social influencer who did this well.

His history/travel video series called "Borders" was commissioned by Vox and sponsored by Lululemon.

Johnny's video series was on Youtube, but you can also do this on Instagram, Snapchat or Tiktok for example.

According to Mediakix 's multiple sources, the average Cost per 1000 impressions (CPM) for each social media platform is the following:

These numbers depend on engagement but they can roughly indicate how much you can expect to earn/charge, and it's worth investing some time testing the platforms that pay the most in terms of brand sponsorship.

6. Sell your own educational products or services

There are multiple types of educational products or services you can create and sell on social media.

Courses, ebooks and mentoring are all examples that perform very well, and for multiple different niches.

For example, Andy Guitar teaches how to play the guitar on Youtube for free, and to make money he started by advertising his private guitar lessons. Today he monetizes his channel by creating online guitar courses.

Kathryn Kellogg is another social media influencer doing this well. She teaches how to live sustainably on Instagram. To monetize, she created a course on Skillshare and published a book entitled " 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste ".

7. Sell your own merchandise

Finally, a great way to make money on social media is by selling your own merchandise.

You can start doing this very easily by creating your own shop using tools such as Teespring or Teemill.

These tools are great to get started and to test your product ideas.

You just need to upload your designs and they'll take care of the rest by printing the clothes and shipping them directly to customers for you.

Kate Arnell is doing just that. She started her own shop, EcoBoost, using Teemill, selling eco-friendly merchandise.

Now that you know the best ways to make money with social media, go ahead and give each method a try and let us know which one performs best for you.

Remember that diversification is important so make sure to build multiple sources of revenue. In other words, don't put all your eggs in one basket! That will protect you from the risk of relying too heavily on one revenue stream.

Get started for free now

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The Top 7 Ways to Make Money with Social Media

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This article covers some of the best options for social media entrepreneurs to monetize their social media accounts even if they don't have hundreds of thousands of followers. 7 ways you can generate revenue via social media How you can work with brands and create revenue-generating partnerships How to generate revenue directly from your audience You don't need a huge audience to start making money from your social media audience.

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Andrew Tate, thats plenty m8

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In 2022, Andrew Tate became one of the most controversial and divisive online influencers around.

The 36-year-old American-British commentator was arrested in Romania on December 29, along with his brother, Tristian, and two Romanian nationals, and charged with human trafficking.

The brothers are expected to remain in detention until February 27. Both have denied the charges leveled against them.

Following his arrest, there has been increased scrutiny into the online empire Tate built, his overall arching ideology and messaging, and his influence on followers, most notably young men.

'Marked by the Matrix as a Criminal'

Most recently, Tate has acknowledged his mass influence in the online space and has likened his arrest to that of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

In a message, sent behind bars, Tate said: "Scammers and demons walk amongst you.

"The Matrix is designed to promote an ideology that makes you weak, poor and alone.

"Negative influences are promoted and paraded to weaken you. While empowering influences get locked in a cell. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela.

"Once you reach a point of empowering influence, you're marked by the matrix as a criminal."

Experts have spoken to Newsweek and given their views on why Andrew Tate's philosophy is dangerous, highlighting his similarities with cult leaders.

The Appeal to Young Men

Janja Lalich, a sociologist, writer, and expert on cults, coercion, charismatic authority and power relations, told Newsweek that Tate, like many other influencers, speaks in a particular manner that attracts followers.

Speaking about the similarities between traditional cult leaders and Tate, she said: "The way in which the internet is now used by toxic persons, whatever you want to call them, is similar [to cult leaders] in that they present themselves as somebody very special.

"Someone who has a solution or answer, salvation or whatever for you.

"There becomes a popular trend around that person so people feel like they belong to some sort of community. This community of followers.

"It is similar to what I call the 'Brick and Mortar cult,' as opposed to the internet ones.

"They use the same kind of influence techniques. They do what we call love-bombing, they make people feel very special, they make people feel like they are on to something unique, that they are the only ones that have this.

"Then they also use things like guilt and shame and fear and other sorts of emotional tugs that get at people.

"They often financially exploit them, get them to pay for this, that or the other, this workshop or whatever."

Lalich also touched on how greatly young males can be influenced by figures like Tate who promote an image of wealth, success, and confidence.

She said: "I think because it is trendy, it is what the young people seem to be doing, spending an enormous amount of time on the internet. They are attached to their phones."

She continued: "I think there are still a lot of issues with self-esteem. [Young people] are at that age where they are looking for who to sort of follow, what to believe, who they want to be.

"They are vulnerable in that sense, because they are still forming their personality, they are still forming themselves. It is easy for them to latch on to something that seems really cool."

Lalich also said that a rise in support for "alpha male" influencers may have been a reaction to feminism.

She said: "I think in a way it is also a backlash to the feminist movement. The feminist movement has been so strong in the last several decades, since the 70s.

"I think young men are seeing that this is a kind of way out for them. Another point of view that isn't so women-identifying. They can follow this so-called macho guy."

'Misogynistic and Aggressive Views'

Daria Kuss, a professor of psychology at Nottingham Trent University in the U.K., also spoke to Newsweek about Tate's online influence and his wider ideology.

Kuss, who possesses a wealth of knowledge in cyberpsychology, the psychology of internet and technology use and addictive behaviors, highlighted why mass followings for individuals like Andrew Tate could prove to be particularly harmful.

She told Newsweek: "Platforms like TikTok promote popular content like that of Tate to its users, exposing people to misogynistic and aggressive views and beliefs. Accordingly, there is an increase in inappropriate content proliferation and sharing, as well as copycat accounts."

Kuss also detailed how young men can be negatively impacted by following or "deifying" online influencers like Tate.

She said that this can increase "archaic" and outdated views of women and how they should be treated within society. She added this could reach such significant levels that actions of "domestic abuse" become normalized.

"Tate has been perpetuating and normalizing misogynist views, including that women are a man's property and should stay at home.

"He is encouraging his followers to take him as an example to base their own views and behaviors on.

"As a consequence, young people may believe these kinds of views to be normal and engage in inappropriate behaviors, including hate speech."

Pressure on the Social Media Industry

Going forward, the entire social media industry needs to take greater social responsibility on the messaging that occurs on their platforms, according to Kuss.

Kuss, who is also a member of the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC), a group that aims to "make the internet a great and safe place for everyone, said: "Governments must act to put in place policies and regulations to ensure the industry leaders meet these requirements."

"Harmful content must be banned and perpetrators sanctioned accordingly."

Kuss said parents of young people can also take an active role in preventing the influence these online personalities have on their children.

One of the key suggestions raised by Kuss was to build a trusting relationship so that children feel comfortable discussing what they are watching online so that parents can provide them with better guidance.

Lalich disagreed that the government should get involved in dictating where people can go on the internet but also called for greater vigilance regarding the influence people can have overall on large groups.

She did agree greater discussion about coercion and manipulation was needed to educate society.

She said that with greater critical thinking from society as a whole, people would better be able to spot dangerous philosophies and prevent other toxic influencers from gaining traction.

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As he faces charges of human trafficking, Newsweek asks the experts about what lies behind Tate's "toxic" belief system.

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Many of us suspect that the beautiful, often highly-edited images of people we see on social media make us feel worse about our own bodies. But what does the research say?

If you mindlessly scroll through Instagram or Facebook whenever you get a few seconds of downtime, you're far from alone. But have you ever wondered how all those images of other people's bodies - whether your friend's holiday snap or a celebrity's gym selfie - could be affecting how you view your own?

Much has been made over the years about how mainstream media presents unrealistic beauty standards in the form of photoshopped celebrities or stick-thin fashion models. Now that influencers fill up our feeds, it's easy to imagine that social media, too, is all bad when it comes to body image.

But the reality is more nuanced, and there may be ways to curate your Instagram feed to make you feel happier in your own skin - or, at least, stop you feeling worse.

You might also like:

● Is social media bad for you? The knowns and unknowns

● Why it pays to declutter your digital life

● How much is 'too much time' on social media?

It's important to note that research into social media and body image is still in its early stages, and most studies are correlational. This means we can't prove whether, for example, Facebook causes someone to have negative feelings about their appearance, or whether people who are concerned about their appearance are more likely to use Facebook.

That being said, using social media does appear to be correlated with body image concerns. A systematic review of 20 papers published in 2016 found that photo-based activities, like scrolling through Instagram or posting pictures of yourself, were a particular problem when it came to negative thoughts about your body.

Photo-based activities online, like scrolling through Instagram, have been correlated with feeling more negatively about your body (Credit: Getty)

But there are many different ways to use social media - are you just consuming what others post, or are you taking, editing and uploading selfies? Are you following close friends and family, or a laundry list of celebrities and influencers?

Research suggests that who we compare ourselves to is key.

"People are comparing their appearance to people in Instagram images, or whatever platform they're on, and they often judge themselves to be worse off," says Jasmine Fardouly, a postdoctoral researcher at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.

In a survey of 227 female university students, women reported that they tend to compare their own appearance negatively with their peer group and with celebrities, but not with family members, while browsing Facebook. The comparison group that had the strongest link to body image concerns was distant peers, or acquaintances.

Looking at celebrities made women feel worse about their bodies - but images of acquaintances came with an even stronger link to body image concerns (Credit: Getty)

Fardouly puts this down to the fact that people present a one-sided version of their life online. If you know someone well, you'll know they're only showing the best bits - but if they're an acquaintance, you won't have any other information to go on.

When it comes to the wider circle of influencers and accounts you follow, not all types of content are equal.

Research suggests that "fitspiration" images in particular - which typically feature beautiful people doing exercise, or at least pretending to - might make you harsher on yourself.

Amy Slater, an associate professor at the University of West England, Bristol, published a study in 2017 in which 160 female undergraduates viewed either #fitspo, self compassion quotes, or a mix of both, all sourced from real accounts on Instagram. Those who viewed only #fitspo scored lower on self-compassion, but those who viewed the compassionate quotes (e.g. "You're perfect just the way you are") were nicer to themselves - and felt better about their bodies.

For those who viewed both the #fitspo and the self-compassion quotes, the benefits of the latter appeared to outweigh the negatives of the former.

Looking at self-compassion quotes on social media made people feel better about themselves (Credit: Getty)

Another study published earlier this year involved showing 195 young women either body-positive content from popular accounts like @bodyposipanda, photos showing thin women in bikinis or fitness gear, or neutral images of nature. The researchers found that exposing women to #bodypositive Instagram content appeared to boost their satisfaction with their own bodies.

"Those two things together are starting to build a little bit of a story that there may be some content that actually is useful for body image," says Slater.

But there may be a downside to body-positive images, too: they're still focusing on bodies. The same study found that women who'd seen the body-positive photos still ended up objectifying themselves - measured when, after looking at the images, the participants were asked to write 10 statements about themselves. The more the statements focussed on their appearance rather than their skills or personality, the higher that participant scored on self-objectification.

When study participants viewed body-positive content, they felt better about their own bodies - but there was a catch (Credit: Getty)

That means when someone wrote "I am beautiful" it got lumped in with negative things people said about their bodies. But those people could be taking a broader view of where their beauty comes from, including internal as well as physical attributes, says Slater.

Either way, this fixation with looks is a criticism of the body-positive movement that does seem to hold true. "It is about loving the body, but it is still very much about a focus on appearance," says Fardouly.

When it comes to posting our own pictures on social media, selfies tend to be the focus.

For a study published last year, Jennifer Mills, an associate professor at York University, Toronto, asked female undergraduates to take a selfie on an iPad and upload it to either Facebook or Instagram. One group could only take a single picture and upload it without editing, but the other had a chance to take as many as they wanted and retouch their selfie using an app.

Mills and her colleagues found that all the selfie takers felt less attractive and less confident after posting than when they'd walked into the experiment - even those who'd been allowed to edit their photos to their heart's content. "Even though they can make the end result look 'better', they still are focused on aspects of what they don't like about the way they look," she says.

In one experiment, women felt worse about themselves after posting a selfie online - even if they'd retouched it (Credit: Getty)

Some of the participants wanted to know if anyone had liked their photo before deciding how they felt about having posted it, although looking at interactions wasn't part of the study.

"There's this rollercoaster of feeling anxious and then getting reassurance from other people that you look good," says Mills. "But that probably doesn't last forever, and then you take another selfie."

In previous work published in 2017, researchers found that spending a lot of time perfecting selfies could be a sign that someone is struggling with body dissatisfaction.

Still, some big holes remain in the research on social media and body image.

Most of the work so far has focused on young women, as traditionally they have been the age group most affected by body image concerns. But research including men is starting to show they're not immune. For example, a study found that men who reported looking at male #fitspo content more frequently said they compared their own appearance to others more often and cared about having muscles more.

Men who look at #fitspo content more frequently cared more about their own muscles (Credit: Getty)

Longer term research is also an important next step, because lab experiments can only provide a snapshot of any possible effects. "We don't really know whether over time [social media] has a cumulative effect on people or not," says Fardouly.

So, for now, how should you curate your own social media feeds if you don't want to come away feeling bad about your body?

Mills has one takeaway that should work for everyone: put down your phone.

"Take a break and engage in other activities that have nothing to do with appearance and comparing yourself to other people," she says.

The best advice? Put down your phone (Credit: Getty)

The next best thing would be to think critically about who you follow - and, if you find yourself facing an endless stream of appearance-focussed photos next time you scroll, add some nature or travel into the mix.

After all, giving up social media altogether is probably too big of an ask for most people - especially while the long term effects of using it are still unclear. But finding inspiring landscapes, delicious food, and cute dogs to fill your Instagram feed might just help you remember there's more to life than what you look like.

If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called "If You Only Read 6 Things This Week". A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Capital, and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday.

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Many of us suspect that the beautiful, often highly-edited images of people we see on social media make us feel worse about our own bodies. But what does the research say?

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hate speech is massive on social media

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Hate Speech on Social Media: Global Comparisons

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Violence attributed to online hate speech has increased worldwide. Societies confronting the trend must deal with questions of free speech and censorship on widely used tech platforms.

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People use social media as a way of entertainment e.g. to play videogames watch movies or watch videos on YouTube, tik tok instagram facebook etc

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Social media is more than a digital water cooler for TV and movies. The global conversation that takes place around events and the experiences people share based on what they watch teaches us about consumer preferences. More importantly, their activity influences behavior. Behavior counts for everything. Studying it is just the beginning of course. In order to understand and eventually steer behavior, we must translate activity into insights and in turn, translate insights into actionable strategies and programs.

The Hollywood Reporter recently published an exclusive poll about social media led by market research firm Penn Schoen Berland. As the report opens, THR notes, "There's a sea change afoot in how Americans discover and consume entertainment."

According to the study, 88% of respondents view social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook as a new form of entertainment.

Hours Spent Each Week Doing Online Activities

Social networking and listening to music top the activities for Generation-C and each is greater than the time spent watching full-length movies or television shows on a weekly basis.

- 8 Hours: Visiting social networking sites.
- 8 Hours: Listening to music
- 7 Hours: Watching full-length television shows.
- 4 Hours: Watching full-length movies.
- 4 Hours: Watching video clips (e.g. YouTube)
- 4 Hours: Instant messaging

How Social Networking Impacts Entertainment Choices

The report found that 79% of connected television viewers visit Facebook while watching TV.

Pollster Jon Penn notes, "Social media is the connective tissue that enables consumers to multitask during their entertainment experiences by connecting with others and sharing their opinions."

Additionally, 83% surf the web while viewing TV and 41% tweet about the show they're watching.

When we look at the psychology of engagement, this next stat becomes a bit more revealing. Of those who post about TV shows, 76% do so live and 51% do so to feel connected to others who might also be watching.

Comedies, Reality TV Put Social in Social Media

Social networking is in its own right a reality show made for the web. It is its own form of entertainment. And, as the study found, an overwhelming majority of people agree. When we look at the types of programs viewers are most likely to post about while watching TV, Comedy, Reality TV, Sports and News take the top four spots.

Types of shows people are most likely to post about while watching TV:
56%: Comedy
46%: Reality TV
38%: Sports
26%: Cable News

Social Media on the Silver Screen

Digital Influence is often misunderstood, but it is potent. Influence is causing effect or changing behavior. Here, we can see that those who Tweet about movies actually influence the behavior of those who follow them.

One out of three connected consumers saw a movie in a theater because of something they read on a social network.

The report found that horror and other younger-skewing film genres benefit most from social networking. For example, more than 6% of respondents saw Paranormal Activity 3 because of social networking activity. One can assume based on psychological studies, that this form of social commerce is driven by either #FOMO (fear of missing out) or social proof.

Social Networking in Theaters...Really?

Prior to watching any movie in theaters nowadays, viewers must sit through a short spot that reminds them not to use their phones during the theater. Aside from the ringing adding unnecessary distractions to other theatergoers, the bright white screen is also disruptive as it tends to light up an otherwise dark room.

However, social networking is not limited to at-home movie watching. 55% of moviegoers have texted during a movie. Film moguls and theater owners should take note: The poll also found that an overwhelming majority of 18-to-34-year-olds believe using social networks such as Facebook and Twitter while watching a movie in a theater would actually add to their experience. Nearly half would be interested in going to theaters that allowed texting and web surfing.

Penn added, "Millennials want their public moviegoing experience to replicate their own private media experiences."

The same can't be said for all consumers though as 75% of respondents said that using a mobile phone would take away from the experience.

Additionally 24% and 21% have posted about what they're watching in theaters on Facebook and Twitter respectively.

Social Media Multitasking ≠ Distraction

Gen-C is often falsely diagnosed with a thin attention span. Yet in reality, Gen-C focuses on all that's important to them many times at the same time. They're just wired differently and rather than challenge it or try to debunk its value, our energy should instead focus on understanding how multitasking adds to the experience.

When asked what other activities are performed while social networking, watching programs on TV was by far the most popular at 66% followed by watching movies on TV at 50%. Interestingly, 11% stated that they watch a movie in a theater while networking.

So, what are viewers saying while multitasking between networking and watching TV. It's a bit of give and take as 67% will listen to or read what others have to say and 33% will most likely express their own opinions or thoughts.

Social Media Impact on TV Viewing Choices

How can social media drive tune-in? That's often one of the top questions on the mind of TV marketers. As of now, serendipity certainly plays a role in contributing to tune-in. Three out of 10 people watched a TV show because of something they read or saw on a social network.

Social Media Spawns a New Genre of Critics

In the age of social media, viewers have become participants in real-time experiences. And many, are also becoming critics simply what they say and share online. Social network activity certainly influences behavior, but to what extent requires greater study.

The study found that 72% of respondents post about movies on social networks after watching a film. We can assume that those expressions are rooted in opinion and we can also hypothesis that these shared opinions in some way affect the impression of those who see them. At the same time, 20% post before and 8% post during a viewing.

This Just In...

News no longer breaks, it Tweets. Those who run social activity streams all day will tell you that they learn about news on Twitter first which then drives them to a online or broadcast news source to learn more. But, 31% and 28% of respondents reported that their main source for breaking news is cable news stations news web sites respectively.

I wonder about that data point however as it's not clear if it is the primary source or the main source. The fact that the study found that social networks make up 19% of their breaking news source provides some clarity, but I still question the source of the flashpoint.

Social Media is Music to My Ears

It's not just TV shows or movies that benefit from social media. All forms of entertainment lend to peer-to-peer behavioral influence. THR found that musicians also benefit from social media with 70% of respondents listening to music by an artist based on what a friend posted on a social networking site.

For those who saw or read about my interview with Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins at SXSW, certainly heard how he believes fans must step up their support for the artists that they love. And, sharing what you're listening to is certainly one way to contribute, whether it's through frictionless sharing apps such as Spotify or stated support by Tweeting, Facebooking or blogging support.

Social Media Tests Positive for Influence

Based on the work of Robert Cialdini, I analyzed six universal heuristics and the role they play in consumer decision making in social commerce. Referred to as "thinslicing," consumers tend to ignore most information available and instead 'slice off' a few relevant information or behavioral cues that are often social to make intuitive decisions.

The THR study surfaced that more than half of respondents (56%) believe that social networks play an important role in making entertainment-related decisions. Across every genre of entertainment, respondents felt that positive posts held greater influence over their decisions than those that are negative.

Specifically, 82% are influenced in the music they listen to; 76% in the TV shows they watch; 75% in the movies they choose to see; and 74% in the video games they play.

Facebook vs. Twitter

I often refer to Twitter, Facebook and activity stream apps as new attention dashboards. THR asked respondents which networks they used and how. The answers help in how we better understand what's of interest to consumers.

Of all respondents, 98% are Facbook and 56% are Twitter members. In terms of daily visits, 9 out of 10 visit Facebook and 1 of 2 visit Twitter every day.

When asked about who and what they follow, participants shared the following...

Companies/Brands:
Facebook = 49%
Twitter = 37%

TV Shows:
Facebook = 49%
Twitter = 30%

Movies
Facebook = 43%
Twitter = 25%

Actors/Actresses
Facebook = 32%
Twitter = 41%

Reality TV Stars
Facebook = 16%
Twitter = 23%

Journalists/Reports
Facebook = 9%
Twitter = 15%

I find it interesting that consumers connect more with brands, movies, or shows on Facebook whereas Twitter is the preferred choice for connecting with people. Marketers should take note in how people form fandoms and communities, where and how.

The State of Movie Marketing

Considering the behavior of Gen-C as well as all other consumers, marketers can't rule out any form of promotion or engagement without understanding the balance and how each contribute to consumerism.

The study found that even through social networking is playing a significant role in movie watching and shared experiences, traditional marketing is still king in how consumers make moviegoing decisions. Trailers and previews are the biggest influence for movie choices at 40%, which can include a variety of sources for where that trailer is viewed (theater, TV, website, Youtube, etc.) TV ads still play a large role in decision making at 20%. Real world word of mouth is also a important source of the selection process at 18%. Only 9% of respondents said that comments or reviews on social networks influenced decisions.

You are Now the Architect of a Multi-Screen Experience

Processing this data is one thing. Interpreting its impact on your strategy for programming, marketing, and engagement is up to you. What's clear is that what we think about social media, entertainment, and influence and how consumers are behaving can only teach us about how to be more engaging, entertaining, and how to create and steer experiences that matter to consumers and producers. So what's your second and third screen experience? Have you defined it? If not, this is the time to develop an engaging multi-screen experience because it's already happening with or without your design.

Connect with me: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Google+

Please consider ordering The End of Business as Usual today...

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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Music, Film, TV: How social media changed the entertainment experience

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Social media is more than a digital water cooler for TV and movies. The global conversation that takes place around events and the experiences people share based on what they watch teaches us about consumer preferences. More importantly, their activity influences behavior. Behavior counts for everything. Studying it is just the beginning of course.

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short form media decreases mental attention

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Psychological Impacts of TikTok’s Content Recommendation System

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On social media, there's a new type of influencer. But instead of promoting clothing lines and lifestyle products, they promote fraud.

They flash stacks of cash, hide their faces, and some even lure new recruits by selling guides on committing fraud.

You'd think these scammers and their illegal products would be hard to find, and once upon a time, they were, hidden in the shadows of the dark web. But not any more.

As part of an investigation for BBC Panorama, I discovered just how easy it was to make deals with fraudsters and purchase fraud guides online. I also unmasked one anonymous influencer who has been selling them.

On social, perpetrators of online retail fraud refer to it as "clicking", making it seem more innocuous.

But committing fraud - which is defined by the police-run service Action Fraud as using trickery to gain a dishonest advantage, often financial, over another person - can lead to up to 10 years in prison.

The guides being traded are known as methods.

They can target banks, retailers and even the government's Universal Credit system, leaving organisations and members of the public out of pocket.

And they all rely heavily on something known as fullz, slang for full information.

These are the personal details of an unconnected person: typically an individual's name, phone number, address and bank details.

With the fullz in hand, fraudsters can follow the steps in the guides to make online purchases or even take out a loan in someone else's name.

Panorama: Hunting the Social Media Fraudsters is on BBC One at 19:35 BST on Monday or later on iPlayer

How do these private details end up in circulation in the first place?

They have often come from phishing scams. Think of those dodgy emails or text messages that pretend to be from legitimate sources and con people into revealing their personal information.

Sometimes these fraudsters conduct or commission phishing activities themselves, or sometimes they get hold of the information via others.

Exploiting a person's "fullz" - by, for example, making purchases using their details - can wreck their credit score. A bad credit score can have life-changing implications: it affects your chances of applying for a loan, or getting a mortgage, or even opening a new bank account.

I contacted one fraudster who was advertising his services on social media and, through a messaging app, he offered to build me a fake website and send 4,000 phishing texts on my behalf to get people's personal details. His fee was £115.

Terms used by scammers

methods - tips on how to commit fraud

fullz - short for full details. Relates to personal banking information (e.g. I can get you their fullz)

clicking - fraudulently purchasing products from online retailers

On a separate Instagram profile, I noticed a scammer had posted some "fullz" - as a sort of free sample, encouraging people to pay to receive many more stolen details. I decided to call some of the phone numbers that were listed.

It was difficult listening to a stranger react as I told them their names, addresses, card details and phone numbers were posted online for anyone to see and exploit.

I later met up with one of the victims, Wilson from Oxford, who said seeing all his details online was scary because it made him realise how unprotected he was.

So why aren't more people behind these schemes being caught?

Cybercrime specialist Jake Moore says investigators are facing an uphill battle to find the culprits.

"Anonymous accounts are leaving not just a small amount of breadcrumbs to investigate them - there are no breadcrumbs," he says. "There's no digital footprint left behind them. So to investigate this is nearly impossible."

But being an influencer inevitably means sharing some elements of your life online - and over time, one influencer has left behind a few too many clues.

He calls himself Tankz, and in videos of him rapping online, he boasts: "I'm a London scammer. I see it, I want it, I click it."

He sells fraud guides - or methods.

I posed as someone interested in learning about fraud and messaged Tankz about his methods via Instagram. We bought his top guide for £100.

It arrived as a link, sent via social media, to 43 files on a cloud storage system.

The files were filled with detailed techniques on how to exploit online retailers. They also directed would-be criminals to websites where they can buy "fullz".

We wanted to find out who this masked fraud influencer was.

Panorama analysed footage Tankz posted on social media, and realised he gave too much away while trying to remain anonymous.

We noted a reference to north London's Wembley as his local area, a mention of studying economics and finance at university, and a glimpse of his car number plate.

One clip also featured a distinctive black-and-grey carpet, and we were able to find a match on a website advertising student accommodation in the Wembley area.

We went to the block, spotted the car, and waited. Then we saw a man approach the car wearing the exact same tracksuit Tankz had been wearing earlier that day in a social media video.

We had unmasked the masked fraudster but who was he?

His social media posts are anonymous, but we discovered that his songs were also listed on Apple Music. On one of his tracks, the copyright isn't listed to Tankz, but to what seems is his real name: Luke Joseph.

It didn't stop there. We discovered an email sent from Tankz's official address which also made a reference to the same name. There was even an eBay account under the name of Tankz, where Luke Joseph is the contact address.

Finally, we discovered that there was someone of the same name living in the same student accommodation block in Wembley. It seems that Tankz may be a London student called Luke Joseph.

We contacted Luke Joseph, and Tankz, but we didn't get a response.

His TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat accounts were removed by the respective social media platforms after Panorama notified them about the content.

Since then, he has created a new TikTok account where he continues to post about his life.

So what are the wider authorities doing to crack down on online fraud and those who promote it?

Earlier this year, the government revealed plans to reduce illegal and harmful digital content. It wants the communications regulator Ofcom to police social media and hold big tech giants to account.

Fraud-related content was not originally set to be included in this Online Safety Bill, but at the last minute the government changed its mind. The word "fraud" is still absent, but it could be covered by what the bill refers to as "illegal content".

Some have voiced concerns that it won't specifically address the problem.

Arun Chauhan, a solicitor specialising in fraud, says he thinks the bill "is not fit for purpose in the fight against fraud".

But a government spokesperson told Panorama the new law would "increase people's protection" from scams, and said they "continue to pursue fraudsters" and "close down the vulnerabilities they exploit".

TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube all told us they did not allow fraud on their platforms.

They said that they took fraud very seriously and were constantly clamping down on criminal content.

The question is whether they can take it down faster than it's being posted.

Panorama: Hunting the Social Media Fraudsters is on BBC One at 19:35 BST on Monday or later on iPlayer

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Social media fraud: The influencers promoting criminal scams

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BBC Panorama investigates a new generation of fraudster that openly uses social media to promote crime.

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cons - how social media affects mental health 

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cons - how social media affects mental health 

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Social media can affect your mental health a lot ways but it social media can have a negative affect on someone leading to self-harm or worst.

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Here's How Social Media Affects Your Mental Health | McLean Hospital

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Using social media can directly impact emotional wellness, physical, and mental health. Here are the signs that you are affected.

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Influencers and others can use social media to scam vulnerable people through schemes like crypto-currency and investments

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On social media, there's a new type of influencer. But instead of promoting clothing lines and lifestyle products, they promote fraud.

They flash stacks of cash, hide their faces, and some even lure new recruits by selling guides on committing fraud.

You'd think these scammers and their illegal products would be hard to find, and once upon a time, they were, hidden in the shadows of the dark web. But not any more.

As part of an investigation for BBC Panorama, I discovered just how easy it was to make deals with fraudsters and purchase fraud guides online. I also unmasked one anonymous influencer who has been selling them.

On social, perpetrators of online retail fraud refer to it as "clicking", making it seem more innocuous.

But committing fraud - which is defined by the police-run service Action Fraud as using trickery to gain a dishonest advantage, often financial, over another person - can lead to up to 10 years in prison.

The guides being traded are known as methods.

They can target banks, retailers and even the government's Universal Credit system, leaving organisations and members of the public out of pocket.

And they all rely heavily on something known as fullz, slang for full information.

These are the personal details of an unconnected person: typically an individual's name, phone number, address and bank details.

With the fullz in hand, fraudsters can follow the steps in the guides to make online purchases or even take out a loan in someone else's name.

Panorama: Hunting the Social Media Fraudsters is on BBC One at 19:35 BST on Monday or later on iPlayer

How do these private details end up in circulation in the first place?

They have often come from phishing scams. Think of those dodgy emails or text messages that pretend to be from legitimate sources and con people into revealing their personal information.

Sometimes these fraudsters conduct or commission phishing activities themselves, or sometimes they get hold of the information via others.

Exploiting a person's "fullz" - by, for example, making purchases using their details - can wreck their credit score. A bad credit score can have life-changing implications: it affects your chances of applying for a loan, or getting a mortgage, or even opening a new bank account.

I contacted one fraudster who was advertising his services on social media and, through a messaging app, he offered to build me a fake website and send 4,000 phishing texts on my behalf to get people's personal details. His fee was £115.

Terms used by scammers

methods - tips on how to commit fraud

fullz - short for full details. Relates to personal banking information (e.g. I can get you their fullz)

clicking - fraudulently purchasing products from online retailers

On a separate Instagram profile, I noticed a scammer had posted some "fullz" - as a sort of free sample, encouraging people to pay to receive many more stolen details. I decided to call some of the phone numbers that were listed.

It was difficult listening to a stranger react as I told them their names, addresses, card details and phone numbers were posted online for anyone to see and exploit.

I later met up with one of the victims, Wilson from Oxford, who said seeing all his details online was scary because it made him realise how unprotected he was.

So why aren't more people behind these schemes being caught?

Cybercrime specialist Jake Moore says investigators are facing an uphill battle to find the culprits.

"Anonymous accounts are leaving not just a small amount of breadcrumbs to investigate them - there are no breadcrumbs," he says. "There's no digital footprint left behind them. So to investigate this is nearly impossible."

But being an influencer inevitably means sharing some elements of your life online - and over time, one influencer has left behind a few too many clues.

He calls himself Tankz, and in videos of him rapping online, he boasts: "I'm a London scammer. I see it, I want it, I click it."

He sells fraud guides - or methods.

I posed as someone interested in learning about fraud and messaged Tankz about his methods via Instagram. We bought his top guide for £100.

It arrived as a link, sent via social media, to 43 files on a cloud storage system.

The files were filled with detailed techniques on how to exploit online retailers. They also directed would-be criminals to websites where they can buy "fullz".

We wanted to find out who this masked fraud influencer was.

Panorama analysed footage Tankz posted on social media, and realised he gave too much away while trying to remain anonymous.

We noted a reference to north London's Wembley as his local area, a mention of studying economics and finance at university, and a glimpse of his car number plate.

One clip also featured a distinctive black-and-grey carpet, and we were able to find a match on a website advertising student accommodation in the Wembley area.

We went to the block, spotted the car, and waited. Then we saw a man approach the car wearing the exact same tracksuit Tankz had been wearing earlier that day in a social media video.

We had unmasked the masked fraudster but who was he?

His social media posts are anonymous, but we discovered that his songs were also listed on Apple Music. On one of his tracks, the copyright isn't listed to Tankz, but to what seems is his real name: Luke Joseph.

It didn't stop there. We discovered an email sent from Tankz's official address which also made a reference to the same name. There was even an eBay account under the name of Tankz, where Luke Joseph is the contact address.

Finally, we discovered that there was someone of the same name living in the same student accommodation block in Wembley. It seems that Tankz may be a London student called Luke Joseph.

We contacted Luke Joseph, and Tankz, but we didn't get a response.

His TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat accounts were removed by the respective social media platforms after Panorama notified them about the content.

Since then, he has created a new TikTok account where he continues to post about his life.

So what are the wider authorities doing to crack down on online fraud and those who promote it?

Earlier this year, the government revealed plans to reduce illegal and harmful digital content. It wants the communications regulator Ofcom to police social media and hold big tech giants to account.

Fraud-related content was not originally set to be included in this Online Safety Bill, but at the last minute the government changed its mind. The word "fraud" is still absent, but it could be covered by what the bill refers to as "illegal content".

Some have voiced concerns that it won't specifically address the problem.

Arun Chauhan, a solicitor specialising in fraud, says he thinks the bill "is not fit for purpose in the fight against fraud".

But a government spokesperson told Panorama the new law would "increase people's protection" from scams, and said they "continue to pursue fraudsters" and "close down the vulnerabilities they exploit".

TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube all told us they did not allow fraud on their platforms.

They said that they took fraud very seriously and were constantly clamping down on criminal content.

The question is whether they can take it down faster than it's being posted.

Panorama: Hunting the Social Media Fraudsters is on BBC One at 19:35 BST on Monday or later on iPlayer

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Social media fraud: The influencers promoting criminal scams

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BBC Panorama investigates a new generation of fraudster that openly uses social media to promote crime.

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People use social media as a way of keeping in touch with friends especially if they stay long distances away from each other and they don't get to meet up as often

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Roughly two-thirds (67%) of social media users say that staying in touch with current friends and family members is a major reason they use these social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or LinkedIn.

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Social media is good grounds for misinformation to be spread upon

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Keeping it real

If you want to become more media-savvy and be able to identify fake news, there are questions you can ask yourself. These questions will vary depending on what type of account you're following.

Personal accounts

If you're following a personal account and wondering about the reliability of news being shared, it's important to ask questions and do research. Social media platform algorithms are designed for optimized user retention and engagement, and are not looking for misinformation or disinformation. A few questions that can help you identify fake news are:

Does the account that shared the post have emotional or professional stakes in these claims?

What is the content asking you to focus on?

Is this information reasonable?

Is it reputable, or does it cite reputable sources?

Why is it valuable to the account that shared it?

Business or professional accounts

With a business or professional account, the focus is audience-centered. Professional organizations' social media pages should ideally be informative about the business' goals and values. They should engage potential or current customers and be careful not to alienate them. In addition to the questions you'd ask of a personal account, you should also ask:

How am I serving my audience?

Will this alienate anyone in my core market?

How does this reflect on my business's reputation or values?

Is this timely or relevant to my clientele?

Falling victim to misinformation or fake news with a professional or business account can have serious consequences, so being thorough and cautious before you post can go a long way.

Combating fake news on social media comes down to understanding the goals of fellow posters and of the platform itself. Social media platforms make money by selling user data to ad companies, which is why you'll often see ads tailored to your interests or search history.

This is important to know for context. As an individual, being aware that the news you see on your feed is filtered based on previously collected data can help you be more conscious of your own inherent bias. If you represent a business using social media as a marketing platform, it's important to keep your posts consistent with your brand, and share things on your timeline that build customer relationships, line up with your values, or showcase original content.

Fake news on social media may be unavoidable. But you can help stop the spread by thinking critically. Maintain a healthy level of curiosity for what you read on your feed, understand how social media platforms curate what you see, and use investigative practices often. Social media is a powerful tool, for both businesses and individuals, when approached with appropriate intent and consideration.

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Being able to identify fake news on your social media feed is crucial to being a responsible and informed internet denizen. These tips can help you discover and evaluate for yourself the motives in the media you see online.

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Children using social media open up the possibilities to being groomed

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If someone's being groomed or hurt, they might:

keep secrets, or lie about what's happened

feel scared to talk about things, or avoid talking about it

suddenly have money, or new things like clothes or phones that they can't explain

suddenly change, or avoid spending time with other people

Lots of things can make someone change suddenly, but if you're worried then it's okay to ask for support.

It can help to share what's making you worried with the person you know, or to get help from an adult you trust.

You can talk to us about anything that's happening, even if it's about someone else. Childline is confidential, and you can find out more about that here.

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Grooming is when someone builds your trust and makes a connection with you to get you to do something sexual or illegal.

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Charities are using social media to advertise themselves and hopefully get more people to donate

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There is little doubt that social media is becoming interwoven with nearly every aspect of our lives. Charities are using social media more and more to reach new audiences and there is no shortage of advice from umbrella bodies, agencies and others to help fledgling tweets leave the nest.

We looked at the social media profiles of the charities that feature in the haysmacintyre / Charity Finance 100 Index, which ranks the UK's largest charities based on a three-year average income, to see how they use different networks and who they reach.

Facebook and Twitter are the most popular social media platforms. Some 56 per cent have their reach the most people Facebook, and 39 per cent, from Twitter. Twitter and Facebook have average followings of 229,917 and 219,599 respectively.

The next most popular platform is Instagram, with the top charities amassing an average of 88,999 followers. After this, charities use YouTube, with an average of 27,777 followers and LinkedIn, with 20,393.
See below for charities with the largest following across different platforms.
Why?

Charities are using social media for a number of reasons. Cecilia Dominici, head of social media, news and content for Cancer Research UK says that the charity uses social media to inspire their audiences to take action in real life by fundraising, or writing to their MPs.

She says they want audiences trust Cancer Research UK as an authoritative source of information. To do so, CRUK provide "current, relevant and important news and analysis" on a range of platforms.

Meanwhile, Chris Gornell, senior social media manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, says social media is for communicating with the charity's beneficiaries. "The first purpose of our social media channels is to communicate with, and support people living with cancer," he says.

Social media can help charities meet these aims in innovative ways. Richard Evans, deputy director of marketing and communications at blood cancer charity, Bloodwise says that before social media, it was hard to communicate with supporters directly and communication had to go through the media, so had to cater to their interests. In contrast, social media "allows you to talk on your terms," he says.

Through his personal website, One Riot, Evans has been following charities with the largest followings on different social social media platforms. He has found that in 2018 Mind was the fastest growing charity on Twitter, with an increase of over 60,000 followers. Over on Facebook he found that WWF added the most followers last year, increasing its number of likes by 138,769.

Ian Hurlock, director of customer experience at Lightful, a social media management platform for charities adds that social media allows charities to "be more creative while reaching goals" while allowing the audiences to respond to the charities, share their experiences, It's "not a one way street," he says.

How?

To meet these aims, charities use a range of different platforms available. Charities appear to use social media platforms in a similar way to each other, but use different platforms in different ways. Those who use Facebook regularly post regularly, with external links to their website content like blog posts, or links to their other social media accounts and third party content related to the issues they champion.

Often, they also post infographics and videos, human interest stories accompanied with a photo of the person, and events that the charity is hosting.

Some charities use positive storytelling to share the effects of their work or the people that they are helping. For instance, Oxfam profiles volunteers with short videos about their work with the charity. Others, like Save the Children, use the platform to share negative news articles about issues, to raise awareness.

Fundraising charities also share a link to donate to the charity, and charities for instance Oxfam have a tab featuring a shop. Twitter is used in a similar manner, although charities can take advantage of hashtags to drive traffic to their content.

Non-fundraising charities like gym franchise, the Nuffield Health and private school network, Girl's Day School Trust use social media less, with 29,800 and 10,700 Twitter followers respectively, well below the average.

When choosing the platform to use, Hurlock says charities should think about their audiences; which audience is using what platform and what content resonates best on each. For CRUK, Dominici says that Twitter works best for news and Facebook, YouTube and Instagram are best for stories.

Gornell agrees that different platforms have different purposes. He says: "We do find that we reach slightly different audiences across different platforms, both in terms of our followers and the audiences that don't follow us but see and engage with our content. With this in mind, we tailor the content for each platform to ensure that it is right for the audience that will see it."

"Our cancer information content goes down well with our Facebook and Twitter audiences and on Instagram fundraising content does better," he adds.

On-off relationship with video

Charities appear to have an on-off relationship with Youtube. Often charities post a few videos within a short time frame, then have months without uploading. Even if a channel has many subscribers, videos posted by charities only receive a few thousand views.

This may prove to have been a wise move. In documents revealed in a court case at the end of last year it was revealed that social media platforms could have been overstating the importance of video, leading some media organisations regretting the "pivot to video".

Lack of content on YouTube is not a significant cause for concern for Cancer Research UK. Dominici says: "It's not about the number of pieces of content we publish, but ensuring each is delivering on its objectives and resonating with the relevant audience," she says.

"Our aim with YouTube is to publish inspiring stories as well as useful content that is easy to find and answers commonly asked questions. With that in mind, we take the quality over quantity approach".

LinkedIn for corporate comms

While some charities use LinkedIn to communicate their messages, most charities use the platform for more corporate communications, to showcase what the charity is doing as a company, as well as to advertise for jobs.

When it is used to communicate the cause, it is done with a more serious tone than Facebook and Twitter.

Dominici says: "Linkedin is becoming more and more important for us, in particular from an employer brand point of view."

Infographics on Insta

Unsurprisingly, given the nature of the platform, content on Instagram is image driven, with charities often using infographics. Perhaps because of the younger audience, the tone is also more light-hearted and chatty.

Charities share "happy new year" cartoons and photos of their staff. Museums and galleries like the Tate Gallery use it to showcase their exhibits.

Gornell says: "Currently Instagram and Instagram Stories are performing well. Through this platform we can reach a slightly younger audience which is important".

Dominici agrees. Speaking about Instagram stories she says: "When the format first launched we weren't sure how our followers would react to the change in information delivery. After testing different types of content however, we noticed that our supporters were really engaged by short form, digestible news content. The 'swipe up to read more' function also proved a great way of directing audiences to the Cancer Research UK blog where we expand on these stories and share more detailed information."

Challenges

Yet whatever the good it can do for charities, social media is not without its problems. Dominici cites fake news as worrisome. She says that "misinformation is a very concrete risk" as it "damages people's confidence in where to access important and necessary information in the first place."

Meanwhile, Hurlock said charities often use the same techniques repeatedly without measuring their impact. He said that charities need to use a "reflective and analytical mind-set" to learn from their experiences. They also need "clear objectives" with goals about the numbers of followers they have as sometimes they prioritise numbers above anything else.

Evans says another consideration is how to staff the accounts, with many people accessing social media outside of office hours when charity staff have long logged off. Social media, after all, is perennial.

And so is its progress. Evans says a challenge for the future will be spotting the new trends and opportunities for charities to champion social media but not getting drawn into fleeting ventures. He says the key is "not to be such an early adopter that your chasing things that never take off but to be an early enough adopter that your relatively early on the scene for the things that are here to stay".

Facebook

1. CRUK 1,557,361

2. British Museum 1,493,876

3. Tate Gallery 1,173,269

4. Dog's Trust 1,049,644

5. Royal Opera House 774,659

6. International Rescue Committee 767,491

7. Royal British Legion 728,450

8. Macmillan Cancer 724,784

9. National Trust 711,322

10. RSPCA 658,865

Twitter

1. Tate Gallery 4,910,000

2. National history museum 2,300,000

3. British Museum 2,000,000

4. V&A 1,360,000

5. Oxfam 837,000

6. National Trust 832000

7. BFI 830,000

8. Macmillan Cancer Support 671,000

9. Science Museum Group 665,000

10. National Theatre 444,000

Instagram

1. Tate Gallery 2,500,000

2. British Museum 1,200,000

3. V&A 954,000

4. National Trust 455,000

5. Royal Opera House 413,000

6. National History Museum 311,000

7. Royal Botanic Gardens 223,000

8. BFI 211,000

9. Dog's Trust 180,000

10. Science Museum Group 178,000

LinkedIn

1. Oxfam 209,744

2. Save the Children 153,679

3. International rescue committee 130,868

4. National Trust 76,356

5. Tate Gallery 71,877

6. V&A 63,695

7. 62,636 CRUK

8. British Museum 61,381

9. The Salvation Army 57,887

Youtube

1. Comic Relief 610,985

2. Royal Opera House 474,055

3. English Heritage Trust 359,851

4. British Museum 166,407

5. Tate 149,405

6. BFI 128,214

7. CRUK 103,402

8. Save the 93,025

9. V&A 79,313

10. National Theatre 58,114

11. Consumer's association (Which?) 52,840

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How and why charities are making the most of social media

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There is little doubt that social media is becoming interwoven with nearly every aspect of our lives. Charities are using social media more and more to reach new audiences and there is no shortage of advice from umbrella bodies, agencies and others to help fledgling tweets leave the nest.

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online websites can easily scam. inta is one for scams too

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Working with ethical hackers, Rav Wilding is hunting down the scammers plaguing our lives - using cutting-edge tech to catch out the crooks.

Rav Wilding is hunting down the scammers plaguing our lives. Working with ethical hackers to hack into the fraudsters' illegal call centres, Rav uses cutting-edge technology to monitor the scammers' phone calls in an effort to stop victims losing out to real-time scams.

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Working with ethical hackers, Rav Wilding is hunting down the scammers plaguing our lives.

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Dis-like: How Social Media Feeds into Perfectionism - Penn Medicine

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Today’s world is one where events, achievements big and small, and adventures are on display. Scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or Twitter, it’s a daily barrage of polished vacation photos, perfectly posed selfies, witty videos, and foodie-approved plates. Social media has gifted the wo…

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Social media can have negative effects on your sleep schedule

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How does social media affect your sleep?

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cons - Catfishing (taking someone's identify)  

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cons - Catfishing (taking someone's identify)  

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on social media anyone can take someone's identity like a celebrity or a influencer

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What is Catfishing Online: Signs & How to Tell | Fortinet

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Learn what is catfishing, the tactics catfishers use to trick people, & why people catfish. Discover how you can protect yourself today. ✓ Read more here!

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Why We Act Differently Online, Backed by Psychology

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I decided to take a quick look at why this is and found a few scientifically backed reasons why we act differently online.

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Social media can have a negative impact on ones body image

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 Deal with criticism from those who are not qualified👎

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 Deal with criticism from those who are not qualified👎

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Compilado e revisão dos textos da série O que é o CRAS segundo o Facebook - originalmente publicado em cinco partes em 2015.
PARTE I: Introdução

Este texto é uma análise sobre discursos, concepções e práticas na Assistência Social a partir das postagens dos perfis no facebook das unidades de CRAS, CREAS e SCFV de vários municípios. Considerei relevante problematizá-las para que possamos refletir sobre o que estamos disseminando por aí, uma vez que as postagens demonstram e reproduzem equívocos sobre os serviços ofertados pela Proteção Social, especialmente pela básica.

A ideia inicial era publicar os Prints das Postagens para que este texto ficasse mais impactante, mas para não expor as unidades, os trabalhadores e os usuários, eu demoraria muito para manipular as imagens (eu tenho um acervo significativo). Talvez a necessidade de reforçar a escrita com as imagens seja porque às vezes reluto em não ser confundida com uma pessoa pessimista que só olha o lado ruim ou que não considera a dificuldade que os trabalhadores têm em promover a participação das famílias nos serviços.

Sei e aceito que carrego as bandeiras da implicância (no sentido de envolver, enlaçar e não no sentido de atrapalhar ou confundir); da criticidade e da reflexão. Se eu me movimento com elas, me permito parar, olhar e analisar se devo continuar por determinado caminho ou não.

Ressalto que não se deve confundir pessimista com crítico. O primeiro é aquele que não acredita no sucesso ou resultado de nada, escolhendo sempre a fila do fracasso para testemunhá-lo, enquanto que o crítico é aquele que planeja e sabe qual caminho e qual direção é a mais assertiva, naquele momento. Estando pronto para desviar e refazer a trilha quantas vezes for necessário para alcançar o resultado.

No meu entendimento, é essa pausa que não se permitem fazer muitos psicólogos, assistentes sociais, coordenadores, gestores, técnicos de nível médio e demais executores da política. Será por que isso dá trabalho e requer tempo? Ou é por que ainda se opera na lógica perversa de que para pobre qualquer coisa serve?

Vale pontuar que têm muitos profissionais politizados e críticos, mas que infelizmente são muitas vezes colocados para fora dos trilhos ou se cansam de lutar por terem a voz tolhida, sendo julgados e condenados por não falarem a língua da maioria ou da "chefia" - regendo a lei da quantidade e não da qualidade.

Portanto, tratar questões como essa proposta aqui, não é porque não se acredita em artesanato nos CRAS, nos SCFV e CREAS, é justamente por acreditar que ele precisa conter uma nova lógica ao compor as respostas que damos às pessoas que demandam proteção social na rede socioassistencial.

Ainda faço alusão ao meu debate na Oficina Trabalho Multiprofissional e o conceito de interdisciplinaridade no 3º Seminário Estadual sobre Psicologia e Assistência Social em São Paulo, o SUAS nasceu velho ou é a nossa concepção de trabalho social que está impedindo o novo? Tem texto sobre isso aqui.

Esta série, O que é o CRAS pelo facebook, é dividida em cinco partes, onde objetivo problematizar e provocar reflexões acerca das ações equivocadas desenvolvidas nos CRAS/PAIF/SCFV/ ou CREAS e que acabam sendo publicadas nas redes sociais, o que colabora para que os usuários e os atores das demais políticas públicas tenham uma ideia errônea acerca da proteção social e consequentemente das atribuições dos técnicos de referência dos serviços, além de contribuir com a reprodução de discursos que revelam contradição com os objetivos da Política de assistência social

PARTE II - Velhas práticas no SUAS

Após a análise de quase noventa postagens nos perfis das unidades CRAS e SCFV, concluo que aqueles que sabem pouco ou nada sobre o que é o CRAS - me refiro aos moradores do território onde o CRAS está instalado, aos comerciantes do local, aos líderes religiosos e comunitários, aos profissionais da escola, aos agentes comunitários de saúde, equipes de saúde e os profissionais de outras redes que moram longe, mas que acessam o facebook e acompanham as postagens - poderão ter as seguintes ideias sobre a função dessa unidade:

Local que oferece diversos cursos, como: artesanato, manicure, culinária, fuxico, corte e costura, cabeleireiro, maquiagem, tricô e crochê, informática, panificação, confecção de enxoval de bebê, pintura em tela (todos estes cursos foram citados nas postagens que analisei - Artesanato foi divulgado pela maioria;

Local de festas - comemorações para todas as datas com brinquedos infláveis e caracterizações.

Local para se fazer atividades físicas como ginástica, artes marciais, dança, capoeira e etc.;

Faz-se isso tudo, com muita dedicação, mas por que que uma das maiores queixas das equipes de CRAS continua sendo a falta de adesão das famílias nas ações que supostamente é o PAIF? Porque isso é velho! Isso é a continuidade de uma assistência social pontual e meramente assistencialista e resultado dos trabalhos sociais realizados por ONGs e instituições muito antes de existir a PNAS e o SUAS. A maioria dos trabalhadores neste período tinha formação de nível fundamental ou médio - claro que algumas contavam com profissionais de nível superior, mas nem se compara com o número de hoje. Portanto, quem realizava essas ações eram pessoas com boa vontade e que queriam mobilizar a comunidade para promover atividades com intuito de romper a ociosidade das crianças, adolescentes e idosos.
Qual a diferença com os CRAS de hoje?
Considerando a regulamentação da política de assistência social e a criação do SUAS, trago como principal diferença os executores dessa política. Temos uma NOB-RH que regulamenta quais os profissionais de nível superior irão compor as equipes de referência e a coordenação, os quais são responsáveis por materializar a proteção social no âmbito da seguridade social - obviamente que são responsáveis junto com a gestão. Mas fomos "chamados" para reproduzir o velho? Eu não acredito nisso, assim como muitos que estão trabalhando segundo as diretrizes, princípios e objetivos dessa política, pautados num posicionamento ético-político - posicionamento fundamental, uma vez que operacionalizar uma política pública não se trata de seguir manuais, mas tão pouco reproduzir práticas ineficientes.

Voltando ao que é publicizado como ação dos CRAS, estamos em grande desvantagem, porque ainda não conseguimos desfazer equívocos e nem nos debruçarmos em ações transformadoras na perspectiva do trabalho social com famílias. Não deveríamos fazer diferente com DIFERENÇA, já que o trabalho social passa a ser desenvolvido pautado no conhecimento teórico, técnico e metodológico?

Este trabalho "técnico" e muito árduo, não se materializa como essas atividades citadas acima que funcionam como um engodo, ludibriando e criando ilusão de que trarão resultados significativos. Qual a capacidade transformadora de um certificado de manicure oferecido pelo CRAS? Este, ao transvestir ou potencializar suas ações em matéria de formação profissional ou geração de renda, reforça a inclusão perversa - a culpabilização da família pela sua condição socioeconômica também permeia essas atividades.

O CRAS, não sendo "casa de cursos profissionalizantes, mas atuando como se fosse e desenvolvendo ações de suposta geração de renda", cria nos indivíduos e nas famílias uma expectativa de inclusão no mercado de trabalho e de mudança da condição econômica da família. Isso não vai acontecer! (Pelo menos em escala relevante). Será mais uma frustação e mais uma "razão" para continuar desacreditando em si e na política pública.

Esta por sua vez, atribuirá a eles a culpa pelo fracasso: quantos vezes irão repetir: "nossa, a Patrícia já fez curso de culinária, cabeleireiro e bordado em pano de prato, mas continua querendo fazer mais curso e nada de arrumar um trabalho". Provavelmente não arrumou trabalho porque o que ela faz é de baixa qualidade, tem pouca escolaridade ou o mais importante: ela ainda não foi escutada, se fosse, talvez descobririam o que ela gostaria de fazer e que teria sentido para a sua vida. Infelizmente, conhecer a demanda não significa acesso aos serviços púbicos ou privados! Mais um motivo para que nosso trabalho seja levado a sério, porque uma situação dessa não dá pra ser tratada segundo as ideias ou concepções do senso comum, correndo o risco de perpetuar a naturalização das consequências da desigualdade social.

Quando penso que o trabalho social (as ações propostas pelo PAIF) não se materializa na mesma lógica das atividades em questão, é porque os seus resultados não podem ser observados somente através de números, e não funcionam como "chamariz" para ações partidárias. Não adianta pressa! Pois não se deve marcar data para colher os frutos desse trabalho, porque ele pode aparecer na próxima década ou geração da família e se não aparece nesta instituição, ele será tão pouco observável nas tramas do território.

Já pensaram na periodicidade decenal dos planos das políticas públicas? Sumariamente é por considerar que não se muda nada do dia para a noite e que tudo precisa ser diagnosticado, planejado e continuado - devendo acontecer de formar articulada e integrada com os demais setores públicos e privados. Não tenhamos pressa! O tempo das famílias não é o mesmo do calendário político.

Não é para correr, mas muito menos para ficar "sentado" assistindo aos equívocos na oferta dos serviços - resistir, se posicionar por questões dessa natureza faz parte das atribuições de todos os trabalhadores. Tenhamos sabedoria e compromisso com o que estamos propondo a construir, por que quem disse que a proteção social básica não é complexa? você já parou para analisar que muitas famílias que são atendidas nos CRAS estão com os direitos humanos violados?

Finalizando, quero reforçar que este texto é referente ao que vi nas postagens no facebook e segundo o que leio ou ouço dos próprios profissionais, portanto, os CRAS onde o trabalho está acontecendo a contento, não fiquem preocupados - não estou generalizando - até porque isso seria impossível, de acordo com a pesquisa divulgada pelo IBGE, em Maio de 2014, tínhamos 7.968 CRAS pelo País e eu acompanhei as postagens de apenas 70 CRAS! Inclusive irei comentar no último Post, três postagens que gostei muito, tem muito CRAS trilhando por bons caminhos. Por isso, aproveitem para comentar aqui ou na página no facebook suas impressões e a realidade que você vivencia.

Nos próximos tópicos, farei algumas considerações sobre as Oficinas/atividades físicas no SCFV, os discursos sobre os grupos atendidos e sobre formas mais assertivas de divulgação dos serviços do CRAS através do Facebook.

Parte III - Oficinas no SCFV

Fiquei de escrever sobre as minhas reflexões acerca das atividades e oficinas que ocorrem no Serviço de Convivência e Fortalecimento de Vínculos - SCFV e sobre os discursos dos profissionais acerca dos grupos atendidos e sobre formas mais assertivas de divulgação dos serviços do CRAS através das redes sociais.

O reordenamento do SCFV, além de outros pontos, veio para enfatizar a necessidade de atender as pessoas, cuja natureza da vulnerabilidade ou risco social as colocam como prioritárias para a proteção social e para que a organização e execução do SUAS abarcassem de vez o PETI. Lembrando que o Programa foi lançado pelo Governo Federal em 1996 e sucessivamente o PETI foi ganhando forma nos Estados e Municípios. Portando o PETI tinha "vida própria" antes do SCFV, e as ações dele, então, precisavam ser incorporadas ao SUAS, assim como a sua gestão foi incorporada na Proteção Social Especial.

O SCFV, pelo que vemos nas divulgações nas redes sociais - pontuando as atividades mais recorrentes e comuns - é uma oportunidade para as crianças e adolescentes realizarem atividades esportivas e para a pessoa idosa realizar artesanato e dança. Aí você pensa: é mesmo, mas o que é que isso tem demais?

Não teria problema se o Município estivesse construindo ou aprimorando agenda para as políticas públicas voltadas ao esporte, cultura e lazer em um formato aberto para população em geral e não apenas aos estudantes. Os Municípios têm secretarias ou departamentos voltados a estas políticas, mas por que não funcionam? E é a assistência que vai ofertar esta política? Mas nem seria ofertar, pois trata-se de atividades sem planejamento neste âmbito e sim tratadas como oficinas para cumprir os objetivos do SCFV.

É bom lembrar que atividades de esporte, cultura, artes fazem parte da formação do sujeito e da vida em sociedade, portanto, independente da condição de vínculos familiares ou comunitárias, todo cidadão tem o direito de acessar essas políticas em qualquer fase de desenvolvimento. Portanto isso deve ser política pública implantada no Município e não deveria a secretaria de Assistência Social suprir essa lacuna com ações compensatórias.

Compreendo que quando essa demanda existe e a oferta é identificada na Assistência Social como necessária, é porque a política de esporte, cultura e lazer é inexistente, está precária ou desarticulada no Município e portanto há a desproteção do cidadão e então, em vez de mobilizarmos a comunidade e a gestão para que se organize esta política vamos ofertar estas atividades? As quais acabam ocorrendo em redundância e às vezes "disputando" o mesmo público?

As oficinas de cunho esportivo, cultural, artes podem sim serem recursos, meios, mas não como fim para alcance dos objetivos do serviço, e nem serem por si só caracterizadas como SCFV. Vemos as unidades encaminhando a criança ou adolescente para a "aula" de futebol, de dança, de teatro e não para o SCFV. É aí que está a questão!

Também é sabido que muitas entidades que ofertam estas atividades são acionadas pelos CRAS, orientados pela gestão, para inserir os usuários no SISC (Sistema de Informações do Serviço de Convivência e Fortalecimento de Vínculos) sem ao menos passar pela equipe técnica do PAIF.

Cadastrar esse público no CRAS não significa acompanhar. E será que todo mundo é vulnerável e precisa fortalecer os vínculos? Como saber se tem sentido o encaminhamento para aquela família e seus membros sem as ações do PAIF?

Vocês já pensaram nos usuários inseridos no sistema? Eles ficarão quanto tempo lá? O serviço é realizado por percurso e deve ter planejamento com início meio e fim, mas se não há esse planejamento e acompanhamento, como ter as informações sobre os impactos sociais e saber a hora de atualizar o sistema?

Lembrando que esta inserção no sistema tem a ver com a capacidade de atendimento informada pelos Municípios ao MDS, a qual muitas vezes foi feita sem diagnóstico real da demanda e sem debate com os técnicos e rede de serviços.

O SCFV é complementar ao PAIF, então ele necessariamente deveria estar alinhado com o acompanhamento familiar, monitoramento e avaliação. Somente acionar o técnico de referência do serviço para dar uma palestra para os pais ou usuários não conseguirá atingir os objetivos do SCFV.

Para que possamos identificar o grau de equívocos e necessidades de aprimoramento do SCFV, eu sugiro as seguintes perguntas e reflexões sobre as oficinas?

O seu Município tem Secretaria ou Departamento de Esporte, Cultura e Lazer?

Vocês (trabalhadores, Coordenador de CRAS, CREAS Coordenador/gerente da PSB, Gestor) já se reuniram com eles para articular agendas de trabalhos?

A inserção dos usuários ao SCFV acontece desarticulada do PAIF?

A equipe técnica do PAIF conhece todos os usuários do SCFV e suas famílias?

O técnico de referência do PAIF, com atribuição de técnico de referência do SCFV tem condições (devido as demais atividades) e é suficiente para articular, planejar e orientar os trabalhos dos orientadores sociais do SCFV?

O SCFV para a pessoa idosa apenas reproduz o que as entidades religiosas e de comunidades já realizavam? (Esta pergunta deve ser contextualizada com a leitura do Texto II)

O SCFV para a faixa etária de 18 a 59 está atendendo as pessoas com deficiência e as demais prioridades?

Faça estas perguntas quanto a execução do SCFV em seu Município para que você possa analisar e ver se esse texto reverbera algum sentido no seu contexto.

Parte IV - Grupo da melhor idade? Quem foi que disse?

Já debatidos pontos relevantes nesta série "O que é o CRAS segundo o Facebook", vou tratar agora dos discursos acerca dos idosos, públicos do Serviço de Convivência e Fortalecimento de Vínculos para pessoa idosa.

Conforme já provoca o subtítulo acima, quero convidar você a repensar essa ideia de que a velhice é a melhor idade. Então a vida começa aos 60, quem foi que disse?

Mas já disseram que a vida começa aos quarenta. Quem foi que apagou as primeiras quatro décadas? "Quem foi que disse que a vida começa aos quarenta? (Biquini Cavadão - Zé ninguém)

É compreensível que o termo "Melhor idade" seja reproduzido desmedidamente (e não me refiro apenas aos CRAS, CREAS, mas também a outras instituições, como reproduziram nas últimas semanas os perfis no facebook do Senado e do CNJ) porque soa afável e demonstra boas intenções daqueles que trabalham com este público nos serviços públicos ou privados. Mas sabemos que a bondade e a boa intenção não são garantias de um trabalho social capaz de romper com o assistencialismo e promover processos emancipatórios do sujeito.

Tratar a velhice como a melhor idade é um romantismo raso que desqualifica a vida dessas pessoas e que tenta esconder as agruras do que significa ser velho numa sociedade que insiste que só há beleza e produção na juventude.

Olha como caímos nas ciladas dos discursos. Quando tratamos os idosos como viventes da melhor idade estamos justamente banalizando sua vida atual, é como se o idoso deixasse sua bagagem para trás e entrasse desvestido em um portal onde ser velho significa viver no paraíso. Mas neste paraíso ele deixa de ser sujeito para se tornar uma massa, um coletivo.

E os desejos, afetos, escolhas, projetos, sexualidade, sexo, trabalho, mobilização social, participação e inúmeras expressões da subjetividade? Isso é coisa da fase ruim da vida! No paraíso o que eles querem mesmo é dançar um forró e jogar dominó. É bom isso, assim eles esquecem as dores, sabe aquelas dores que andam? Que a cada hora estão numa parte do corpo? Isso é do idoso.

Há aqueles idosos que se queixam desse "paraíso", reclamam que é sempre o mesmo CD, o mesmo lanche, ou que faltou açúcar no café. Como pode? Ah, esses são os ranzinzas!

Lembra que eu escrevi nos textos acima sobre a diferença de um trabalho social feito por profissionais com formação e daquele feito antes do SUAS, onde o trabalho (em sua maioria) era pontual e sem embasamento teórico, técnico e metodológico? É justamente esse ponto que me convoca a refletir sobre a reprodução de discursos equivocados por profissionais que deveriam pensar e agir diferente, criando novas formas de ver, compreender, tratar e trabalhar com os idosos.

Nesta altura do texto você pode questionar: mas que alarde por conta de um termo! - se isso acontecer não fui capaz de provocar a reflexão esperada, mas quero reforçar que nossa prática é resultado do nosso discurso. Se o discurso não revela aliança com a emancipação, autonomia e protagonismo, como ser agente ético e político de mudança?

Portanto, não é mais ético e construtivo deixar que cada um diga qual é ou qual foi sua melhor idade?

A seguir, farei sugestões de algumas formas mais assertivas de divulgação dos serviços do CRAS, CREAS, SCFV através das redes sociais.

Parte V - O uso das redes sociais pelos CRAS, CREAS e outras unidades do SUAS

Para fechar a série O que é o CRAS pelo Facebookeu trago algumas ideias sobre a criação e manutenção do perfil nas redes sociais pelas unidades e serviços (por ex.: CRAS, SCFV E CREAS).

Acima procurei problematizar e provocar reflexões acerca das ações equivocadas desenvolvidas nos CRAS/PAIF/SCFV/ ou CREAS e que acabam sendo publicadas no perfil do facebook, o que colabora para que os usuários e os atores das demais políticas públicas tenham uma ideia errônea acerca da proteção social e consequentemente das atribuições dos técnicos de referência dos serviços, além de contribuir com a reprodução de discursos que revelam contradição com os objetivos da Política de assistência social, pautada da defesa dos direitos sociais, tendo como matriz os direitos humanos.

Sem a pretensão de ter a verdade sobre este assunto, eu arisco compartilhar algumas ideias/sugestões para qualificar o uso do facebook pelas equipes dos serviços:
Para qualificar o uso das redes sociais pelo CREAS, CRAS, SCFV, NÃO as utilizem para/como:

1. Espaço para ideias pessoais (ou expor descontentamento com os membros da equipe ou com o serviço. Essas questões devem ser resolvidas em reuniões de trabalho);

2. Espaço para manifestação religiosa (perfil do SCFV, onde as ações do mesmo são introduzidas ou pautadas em orações!);

3. Publicação de conteúdos "políticos partidários" (A política é de Estado e não de Governo! Vale pensar: como se sentirá um cidadão que não comunga com o partido "apoiado pela unidade" ao necessitar dos serviços?) provavelmente nem procurará e com certeza continuará com a ideia de que o CRAS ou CREAS está só de passagem, assim como o mandato do Governo atual e assim, a ideia da Assistência Social como Direito não se consolida.

4. Reclamação e queixas sobre as políticas locais (este está ligado ao anterior, lembre-se, se é perfil da unidade pública, não é lugar para expor reprovação sobre o Governo (situações onde "quem atualiza" o perfil reprova);

5. Compartilhamento de Posts que violam Direitos humanos, como Posts virais, memes que ridicularizam e humilham pessoas.

Sugestões para um uso mais assertivo ...

1. Compartilhar os conteúdos do MDS e da Secretaria de seu Estado, bem como dos Ministérios e Secretarias;

2. Comunicar e informar os cidadãos, rede socioassistencial e setorial sobre os serviços e ações do CRAS, CREAS, SCFV, CadÚnico, e outras unidades;

3. Compartilhar as publicações dos perfis da rede socioassistencial e setorial, o que ajuda na divulgação das ações e no fortalecimento da articulação (sempre atentando para o conteúdo);

4. Publicizar ações realizadas com a divulgação de algumas fotos (não publique todas as fotos tiradas, selecione aquela (s) que mais reflete(m) o objetivo da ação);

5. Divulgar as datas das reuniões dos Conselhos de Direitos do seu Município;

6. Publicar pequenos textos sobre as normativas e regulamentações da Política de Assistência Social e textos sobre os objetivos dos serviços, programas e projetos também é algo útil.

7. Os CREAS devem superar a pontualidade das atualizações de acordo com as campanhas do dia 18 de maio e 12 de junho, por exemplo. (como o público são pessoas que foram vítimas de violação de direito com violência, certamente tem menos conteúdo de ação para publicar, mas poderia fazer um ótimo trabalho divulgando pequenos textos sobre violência contra a mulher, reflexões sobre a desigualdade de gênero; violência contra criança e adolescentes; articulação com o Sistema de Garantia de Direitos; divulgar as atribuições do Conselho Tutelar; questões e dados sobre a violência e proteção da pessoa idosa; Divulgar ações da comissão, gestão e técnicos do Programa de Erradicação do Trabalho Infantil; dentre outras temáticas;

8. A criação, atualização e produção de conteúdo devem ser acordados entre a equipe e eleger o (s) profissional (s) com mais habilidade para colaborar com a coordenação da unidade, quem considero responsável pelas publicações e pela manutenção do perfil (o perfil deve ser criado com a conta de e-mail da unidade e não com e-mail pessoal);

9. Outra dica, não crie um perfil apenas para divulgar fotos da equipe, se for criar que seja com o intuito de potencializar a comunicação com os usuários dos serviços e com os demais trabalhadores do SUAS e os trabalhadores das demais políticas públicas.

10. Por último, mantenha o perfil atualizado e procure interagir com os seguidores respondendo perguntas e comentários.

Por fim, considero que divulgar a rede socioassistencial e os fazeres da Assistência Social é muito importante para que a população e a sociedade como um todo possam ter contato com o que é o SUAS, porém vimos que isso precisa fazer parte da agenda de trabalho do coordenador de unidade, o que poderá estar em alinhamento com o setor de comunicação da secretaria. Fazendo assim, o uso qualificado das redes sociais, as quais podem, inclusive, ser um meio para busca ativa.

Para ler os Posts desta "série", clique nos links:

1. O que é o CRAS segundo o Facebook - PARTE I

2. O que é o CRAS segundo o Facebook - PARTE II

3. Oficinas no SCFV

4. Grupo da melhor idade? Quem foi que disse?

5. O uso das redes sociais pelos CRAS, CREAS e outras unidades do suas

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Velhas práticas no SUAS: uma crítica a partir da divulgação dos fazeres nas redes sociais

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Compilado e revisão dos textos da série O que é o CRAS segundo o Facebook - originalmente publicado em cinco partes em 2015. Para ler os Posts separadamente, clique nos links: O que é o CRAS segundo o Facebook - PARTE I O que é o CRAS segundo o Facebook - PARTE II Oficinas no SCFVGrupo da melhor idade?...

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Nowadays social media sites have access to date and history that you'd be interested in as a way to keep you hooked and scrolling for as long as possible. They also use likes, comments and shares to keep you coming back to keep posting and making content, if the site take doesn't put you on the algorithm it encourages competition between users to make the most content to gain more likes. Some users may change their looks or try increasingly more dangerous stunts to help boost their content which can lean to other issues as a result of this including injury or serious bodily harm.

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Social media addiction is a behavioral addiction that has been found to negatively impact the mental health and relationships of those afflicted.

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The benefits of accepting donations online - Enthuse

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Accepting donations online has become incredibly popular in recent years. Here are a few reasons why you should start accepting online as well.

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Social media can be very addiciting

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Social media addiction is a behavioral addiction that has been found to negatively impact the mental health and relationships of those afflicted.

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Social media can open up possibilities of cyberbullying

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We brought together UNICEF specialists, international cyberbullying and child protection experts, and teamed up with Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Twitter to answer some of the most common questions about online bullying and give advice on ways to deal with it.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones. It is repeated behaviour, aimed at scaring, angering or shaming those who are targeted. Examples include:

spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos or videos of someone on social media

sending hurtful, abusive or threatening messages, images or videos via messaging platforms

impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf or through fake accounts.

Face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying can often happen alongside each other. But cyberbullying leaves a digital footprint - a record that can prove useful and provide evidence to help stop the abuse.
If you are worried about your safety or something that has happened to you online, you can seek help by calling your national helpline. If your country does not have a helpline, please urgently speak to an adult you trust or seek professional support from trained and experienced carers.

1. Am I being bullied online? How do you tell the difference between a joke and bullying?

All friends joke around with each other, but sometimes it's hard to tell if someone is just having fun or trying to hurt you, especially online. Sometimes they'll laugh it off with a "just kidding," or "don't take it so seriously."

But if you feel hurt or think others are laughing at you instead of with you, then the joke has gone too far. If it continues even after you've asked the person to stop and you are still feeling upset about it, then this could be bullying.

And when the bullying takes place online, it can result in unwanted attention from a wide range of people including strangers. Wherever it may happen, if you are not happy about it, you should not have to stand for it.

Call it what you will - if you feel bad and it doesn't stop, then it's worth getting help. Stopping cyberbullying is not just about calling out bullies, it's also about recognizing that everyone deserves respect - online and in real life.

2. What are the effects of cyberbullying?

When bullying happens online it can feel as if you're being attacked everywhere, even inside your own home. It can seem like there's no escape. The effects can last a long time and affect a person in many ways:

Mentally - feeling upset, embarrassed, stupid, even afraid or angry

Emotionally - feeling ashamed or losing interest in the things you love

Physically - tired (loss of sleep), or experiencing symptoms like stomach aches and headaches

The feeling of being laughed at or harassed by others, can prevent people from speaking up or trying to deal with the problem. In extreme cases, cyberbullying can even lead to people taking their own lives.

Cyberbullying can affect us in many ways. But these can be overcome and people can regain their confidence and health.

3. How can cyberbullying affect my mental health?

When you experience cyberbullying you might start to feel ashamed, nervous, anxious and insecure about what people say or think about you. This can lead to withdrawing from friends and family, negative thoughts and self-talk, feeling guilty about things you did or did not do, or feeling that you are being judged negatively. Feeling lonely, overwhelmed, frequent headaches, nausea or stomachaches are also common.

You can lose your motivation to do the things that you usually enjoy doing and feel isolated from the people you love and trust. This can perpetuate negative feelings and thoughts which can adversely affect your mental health and well-being.

Skipping school is another common effect of cyberbullying and can affect the mental health of young people who turn to substances like alcohol and drugs or violent behaviour to deal with their psychological and physical pain. Talking to a friend, family member or school counsellor you trust can be a first step to getting help.

The effects of cyberbullying on mental health can vary depending on the medium through which it happens. For example, bullying via text messaging or through pictures or videos on social media platforms has proven to be very harmful for adolescents.

4. Who should I talk to if someone is bullying me online? Why is reporting important?

If you think you're being bullied, the first step is to seek help from someone you trust such as your parents, a close family member or another trusted adult.

In your school you can reach out to a counsellor, the sports coach or your favourite teacher - either online or in person.

And if you are not comfortable talking to someone you know, search for a helpline in your country to talk to a professional counsellor.

If the bullying is happening on a social platform, consider blocking the bully and formally reporting their behaviour on the platform itself. Social media companies are obligated to keep their users safe.

For bullying to stop, it needs to be identified and reporting it is key.

It can be helpful to collect evidence - text messages and screen shots of social media posts - to show what's been going on.

For bullying to stop, it needs to be identified and reporting it is key. It can also help to show the bully that their behaviour is unacceptable.

If you are in immediate danger, then you should contact the police or emergency services in your country.

5. I'm experiencing cyberbullying, but I'm afraid to talk to my parents about it. How can I approach them?

If you are experiencing cyberbullying, speaking to a trusted adult - someone you feel safe talking to - is one of the most important first steps you can take.

Talking to parents isn't easy for everyone. But there are things you can do to help the conversation. Choose a time to talk when you know you have their full attention. Explain how serious the problem is for you. Remember, they might not be as familiar with technology as you are, so you might need to help them to understand what's happening.

They might not have instant answers for you, but they are likely to want to help and together you can find a solution. Two heads are always better than one! If you are still unsure about what to do, consider reaching out to other trusted people. There are often more people who care about you and are willing to help than you might think!

6. How can I help my friends report a case of cyberbullying especially if they don't want to do it?

Anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying. If you see this happening to someone you know, try to offer support.

It is important to listen to your friend. Why don't they want to report being cyberbullied? How are they feeling? Let them know that they don't have to formally report anything, but it's crucial to talk to someone who might be able to help.

Anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying.

Remember, your friend may be feeling fragile. Be kind to them. Help them think through what they might say and to whom. Offer to go with them if they decide to report. Most importantly, remind them that you're there for them and you want to help.

If your friend still does not want to report the incident, then support them in finding a trusted adult who can help them deal with the situation. Remember that in certain situations the consequences of cyberbullying can be life threatening.

Doing nothing can leave the person feeling that everyone is against them or that nobody cares. Your words can make a difference.

7. How do we stop cyberbullying without giving up access to the Internet?

Being online has so many benefits. However, like many things in life, it comes with risks that you need to protect against.

If you experience cyberbullying, you may want to delete certain apps or stay offline for a while to give yourself time to recover. But getting off the Internet is not a long-term solution. You did nothing wrong, so why should you be disadvantaged? It may even send the bullies the wrong signal - encouraging their unacceptable behaviour.

We need to be thoughtful about what we share or say that may hurt others.

We all want cyberbullying to stop, which is one of the reasons reporting cyberbullying is so important. But creating the Internet we want goes beyond calling out bullying. We need to be thoughtful about what we share or say that may hurt others. We need to be kind to one another online and in real life. It's up to all of us!

8. How do I prevent my personal information from being used to manipulate or humiliate me on social media?

Think twice before posting or sharing anything on digital platforms - it may be online forever and could be used to harm you later. Don't give out personal details such as your address, telephone number or the name of your school.

Learn about the privacy settings of your favourite social media apps. Here are some actions you can take on many of them:

You can decide who can see your profile, send you direct messages or comment on your posts by adjusting your account privacy settings.

You can report hurtful comments, messages, photos and videos and request they be removed.

Besides 'unfriending', you can completely block people to stop them from seeing your profile or contacting you.

You can also choose to have comments by certain people to appear only to them without completely blocking them.

You can delete posts on your profile or hide them from specific people.

On most of your favourite social media, people aren't notified when you block, restrict or report them.

9. Is there a punishment for cyberbullying?

Most schools take bullying seriously and will take action against it. If you are being cyberbullied by other students, report it to your school.

People who are victims of any form of violence, including bullying and cyberbullying, have a right to justice and to have the offender held accountable.

Laws against bullying, particularly on cyberbullying, are relatively new and still do not exist everywhere. This is why many countries rely on other relevant laws, such as ones against harassment, to punish cyberbullies.

In countries that have specific laws on cyberbullying, online behaviour that deliberately causes serious emotional distress is seen as criminal activity. In some of these countries, victims of cyberbullying can seek protection, prohibit communication from a specified person and restrict the use of electronic devices used by that person for cyberbullying, temporarily or permanently.

However, it is important to remember that punishment is not always the most effective way to change the behaviour of bullies. Sometimes, focusing on repairing the harm and mending the relationship can be better.

10. Technology companies don't seem to care about online bullying and harassment. Are they being held responsible?

Technology companies are increasingly paying attention to the issue of online bullying.

Many of them are introducing ways to address it and better protect their users with new tools, guidance and ways to report online abuse.

But it is true that more is needed. Many young people experience cyberbullying every day. Some face extreme forms of online abuse. Some have taken their own lives as a result.

Technology companies have a responsibility to protect their users especially children and young people.

It is up to all of us to hold them accountable when they're not living up to these responsibilities.

11. Are there any online anti-bullying tools for children or young people?

Each social platform offers different tools (see available ones below) that allow you to restrict who can comment on or view your posts or who can connect automatically as a friend, and to report cases of bullying. Many of them involve simple steps to block, mute or report cyberbullying. We encourage you to explore them.

Social media companies also provide educational tools and guidance for children, parents and teachers to learn about risks and ways to stay safe online.

Also, the first line of defense against cyberbullying could be you. Think about where cyberbullying happens in your community and ways you can help - by raising your voice, calling out bullies, reaching out to trusted adults or by creating awareness of the issue. Even a simple act of kindness can go a long way.

The first line of defense against cyberbullying could be you.

If you are worried about your safety or something that has happened to you online, urgently speak to an adult you trust. Many countries have a special helpline you can call for free and talk to someone anonymously. Visit United for Global Mental Health to find help in your country.

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Cyberbullying: What is it and how to stop it

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What teens want to know about cyberbullying

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Problems separating the real from the fictitious👎

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Problems separating the real from the fictitious👎

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As redes sociais rompem barreiras geográficas, nos colocam em contato com pessoas queridas e proporcionam conteúdos para todos os gostos - informativos, educativos e de entretenimento. Porém, há também um lado negativo na relação entre redes sociais e saúde mental.

O tempo dedicado a elas pode gerar consequências negativas em vários aspectos, como na percepção sobre a própria vida, autoestima , qualidade dos relacionamentos interpessoais, comportamento alimentar, produtividade da rotina e até no ciclo de sono.

Continue a leitura para entender melhor esses impactos e conferir dicas para extrair apenas o melhor das redes!

Qual é o impacto das mídias sociais na nossa saúde mental?

Em primeiro lugar, precisamos notar que os problemas de saúde mental são multicausais. Geralmente, eles surgem de um conjunto complexo de fatores. Desse modo, é importante ter cuidado ao apontar as redes sociais como um grande desencadeador de transtornos.

Porém, elas podem sim gerar uma série de gatilhos que fomentam quadros clínicos de , depressão, transtornos de autoimagem, entre outros problemas. Veja só alguns dos principais motivos!

As redes sociais são um recorte da realidade. Por lá, as pessoas postam fotos e compartilham palavras de momentos marcantes que, geralmente, são bons. Quando consumimos conteúdos em excesso, sobretudo se já estamos em alguma fase mais delicada da saúde mental, temos a impressão de que a vida de todos é muito melhor do que a nossa.

Rostos, corpos, rotinas, trabalhos, viagens e relacionamentos perfeitos, como aparecem nas postagens, aumentam a sensação de desvalor. Isso colabora com autocobranças em excesso, que podem somar quadros de estresse, desmotivação e autodepreciação.

Muitos estudos já mostraram que o uso excessivo de telas altera o funcionamento do cérebro, sobretudo no que se refere aos neurotransmissores do bem-estar. Quando usadas de maneira não saudável, as redes sociais contribuem com alguns níveis de dependência no sistema de recompensa cerebral.

Isso porque os estímulos constantes e os reforços positivos - como curtidas, comentários e validações - disparam a produção de dopamina, uma das moléculas responsáveis pelo prazer. O problema é que essa produção se dá em ritmo acelerado e com pouco esforço cerebral.

Assim, é como se perdêssemos a capacidade de gerar essas moléculas em quaisquer outras atividades que demandem mais energia, como uma caminhada em contato com a natureza . Com o tempo, o mundo lá fora vai ficando cada vez menos capaz de gerar prazer ou motivação.

Por trás de uma tela, ganhamos coragem para escrever coisas que seriam muito mais difíceis pessoalmente. Isso é bom por um lado: muitas pessoas com dificuldade em interações interpessoais encontram ali amigos e até relações afetivas por conseguirem se expressar melhor.

Por outro, há quem abuse dessa maior liberdade para propagar opiniões e comentários inapropriados, prejudicando terceiros. As redes são um terreno fértil para o cyberbullying, isto é, a violência psicológica e a perseguição de pessoas por meio da internet, o que é ainda mais delicado no caso de crianças e adolescentes .

Por serem grandes geradoras de dopamina, abrir as redes sociais a todo momento rapidamente se torna um hábito. Mais do que isso, elas geram o "medo de estar perdendo algo" (o famoso termo em inglês " fear of missing out "), que é a sensação de inquietude por perder as atualizações dos feeds.

Antes de dormir, uma rápida consulta no Instagram - que pode virar minutos de rolagem de tela - elevam as chances de insônia, já que os estímulos impedem o cérebro de entrar no modo de desaceleração para o descanso.

Além disso, a própria tela tem participação nesse impacto, já que a iluminação faz com que o cérebro não entenda que é noite. Assim, reduz ou até inibe a produção de melatonina, um dos hormônios responsáveis pela indução e manutenção do sono.

Quais são os efeitos negativos das redes sociais?

Com os impactos do uso excessivo das redes sociais, alguns efeitos negativos podem ser desencadeados. Veja os principais a seguir.

Os prejuízos para o funcionamento do sistema de recompensa elevam o imediatismo - a necessidade de ter gratificação imediata. Assim, no dia a dia, podemos ter uma dificuldade maior para lidar com frustrações, intercorrências ou mesmo com a espera.

Os fatores citados elevam o risco de desenvolver um transtorno de ansiedade, tanto pelo excesso de estímulos como pela comparação com outras pessoas e até mesmo pelos prejuízos no ciclo de sono.

O vício nas redes também prejudica a manutenção de relações interpessoais saudáveis no mundo offline. É comum que as pessoas percam a oportunidade de estabelecer contato com o outro ou de passar um tempo de qualidade sem estarem conectadas.

Os padrões de beleza inalcançáveis difundidos nas redes sociais, geralmente a partir de fotos supereditadas e com filtros, têm um impacto enorme na autoestima. Isso pode gerar efeitos dramáticos no esforço de se adaptar a eles, como perda da autenticidade , distúrbios alimentares e depressão.

Como lidar com isso?

Para evitar esses impactos negativos que podem surgir na relação entre redes sociais e saúde mental, é importante usá-las de forma saudável. Veja algumas dicas para aproveitar apenas o lado bom delas:

● mantenha em suas redes apenas páginas e pessoas que tragam sensações de Faça uma curadoria: paz e tranquilidade e conteúdos edificantes;

Diante desta leitura, você viu que é preciso ter cuidado na relação entre redes sociais e saúde mental. Quando usadas de forma excessiva ou inadequada, elas são um terreno fértil para gatilhos que podem fomentar problemas emocionais e até mesmo fisiológicos.

Gostou do conteúdo? Aproveite que está aqui e baixe gratuitamente nosso guia para cuidar da saúde e manter o equilíbrio na sua vida !

Conteúdo revisado pela equipe de Medicina Preventiva da Unimed Campinas.

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Qual é o impacto negativo das redes sociais na nossa saúde mental?

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Continue a leitura para entender melhor esses impactos e conferir dicas para extrair apenas o melhor das redes!

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people can deep dive into someone's social media and find out into about you that you didnt know was out there

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BBC Three - Stacey Dooley, Stalkers, Episode 1

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Stacey meets victims and perpetrators of the most common type of stalking.

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Sale of data to third parties such as: Location, likes and intention to purchase👎

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Sale of data to third parties such as: Location, likes and intention to purchase👎

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Social media can be very beneficial as you can keep track of your banking and have all of your money at your fingertips, it can be good for up and coming business's for promoting a product, however though social media has a lot of benefits it also comes with a lot of cons. Social media isn't the problem here, it's the people using it, you might think you are talking to a friend, but it could very well be a stranger.

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Multitasking has become a common theme in our lives. It's a wonder how we manage it all.

We depend on our smartphones for work, school, our personal and social lives. When was the last time you left home without your phone and kept on going? The internet has become a significant part of our daily lives. So too has social media.

And it is having an impact on today's teens.

Social media usage

Back in 2005, when social media was still in its infancy, only about 5 percent of users in the United States were involved in social media. In 2019, that number grew to about 70 percent.

Pew Research Center surveyed social media usage and popularity among US adults early in 2019. The survey found that while the most-used social platforms for adults are YouTube and Facebook; teens prefer SnapChat and Instagram, while TikTok is reportedly the fastest growing social network among younger users.

Social media use is nearly universal among today's teens. Pew Research Center reports 97 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds use at least one of seven major online platforms.

The amount of time spent on social sites is astounding. One report indicates the average teen ages 13 to 18 spends about nine hours on social media each day; tweens ages 8 to 12 are on for about six hours a day.

Like most things, using social media has its positives (the good), its cautionary tales (the bad), and dangers (the ugly) that lurk and impact the lives of many, but especially teens.

Pros: Why is social media good?

Social media and technology offer us greater convenience and connectivity:

staying connected with family and friends worldwide via email, text, FaceTime, etc.

quick access to information and research

banking and bill pay at our fingertips

online learning, job skills, content discovery (YouTube)

involvement in civic engagement (fundraising, social awareness, provides a voice)

great marketing tools

opportunities for remote employment

Social media can be a good thing, but if teens ever feel uncomfortable about something they see or read on social, they should trust their own feelings and talk to someone - a parent, a teacher, or another trusted adult. Bullying, threats and cruelty on social media are all signs that the person doing those things needs help.

Cons: Why is social media bad?

Along with the good comes the bad. With all of its benefits, the nature of social media presents a range of potential issues.

Online vs Reality. Social media itself is not the problem. It is the way people use it in place of actual communication and in-person socializing. "Friends" on social media may not actually be friends, and may even be strangers.

Increased usage. The more time spent on social media can lead to cyberbullying, social anxiety, depression, and exposure to content that is not age appropriate.

Social Media is addicting. When you're playing a game or accomplishing a task, you seek to do it as well as you can. Once you succeed, your brain will give you a dose of dopamine and other happiness hormones, making you happy. The same mechanism functions when you post a picture to Instagram or Facebook. Once you see all the notifications for likes and positive comments popping up on your screen, you'll subconsciously register it as a reward. But that's not all, social media is full of mood-modifying experiences.

Fear of Missing Out. FOMO has become a common theme, and often leads to continual checking of social media sites. The idea that you might miss out on something if you're not online can affect your mental health.

Self-image issues. Social media sites provide tools that allow people to earn others' approval for their appearance and the possibility to compare themselves to others. It can be associated with body image concerns. The "selfieholics" and people who spend most of their time posting and scrolling are the ones most vulnerable to this. In fact, most college girls who use Facebook at least five times a day are likely to link their self-worth to their looks. That doesn't mean that the main problem is social media; it only provides a medium for it, which further elevates the problem. It also promotes the same sort of behavior to others.

Social media and bullying

Sadly, there is an ugly side to all that technology offers. While bullying is not a new concept, social media and technology have brought bullying to a new level. It becomes a more constant, ever-present threat -- cyberbullying. The State of Rhode Island anti-bullying laws & regulations define bullying and cyberbullying as follows:

"Bullying" means the use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof directed at a student that:

causes physical or emotional harm to the student or damage to the student's property

places the student in reasonable fear of harm to himself/herself or of damage to his/her property

creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or abusive educational environment for the student

infringes on the rights of the student to participate in school activities

materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school

"Cyberbullying" means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which shall include, but not be limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, texting or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo electronic or photo optical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages or facsimile communications.

Bullying statistics

Every 7 minutes a child is bullied. Unfortunately, intervention is rare, with an adult intervening in only four percent of cases, and a peer in 11 percent. An astonishing 85 percent of all cases of bullying are not addressed.

The following are just some statistics on how common bullying and cyberbullying have become: According to StopBullying.org:

One out of four (25 percent) teens are bullied, while up to 43 percent have been bullied while online.

Nine out of ten LGBTQ students experienced harassment at school and online. Biracial and multiracial youth are more likely to be victimized than youth who identify with a single race. Kids who are obese, gay, or have disabilities are more likely to be bullied than other children.

58 percent have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

5.4 million children stay home on any given day because they fear being bullied.

Social media and suicide

Sadly, the cons of social media can take a toll on young minds. Suicide remains among the leading causes of death of children under age 14. In most cases, young people die from hanging.

Suicide rates among 10- to 14-year-olds have grown more than 50 percent over the last three decades, according to the American Association of Suicidology.

Suicide rates among children between the ages of 10 and 14 are very low, but are creeping up, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

What can parents do?

As parents, there are things we can do to improve our children's lives online and in real life.

Attempt to model the behavior we want to see.

Set boundaries right way when you give your child their first phone. Set parental controls on his or her phone, with access to their passwords. Phones should be charged somewhere other than their room at night, and should be shut off an hour or two before bed.

Have conversations with your children on why some things should be kept private.

Take time to actively engage with your kids face-to-face. This interaction teaches them how to follow social cues, verbal and non-verbal.

Talk to your kids without glancing at your phone.

Find opportunities to have genuine conversations that are not lectures.

Be aware of privacy concerns and cybersecurity issues.

Technology has changed the way we live, work, and socialize. But it can't replace parenting.

For more tips on parenting, visit the Growing section of our Lifespan Living health and wellness blog.

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Consider learning about the pros and cons of social media before logging in to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. from our experts here.

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Self-image is still just one factor in what may be making some girls feel bad
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Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Instagram made body images worse for one in three teenage girls, and the paper of record even cited Facebook's own data. Facebook has since fired back this week stating that it isn't accurate that the research demonstrated that Instagram is in fact "toxic" for teen girls - and instead suggested that Instagram made many teenage girls and young women feel better rather than worse.

The social network also said in a post on Sunday that "Body image was the only area where teen girls who reported struggling with the issue said Instagram made it worse as compared to the other 11 areas. But here also, the majority of teenage girls who experienced body image issues still reported Instagram either made it better or had no impact."

Self-image is still just one factor in what may be making some girls feel bad, as it coincides with an increase in cyberbullying. This is not a new phenomenon, but Dr. Monica Barreto, PhD and licensed clinical child psychologist at the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, told this reporter that the problem has been increasing.

While the pandemic is certainly one part of it, Barreto said that cyberbullying has been on the rise amongst adolescents due, in part, to increased access to electronic devices, the Internet, and at times lack of supervision of online activity.

"Within the field of psychology, the research has varied on its stance on the correlation and relationship between cyberbullying and traditional bullying, however there are crucial differences that are important to identify," she explained. "It can be argued that cyberbullying is a more threatening form of aggression than traditional bullying, as cyberbullies can remain anonymous, causing bullying to occur around the clock."

What is also an issue is that the act of a cyberbully can be viewed repeatedly and shared with others without limit, making it difficult for support networks to shield victims from cyberbullying.

"Overall, cyberbullying occurs on a broader, omnipresent scale compared to traditional bullying, without physical violence, admittedly, but with the capacity to do significant harm to the reputation, emotional well-being, and social relationships of a child or adolescent," added Barreto. "Although, cyberbullying and traditional bullying share the common feature of being behaviors that communicate disrespect and domination, the expression of dominance in cyberbullying is emotional and psychological, without limits."
Social Media Amplifies Cyberbullying
As noted, cyberbullying existed before the emergence of social media - and may have included trolling on forums, message boards and even chat rooms; as well as the sharing of inappropriate photos by teens; or just the sharing of secrets and the spreading of rumors online.

However, just as more people, especially younger Americans, connect via social media it has led to an uptick in cyberbullying.

"Statistics show most cases are taking place on popular social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter," said Barreto. "Although these sites allow teens to share pictures, posts and communicate with friends, they are also a hotspot for cyberbullying. On these social media platforms, cyberbullies can make hurtful and emotionally scarring comments anonymously. These comments can be made publicly on a youth's photo or privately in a direct message. Additionally, images or comments can be made 'viral' by sharing with others instantly. An additional stressor related to cyberbullying is the unlimited access teens have to social media via their phones and home devices (i.e., iPad, laptops and computers, gaming systems). Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying can be ongoing, even after the youth has left school grounds, making a teen feel helpless and without haven."

The pandemic and the resulting lockdown have also changed social interaction for many teen girls, and even as they are going back to a physical school the problems have continued.

"Since the start of the Covid pandemic, we have seen a rise in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, isolation, and loneliness, as well as a lack of peer contact and reduced opportunities for stress reduction and emotion regulation," explained Barreto. "With the return to school, these difficulties may impact children's academic performance as well as their abilities to cope with stress and activities as some social activities continue to remain limited. It is important during this transition for parents to have open communication with their children, talk about their struggles, and seek mental health services and support as needed."

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Cyberbullying Remains Rampant On Social Media

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Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Instagram made body images worse for one in three teenage girls, and the paper of record even cited Facebook's own data.

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Washington DC's attorney general has sued Mark Zuckerberg, seeking to hold the Facebook co-founder personally responsible for his alleged role in allowing the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica to harvest the personal data of millions of Americans during the 2016 election cycle.

The suit, filed in the capital by the District of Columbia attorney general, Karl Racine, alleges that Zuckerberg directly participated in policies that allowed Cambridge Analytica to gather the personal data of US voters without their knowledge in an attempt to help Donald Trump's election campaign.

"This unprecedented security breach exposed tens of millions of Americans' personal information, and Mr Zuckerberg's policies enabled a multi-year effort to mislead users about the extent of Facebook's wrongful conduct," Racine said in a news release.

"This lawsuit is not only warranted, but necessary, and sends a message that corporate leaders, including chief executives, will be held accountable for their actions."

Meta declined to comment.

Racine has previously sued Facebook's parent company, Meta, under the District of Columbia's Consumer Protection Procedures Act. The act makes individuals responsible for violations if they knew about them at the time.

The suit against Zuckerberg is based on hundreds of thousands of documents, including depositions from employees and whistleblowers, that have been collected as part of its ongoing litigation against Meta.

"Since filing our landmark lawsuit against Facebook, my office has fought tooth and nail against the company's characteristic efforts to resist producing documents and otherwise thwart our suit. We continue to persist and have followed the evidence right to Mr Zuckerberg," said Racine.

Racine charges that the Cambridge Analytica scandal was a result of Zuckerberg's desire to open up Facebook to third-party developers.

The suit alleges Zuckerberg was aware of the risks of data leaks associated with the strategy. In one email discussing state leakage Zuckerberg noted "there is clear risk on the advertiser side," according to the lawsuit.

The suit points out that since 2012, Zuckerberg has served as chairman of Facebook's board and controls approximately 60% of the voting shares.

"At all times relevant to the lawsuit, evidence showed Mr Zuckerberg was responsible for and had the clear ability to control Facebook's day-to-day operations," Racine's office said in a statement.

As the Guardian revealed in 2018, Cambridge Analytica, which was hired by Trump's 2016 election campaign team, gained access to the private data of 50 million Facebook users. The company claimed the information could be used to identify different types of voters and influence their behavior.

In 2019 Facebook was fined a record $5bn by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for violating consumers' privacy. Critics of the fine said it did too little to change the company's behavior and charged that litigation should have been brought against Zuckerberg.

Carl Tobias, Williams chair in law at the University of Richmond, said it can be "difficult" to sue corporate officers in their personal capacity, and Racine had failed in an attempt earlier this year to sue Zuckerberg when the suit was filed too late. "This filing seems to be creative, but it may not be more successful than previous attempts to sue CEOs and corporate officers in a personal capacity," said Tobias.

Meta declined to comment.

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Zuckerberg sued by DC attorney general over Cambridge Analytica data scandal

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Washington DC's attorney general has sued Mark Zuckerberg, seeking to hold the Facebook co-founder personally responsible for his alleged role in allowing the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica to harvest the personal data of millions of Americans during the 2016 election cycle.

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Social media can help raise awareness towards certain social issues

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Technology is accelerating the rate at which ideas, relationships, and information are shared. As such, social media is revolutionizing communication and access to information on both a national and global scale. Mass distribution and the ability to effortlessly share information has influenced many facets of modern life, changing the way we think about, connect to, and engage with social justice and activism.

How Social Media and Activism Work Together

People have discovered new ways to communicate and collaborate through social media. Features such as feeds, profiles, and groups on social platforms provide global access to organizations that can promote and increase visibility by sharing and networking. Modern communication students study these virtual platforms, and can even pursue careers creating and distributing digital content. The power of social media can amplify voices, instantaneously spread information, and increase collaboration across diverse groups of people.

Here are some movements and trends that have caught hold in the national and global conversation in part due to their presence across social media.

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

The ALS Association ran an ice bucket challenge in 2014 raised awareness of the disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) - as well as $115 million in donations. The donation amount was transformative for the association, allowing it to invest in research and assistive technologies, as well as to increase access to healthcare and services for people with ALS.

The ice bucket challenge involved dumping a bucket of ice water either over one's own head or somebody else's to promote awareness of, and encourage donations to, ALS research. The challenge went viral on social media, in part due to its nomination system: Once a person had completed the challenge, they would nominate other individuals to complete it as well. If the nominee chose not to, or did not complete the challenge within 24 hours, they were supposed to forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation.

The success of the ice bucket challenge was aided by its low barrier to participation, entertainment value (self-made videos that were typically under a minute long), and celebrity participation.

Arab Spring

The early 2010s saw a series of protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions in Tunisia, which spread quickly across North Africa and the Middle East. The revolutions targeted oppressive regimes and low standards of living.

The "Arab Spring" is noted for the young protesters who took to the streets, utilizing social media during the uprisings to organize, create awareness around the political issues, and document the experience on the ground. The use of social media in political uprisings, documenting violence, exercising freedom of speech, and creating space for civic engagement has reinforced the importance and relevance of citizen journalists today.

Studies on the Arab Spring protests discuss the use of social media in these events and their effects on the internal populations of the involved countries, as well as the global awareness that citizen journalism created through the sharing of posts, photos, and videos. Facebook pages and groups created spaces for gathering and community building, sharing stories and information on the ground, and organization for protests in real time. Studies found that though social media helped spark many of the protests through online mobilization, its greatest impact was "acting more as a megaphone than a rallying cry."

The dissemination of information by sharing local self-generated news translating into mass and international media brought the issues and events into the global discussion. This resulted in international pressure against the violent reactions of autocratic regimes to protesters.

Black Lives Matter

The Black Lives Matter movement began as an online community that worked to combat anti-black racism and police violence that targets African Americans in particular, using the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. Through the use of the hashtag and social media platforms, the online community has been able to organize, mobilize, and improve its visibility, eventually becoming an organization with more than 40 chapters that work to support black lives.

The #BlackLivesMatter hashtag was created by the co-founder and strategic advisor Patrisse Khan-Cullors through inspiration from a love letter written to black people by co-founder Alicia Garza, following the killing of Trayvon Martin. According to the Pew Research Center, the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter was used nearly 30 million times on Twitter (an average of 17,002 times per day) from its first use in July 2013 to the research cap date of May 1, 2018. The hashtag was slow to gain initial momentum, but has since resulted in daily usage.

The hashtag increases in use during events like protests, demonstrations, speeches, and national discussions, or in response to news stories that affect the black community. Further data from the Pew Research Center study shows the hashtag was commonly used to discuss the relationship between the black community and:

Fatal police-related encounters

Violent acts

Police and law enforcement actions

Specific national politicians and political parties

Race and racial discrimination

Protests and activist events

Utilizing social media and tools such as hashtags encouraged information sharing, helped spread awareness, and provided a space online for the Black Lives Matter community to form and organize.

#LoveWins

The Supreme Court's decision of 2015 to legalize marriage between same-sex couples was celebrated by many people across many platforms. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) had worked throughout the year leading up to the Supreme Court decision with digital marketing campaigns, creating original content and language about loving, committed, same-sex couples to drive the marriage-equality narrative.

With the courthouse win, the HRC's work around #LoveWins was put into full effect through social media, promoting the sharing of messages and photos in support of the victory with the inclusion of the #LoveWins hashtag. The online campaign was a success with 97,592,956 impressions on the breaking news Facebook post from HRC, and #LoveWins trending globally throughout the day with 7 million tweets and 1.4 million photos on Instagram. Celebrities such as President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Taylor Swift, and many companies and corporations from large to small participated.

#MeToo

The Me Too movement (or #MeToo movement) is a source of solidarity for women of all backgrounds who have experienced sexual harassment. The movement focuses on the experiences of sexual violence survivors from all walks of life. By telling and sharing stories, those who engage with the movement hope to show how common sexual harassment is.

The Me Too movement originated in 2006, but reached the mainstream in 2017 when multiple high-profile actresses opened up about their sexual harassment experiences in the film industry and began sharing the hashtag #MeToo. The popularization of the topic instigated an understanding of the Me Too movement, sexual harassment, and assault, hoping to reduce tolerance of abusive behaviors and increase support for victims.

Occupy Wall Street

Occupy Wall Street is a modern example of a grassroots political movement - action from the power of the masses. The Occupy movement operated from a bottom level organization with no official leader, but the mindset that all individuals are leaders. These protests spanned multiple weeks, making splashes nationally and across the globe through the use of social media.

Each locale of the movement would establish its own set of organizational practices, utilizing virtual as well as concrete spaces, and striving to revise proposals until nine-tenths of the participants approved. The phenomenon created by Occupy Wall Street relied on social media's ability to foster unified collective participation.

How Social Media Can Promote Social Justice

The use of social media to uplift voices and stories, create awareness, and build and strengthen relationships creates a space for organizations, activists, and citizens to demand justice.

Coordinating Community Responses

As discovered with movements like #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo, social media has the opportunity to create online spaces where people come together and find support. Instances such as the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street showcase the global effect that can take place through the sharing of ideas online, such as massive gatherings that create unity for a cause.

Platforming Lived Experiences

Many social justice causes work to build equity for minorities and underrepresented individuals and groups within society. The stories and struggles of minorities often aren't well known or publicized, but social media can provide a platform to amplify and share them with potentially millions of people across the globe. This exposure helps share lived experiences about racial violence, sexual harassment, and other forms of oppression directly from the underrepresented.

Promoting and Planning Events

As seen with Occupy Wall Street, the Arab Spring, and the Black Lives Matter movement, social media can create public awareness around issues in the name of social justice. The ability to reach a larger audience by sharing information empowers communities to organize in the real world around a cause. Political activist group MoveOn plans and organizes swift responses to real-world proceedings in "Rapid-Response Events." MoveOn hosts immediately available information that can set in motion a series of protests with unified demands by 5 p.m. the next day following an event or sequence of political happenings.

Sharing Pictures and Videos

Social media can also be used as a tool not only to organize large-scale protests, but also to document them. Nearly every social movement in the modern world is documented through social media, and news outlets frequently scan sites like Twitter to find new information or evocative imagery of current events.

One highly publicized example is the Hong Kong protests of 2019, in which protesters have used social media to share pictures and videos of events as they occur, battling for a public and global opinion on the pro-democracy movement.

Signal Boosting

Though social media provides the opportunity for the voice of an individual to be amplified, in many cases, this voice can still be lost in the noise of the internet. It takes a community utilizing the share feature to gain traction for a post, allowing it to spread to a much wider audience. This process of signal boosting occurs when fellow social media users share a single message. When done well, signal boosting can cause content to go viral.

Utilize the College Population

Young people use social media more often than their older generations, and the trend of use is statistically unchanged since 2018, according to research from Pew Research Center. The breakdown of platform usage shows that Facebook is the most widely used platform across demographic groups, with roughly 70% of adults saying they use the platform, but that Instagram and Snapchat have an especially strong following among young adults. The research further shows that roughly three-quarters of Facebook users visit the site daily, while 80% of young adults are using Snapchat and Instagram not only daily, but multiple times a day.

With the available attention of college-aged students, and the desire of students for "perspective-taking" in the higher education experience, college campuses are fertile ground for targeted audiences of social justice causes and movements.

There are many ways to utilize social media to network, facilitate awareness, and build conversations online, but it is also important to be aware that colleges and employers are also observing online personas. Participants should always be aware of etiquette and professionalism, which can also lend credibility to a conversation or movement.

Best Social Media Strategies for Nonprofits

For nonprofits and social justice organizers alike, social media can be a powerful resource for sharing a narrative, sharing information, or building a conversation around an issue. Getting in touch with and building an audience can benefit the organization's mission.

Fundraising

A social media fundraising campaign typically works to utilize the diversity of the audience and focus attention on one focused goal. This works to earn smaller donations from a wider pool, improving awareness, which can lead to more donations. Utilizing a call-to-action can augment fundraising efforts. Social media provides a platform to elevate charitable donations and the community, to share stories and connect with donors.

Fundraising through social media is best done with a strategic plan that implements not only a goal, but also a strategy on how to get there, valuing the importance of improving awareness and organically growing an audience. Creating a funnel from awareness, engagement, and finally to conversions is a media strategy that will ensure that views are converting into donations. With the expansion of technology into design and media, having someone on the team with a bachelor's degree in digital media may be the key to designing a campaign: blending technology and design into an aesthetic that will increase the opportunity for shares and mass communication.

Partnering with Influencers

Partnering with a social media influencer who has enough followers to influence public opinion, can greatly boost a message. An individual with a larger audience taking a stance on an issue or promoting a cause may help reach target donor demographics to boost public awareness and perception of a nonprofit.

Promoting Events

Producing an event can build community engagement around a topic, such as protests and rallies, fundraising events, educational or informative events, or used clothing drives. Promoting an event through social media provides the opportunity to capture the attention of, and invite all followers - as well as the potential to reach out to each follower's audience. Utilizing Facebook as a platform to market the event can also help in preparation by providing an estimate of the number of those who are attending.

Sharing Stories

Sharing stories does more than provide information; it also has the opportunity to showcase situations of great need or successes in the movement. Making space for a narrative to be told can let the audience know that there is still work to be done - but also that it is making a difference. In addition to raising awareness, these stories may encourage continued support of the ongoing efforts of the nonprofit or campaign.

Spreading Awareness

For nonprofits and social justice campaigns, utilizing social media can spread awareness of the mission, needs, and sometimes even the existence of an issue. Social media can create a platform for sharing stories, narratives, and photos, providing facts and data in a consumable way, which engages an audience by helping them understand. The work to create awareness helps to build a community around an issue. Social media and networking can be done with focus and dedication, but with the rate at which technology and communication continue to evolve, the help of a professional who has a degree in strategic communication or expert knowledge can drastically improve meeting tangible goals of growth and awareness for a campaign or nonprofit.
Recommended Reading:
What Is Cyberbullying? Understanding Online Harassment and Bullying
Digital Literacy and Online Education
Netiquette and Online Behavior Guidelines

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Social Media as Activism and Social Justice | Maryville Online

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Utilizing social media to serve as a communication tool for social justice can generate awareness, build communities, unite ideas, and share narratives.

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In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, posts and videos promoting natural remedies for the virus-everything from steam inhalation to ginger- proliferated online. What explains the storm of likes and shares that propels online misinformation through a social media network?

It's not that people are lazy or don't want to know the truth. The platforms' reward systems are wrong.

Some scholars suggest that people share falsehoods out of bias, while others argue that failures of critical thinking or media literacy are to blame. But new research from Gizem Ceylan, a postdoctoral scholar at Yale SOM, suggests that these explanations miss something important. In a new study co-authored by Ian Anderson and Wendy Wood of the University of Southern California, Ceylan found that the reward systems of social media platforms are inadvertently encouraging users to spread misinformation.

By constantly reinforcing sharing-any sharing-with likes and comments, platforms have created habitual users who are largely unconcerned with the content they post. And these habitual users, the research shows, spread a disproportionate share of misinformation.

"It's not that people are lazy or don't want to know the truth," Ceylan says. "The platforms' reward systems are wrong."

The researchers conducted several experiments to test how different kinds of social media users interact with true and false headlines. In the first, they asked participants to review eight true and eight false headlines and decide whether to share them to a simulated Facebook feed. They also asked several questions designed to assess how habitually participants used Facebook-that is, how much time they spent on the platform and how automatically they shared content.

The results showed that, overall, participants shared many more true headlines than false ones. However, the patterns were markedly different for the most habitual Facebook users. These participants not only shared more headlines overall, but also shared a roughly equal percentage of true (43%) and false (38%) ones. Less frequent users, by contrast, shared 15% of true and just 6% of false headlines.

Ceylan and her co-authors calculated that the 15% most habitual Facebook users were responsible for 37% of the false headlines shared in the study, suggesting that a relatively small number of people can have an outsized impact on the information ecosystem.

But why do the heaviest users share the most misinformation? Is it because the misinformation is in line with their beliefs? Not so, a subsequent experiment found. Habitual users will even share misinformation that goes against their political beliefs, the researchers discovered.

In this experiment, Ceylan and her colleagues asked participants to consider headlines that reflected partisan bias. Then, they examined concordant sharing (that is, liberals sharing liberal headlines or conservatives sharing conservative headlines) and discordant sharing (Iiberals sharing conservative headlines and vice-versa) among both habitual Facebook users and less frequent ones.

Interestingly, while less frequent users showed a stark preference for sharing concordant as compared to discordant headlines (that is, reflecting the partisan bias found in prior research), the pattern was less marked among the heaviest users. These habitual users shared more overall and also showed a less strong preference for concordant as compared to discordant information-another indication that habit was driving their behavior.

To Ceylan, this does not suggest that heavy Facebook users are not ideologically motivated or lazy in their processing when they spread misinformation. Instead, when users' sharing habits are activated with cues from the social platform, the content they are sharing-its accuracy and partisan slant-is largely irrelevant to them. They post simply because the platform rewards posting with engagement in the form of likes, comments, and re-shares.

"This was kind of a shocker for the misinformation research community," she says. "What we showed is that, if people are habitual sharers, they'll share any type of information, because they don't care [about the content]. All they care about is likes and attention. The content that gets attention become part of habitual users' mental representations. Over time, they just share content that fits this mental representation. Thus, rewards on a social platform are critical in shaping people's habits and what they are attuned to share with others."

It's a system issue, not an individual issue. We need to create better environments on social media platforms to help people make better decisions.

The study also suggests a potential way out of this trap. In their last experiment, the researchers simulated a new structure that rewarded participants for accuracy. When they share accurate information, participants were awarded points that were redeemable for an Amazon gift card.

"In this simulation, everyone shared lots of true headlines and few false headlines. Their previous social media habits did not matter," Ceylan explains. "What this means is that, when you reward people for accuracy, people learn the type of content that gets rewards and build habits for sharing that content (i.e., accuracy in this case)." What's more, surprisingly, the users continued to share accurate headlines even after the researchers removed the reward for accuracy. These results show that users can be incentivized to develop a new habit: accuracy.

To Ceylan, the research demonstrates how powerfully social media has shaped our habits. Platforms aim for more profit and engagement -i.e., more users spending longer hours using them. By rewarding and amplifying any type of engagement regardless of its quality or accuracy, platforms have created users who will share indiscriminately. "It's a system issue, not an individual issue. We need to create better environments on social media platforms to help people make better decisions. We cannot keep on blaming users for showing political biases or being lazy for the misinformation problem. We have to change the reward structure on these platforms."

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A majority of false stories are spread by a small number of frequent users, suggests a new study co-authored by Yale SOM's Gizem Ceylan. But they can be taught to change their ways.

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MrBeast is a classic example of this nowadays, everytime he commits a great act of good, there are always those willing to falsely bat the other eye and claim that it is all a social media stunt. He serves as a classic example that even if you cured world hunger, there will always be someone to stand up to you for very stupid and questionable reasons.

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1,000 blind people's lives were changed - thanks to the world's biggest YouTuber: "MrBeast."

The 24-year-old content creator, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is known for his generous and charitable endeavors. He's rebuilt homes for Kentucky tornado survivors and given $20,000 to randomly selected people in need. This time, he paid for a simple, 10-minute eye surgery for 1,000 patients who could not afford it, giving some their vision back and helping others see clearly for the first time in years. On top of that, Donaldson also gifted various things to participants in the video, including a $50,000 college fund check and a brand new Tesla.

"Unfortunately nearly half the population with curable blindness doesn't have access to this surgery, so I wanted to provide this to as many people as possible," Donaldson says in the video.

The video has garnered over 131 million views as of Thursday and has undeniably raised the profile of the medical procedure he paid for, as well as the challenges in access to health care for those in need. But the response has been mixed. While some have praised the act of kindness, others have expressed skepticism about his intentions: Is it really an act of altruism if it's uploaded for clout?

What happened in MrBeast's new video?

The 8-minute long video shows several patients undergoing cataract surgeries, having the bandages removed from their eyes and seeing clearly again in a series of emotional clips. One patient named Charlie, whose vision had deteriorated to the point where it made it hard to work as a cashier, peeled off the bandages and read an eye chart with a message: "You just won $10,000."

Jeremiah, a teenager who was blind in one eye since age 4, saw everything in the room - including a $50,000 check for college.

And a father, who said he just wanted to see his son again, says his post-op vision still was a little blurry - but only because of the tears in his eyes.

How MrBeast is dividing viewers

The video has sparked a conversation about the ethics behind good deeds. Some accused the creator of exploiting participants in the video by funding their surgeries for personal gain and content, rather than genuine altruism.

"He does exploit people for personal financial gain," one user tweeted Tuesday. "The end result is good, because some people are getting what they need, but he is not a good person because of it."

"While it was an amazing piece of altruism on your behalf: why make a video about it?" another user tweeted. "Why not just do good with no reward other than self satisfaction, knowing you're making the world a better place? Maybe some people see it as attention seeking."

Others pointed out that the commercialization of these projects is what allows MrBeast to continue his inspiring acts of kindness.Donaldson responded to the backlash himself on Monday.

"Twitter - Rich people should help others with their money

Me - Okay, I'll use my money to help people and I promise to give away all my money before I die. Every single penny.

Twitter - MrBeast bad," he tweeted.

Performative altruism: Is it really bad if it's making a difference?

In the modern hunt for likes and views, kindness content on social media is often questioned. Think back to those viral videos of influencers donating wads of cash to homeless people: It's a seemingly selfless gesture that tugs at your heartstrings, until you find out the sole purpose is typically to go viral.

"One potential problem with content like this is that it can be dehumanizing to those who are being helped," says psychologist Andrea Bonior, who hosts the "Baggage Check: Mental Health Talk and Advice" podcast. When being filmed by an influential figure, there may be a power imbalance in which participants' emotional experiences are "commercialized," Bonior says.

"We run the risk of turning real people into symbols."

However, what differentiates kindness from exploitation is motive. When these videos espouse compassion, education and inclusion - as exhibited in MrBeast's video - the end results include making a change and inspiring others to do the same.

"There's all kinds of evidence that people perform acts of kindness for reasons that aren't totally pure, and that doesn't automatically make it a bad thing," Bonior says. Studies on this topic support her claim: Research has shown that altruism is often motivated by social rewards, rather than being purely about compassion.

"There are multiple layers of people's motivations, but we also have to ask about the effects," Bonior says. "How are people talking about the video? Will it inspire people to do good things? Will it spur awareness about blindness?"

More reads
Contributing: Mark Woods, Florida Times-Union

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A YouTuber cured 1,000 blind people for a video. But is it performative altruism?

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YouTuber "MrBeast" funded the cataract surgeries for 1,000 blind patients who could not afford it. But not everyone was happy with his latest video.

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Evidence suggests social media and sleep are connected, with too much social media tied to sleep loss. You can regain control of your sleep with moderation.

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Social media can create job opportunities and help people find work

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While social media platforms have become integral to our personal lives, they're also a powerful recruitment tool - discover how building a personal brand could be the key to successful job hunting

High Fliers' The Graduate Market in 2023 review has confirmed that nearly all (95%) of the UK's leading recruiters listed in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers are using social media as a means of finding graduate talent. Indeed, over a quarter (27%) of these organisations determined their 2022/23 recruitment campaigns to have been 'very successful'.

It's easy to see why social media platforms are becoming so popular for recruiters - Digital 2023: The United Kingdom, a joint survey between We are social and Meltwater, found that over 84% (57.1 million people) of the UK population is active on social media (January 2023).

With nearly 50 million users aged 18 and above using social media in the UK, it's no wonder that advertising jobs through this medium is fast becoming the quick, accessible way of reaching graduates as well as those who'd like to make a career change.

Online data portal Statista revealed that nearly 50 million UK-based internet users watched online videos in 2021, with digital video audiences expected to reach just under 54 million by 2026.

The growing impact of videos can be seen in the social media statistics for dedicated sites such as YouTube and TikTok. On average, users have spent 15 hours and 30 minutes and 27 hours and 18 minutes per month respectively engaging with these two platforms.

The survey revealed that the most used social media site is now WhatsApp, with over 73% of internet users aged 16 to 64 using the platform each month.

This is followed by the more traditional names of:

Facebook (70.7%)

Instagram (56.4%)

Facebook Messenger (55.3%)

Twitter (42.8%).

With over a quarter (27.1%) of internet users spending time on LinkedIn each month, this shows how a significant proportion of users are engaging in networking for work purposes.

So, where your career is concerned, it's time to consider how you set up your various profiles for a selection of the leading platforms.

Building a personal brand

When applying for jobs, remember that potential employers are likely viewing your social profiles, so you need to give a positive representation of yourself and your 'personal brand'.

Create a strong online profile that's integrated across the most popular platforms, and you'll be well-positioned to reap the career rewards, both in terms of your current job search and for future openings.

Use a consistent username and appropriate image for each account, which should be made publicly visible. Also, link to other platforms that you're using professionally.

Bear in mind that social media is a creative medium, so it's fine to show off your personality, putting forward your ideas, opinions and interests outside of academia and work - for example, if you're into sport, fitness, gaming or fashion.

What you detail in your profiles will let employers know more about you as an individual, providing an insight into your personality that will hopefully impact positively on your job applications.

LinkedIn is a social network for professionals and with 35 million UK members, it's the easiest way to make connections in your industry from the comfort of your home. LinkedIn also advertises vacancies, so it's a great place to search for jobs as well.

Your profile should detail relevant professional information including your previous experience, skillset and education history, which you can then use to connect with companies and individuals and start building a network of contacts.

You'll be recommended jobs based on your interests and the companies you follow, so by signing up you could come across opportunities that you didn't know existed.

Make sure your profile is ready to be seen by recruiters by:

Utilising your biography - this is the first thing recruiters see when looking at your profile, so make it count. Let them know what type of roles you're looking for and share your current location, as well as your course, key modules, dissertation, work experience, interests, hobbies and key accomplishments - but be selective, as some part-time jobs may not be relevant.

Following relevant companies - they'll post company and sector-wide updates, so this is a great way of staying clued up on what's happening in the industry.

Looking to people you admire - thanks to the 'Experience' section of LinkedIn profiles, you can see the steps taken by people in the roles you're aspiring to enter.

Once you've got it all set up, you can follow Prospects' LinkedIn profile.

Search for jobs on Facebook

According to the survey, Facebook is the nation's second most popular platform. What's more, it can reach over 34 million of the UK's population through advertising.

As the majority of Facebook's audience logs in for personal use, it may not seem like the obvious place to look for jobs. However, with the number of active users at their fingertips, employers are now listing opportunities on their accounts.

In terms of making your own Facebook profile look professional, fill out the 'Work and education' section, adding any notable achievements (such as promotions and travel opportunities) to your 'Life events' timeline.

Avoid making rude or negative comments about previous employers on your profile, even in jest, and don't share anything that would be deemed unprofessional - whether or not you've applied for a position through Facebook. This is because employers often look to candidates' profiles to gauge whether they'll be a suitable fit for the company.

Take a look at Prospects on Facebook.

Find a career on Twitter

Twitter offers a more relaxed approach to social networking, where users discuss their interests through likes, retweets and sharing 280-character updates, although Twitter Blue users are now able to post 4,000-character updates. With over 23 million Twitter users in the UK, it's fast becoming a place for employers to find passionate, ambitious graduates.

To use this to your professional advantage:

Get inventive with your bio - you'll have to be snappy, as Twitter only offers 160 characters for this, but it should be enough to introduce yourself and state the types of roles you're looking for. Tag your location here and link a website (this could be your LinkedIn profile, a blog or portfolio) to give employers easy access to your work.

Engage with others in your industry - following someone you admire on Twitter is a less personal process than connecting with them on LinkedIn. By joining in conversations, which you can find by searching relevant hashtags, you'll gain access to a range of voices, opinions and opportunities to inspire you.

Stay up to date with current affairs - tweets take seconds to post and are quick and easy to digest, meaning organisations use them to report breaking news and make announcements. If you're following the right mix of professionals and companies, your Twitter feed should be a real-time account of what's happening in your industry, as it happens.

Get to know your employers - it works both ways. Search and follow employers to find out what projects they're currently working on and to get a feel for the company.

Include your Twitter handle in job applications. It's a great way to show employers your personality, and having the confidence to invite others in will make a great first impression.

Be sure to follow @Prospects.

Here are some ways you may also be able to find a job through social networking:

By building contacts on social platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter, you can keep up with the latest industry developments and may even get recommended for roles.

Attend online and in-person networking events to discover what your peers and mentors are doing. Get some ideas on networking and finding a job.

At university, keep up with careers fairs, podcasts and other events that can boost your job prospects.

Discover what graduate schemes are actually like by reading what current and previous graduates think of the programme. Get involved with Q&A sessions that provide an insight into the work culture of that organisation. This allows you to make a more informed decision on whether the company is the right fit for you.

Find out more

Written by Daniel Higginbotham, Editor

Prospects · July 2023

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Discover how by using online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, you can impress employers and boost your chances of landing a job.

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lil tay was dead for a day then turns out she isnt

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Shock over a statement announcing the sudden death of Lil Tay, a 15-year-old internet personality and rapper who rose to viral fame as a foul-mouthed, braggadocious nine-year-old on Instagram, gave way to confusion after the girl's father and former manager refused to confirm or deny her death, and TMZ has now reported that she is still alive.

An unsigned statement posted on to Lil Tay's Instagram account on Wednesday said the star's death at 15 was "sudden and tragic" and "entirely unexpected". It also said that her older brother Jason Tian, who at one point had been in control of her account before it went dormant in 2018, had also died, and that both deaths were under investigation.

"It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire's sudden and tragic passing," the Instagram message read. (Lil Tay's legal name was reported to be Claire Hope.) "This outcome was entirely unexpected and has left us all in shock. Her brother's passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief.

"During this time of immense sorrow," the statement continued, "we kindly ask for privacy as we grieve this overwhelming loss, as the circumstances surrounding Claire and her brother's passing are still under investigation."

The statement has since been removed from Instagram.

On Thursday, TMZ reported that the social media star was in fact still alive and that her Instagram had been hacked, citing a statement from her family. According to the statement, Lil Tay sought "to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive, but I'm completely heartbroken, and struggling to even find the right words to say. It's been a very traumatizing 24 hours. All day yesterday, I was bombarded with endless heartbreaking and tearful phone calls from loved ones all while trying to sort out this mess."

She also said: "My Instagram account was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumors regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong. My legal name is Tay Tian, not 'Claire Hope.'"

Earlier Wednesday, Lil Tay's father and former manager refused to confirm or deny her death, with the latter calling for "cautious consideration" in handling the news. Speaking to Insider, her father, Christopher Hope, refused to comment on the Instagram post and declined to answer whether his daughter was alive.

Her former manager, Harry Tsang, also declined to confirm or deny her death. "Given the complexities of the current circumstances, I am at a point where I cannot definitively confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the statement issued by the family," Tsang told Insider in an email on Wednesday. "This situation calls for cautious consideration and respect for the sensitivities involved. My commitment remains focused on delivering updates that are both reliable and appropriately timed."

The Guardian could not immediately reach Tsang for further comment. In the absence of confirmation, internet speculation over whether the announcement was a hoax has run rampant.

The police departments in Vancouver, where Lil Tay was raised, and Los Angeles, where she resided for a time during her viral fame, had no information on the death of anyone named Claire Hope, according to Insider. The Vancouver police department confirmed they were not investigating a case.

Lil Tay accumulated more than 2 million followers as a brash, profane nine-year-old in 2017, with videos featuring the girl in mansions and fancy cars with handfuls of cash. The account went dark that summer after a video was posted online in which she appeared to be coached by someone off-camera, who many suspected was her brother Jason.

The account resumed that October with bizarre and concerning activity, including a video of the girl crying that was posted and then taken down. The posts, later scrubbed, levied serious allegations of abuse by Christopher Hope amid a bitter custody dispute. Many suspected Jason had taken over the account, and was the engine behind Lil Tay's attention-grabbing videos.

Activity briefly resumed on the account in 2021 with several posts, presumably from her brother, that accused Christopher Hope of physical and mental abuse and stealing all of Lil Tay's money, amid a supposed business dispute between Tsang and Hope on one side and Lil Tay, Jason and their mother, Angela Tian, on the other. Hope denied the allegations and sent a cease and desist letter to Instagram.

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'I'm alive': teen rapper Lil Tay releases statement after mysterious death report

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A statement on her official Instagram had claimed the 15-year-old girl had died but she has now claimed it was 'compromised'

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New research reveals how social media platforms like Facebook can greatly affect your mental health.

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Social media use can harm your mental health, especially when it's used more frequently. Getty Images

No matter what you did today on your phone or computer, it's likely that social media was involved.

Did you catch up with friends on Facebook, post photos of your dog on Instagram? Maybe a Twitter link brought you here.

In the United States today, you're statistically more likely to use social media than not - by a lot. Approximately 77 percent of all Americans have a social media profile of some kind.

Despite the popularity of social media platforms and the rapidity with which they've inserted themselves into nearly all facets of our lives, there's a remarkable lack of clear data about how they affect us personally: our behaviors, our social relationships, and our mental health.

In many cases, the information that's available isn't pretty.

Studies have linked the use of social media to depression, anxiety, poorer sleep quality, lower self-esteem, inattention, and hyperactivity - often in teens and adolescents.

The list goes on.

However, these studies are almost entirely of an observational or correlational nature, meaning they don't establish whether or not one is causing the other.

A common argument against the theory that social media makes individuals more depressed and lonely is simply that perhaps those who are more depressed and lonely are more inclined to use social media as a way of reaching out.

A new study concludes that there is in fact a causal link between the use of social media and negative effects on well-being, primarily depression and loneliness. The study was published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.

"What we found overall is that if you use less social media, you are actually less depressed and less lonely, meaning that the decreased social media use is what causes that qualitative shift in your well-being," said Jordyn Young, a co-author of the paper and a senior at the University of Pennsylvania.

"Prior to this, all we could say was that there is an association between using social media and having poor outcomes with well-being," she said.

The researchers say this is the first time a causal link has ever been established in scientific research.

The study included 143 students from the University of Pennsylvania. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one that would continue their social media habits as usual or one that would significantly limit access to social media.

For three weeks, the experimental group had their social media use reduced to 30 minutes per day - 10 minutes on three different platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat).

In order to keep these experimental conditions, the researchers looked at phone usage data, which documented how much time was spent using each app per day. All of the study participants had to use iPhones.

But why even let the experimental group use social media at all?

"We didn't think [complete abstinence] was an accurate representation of the landscape of the world that we live in today. Social media is around us in so many capacities," Young said.

The results were clear: The group that used less social media, even though it wasn't completely eliminated, had better mental health outcomes.

Baseline readings for participants were taken at the beginning of the trial in several areas of well-being: social support, fear of missing out, loneliness, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, autonomy, and self-acceptance.

At the end of the trial, those in the experimental group saw both loneliness and depressive symptoms decline, with the largest changes happening in those who reported greater levels of depression.

"No matter where they started off, if they were told to limit their social media, they had less depression, no matter what their initial levels were," Young said.

Meanwhile, both groups saw a decline in levels of anxiety and fear of missing out, which the researchers posit as potentially coming from users simply becoming more aware of their social media use by taking part in the trial.

Even with an established causal link, there still remains a larger, unanswered question: Why?

How could systems designed to bring us closer to our friends and family be bad for our mental health?

Much like the algorithm that powers your Facebook feed, it's complicated.

Some general theories have come to the forefront, some obvious and some not so much.

"What happens many times when they log on is that you kind of activate a lot of social comparison," said Oscar Ybarra, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. "People don't necessarily have to be super aware that this is occurring, but it does. You log on, you're generally dealing with very curated content on the other side."

Ybarra has published pieces on the relationship between Facebook and certain mental health outcomes. He's attempted to suss out the "why" of this relationship for himself.

He notes that even if individuals are aware of the "curated" nature of many online platforms, "they nevertheless feel like, 'How am I stacking up?' or 'How is my life stacking up?' compared to what these people are presenting. I think that what happens is that the more you use the platforms, the more social comparisons tend to induce, and that relates to these decrements in how people are feeling."

These constant "upward social comparisons" can happen hundreds of times each day, depending on how frequently you check your social media feeds.

Fear of missing out, or FOMO, is another mental health effect that's been strongly linked with the use of social media. Getty Images

Fear of missing out, or FOMO, is another mental health effect that's been strongly linked with the use of social media.

Although a relatively new phrase often attributed to millennial ennui, psychologists say it has real social significance.

Amy Summerville, PhD, a professor of psychology at Miami University in Ohio, is an expert on issues of regret and the psychology of "what might have been."

She explains that FOMO is an extension of larger issues of inclusion and social standing. Once our basic needs are met, like food, shelter, and water, the need for inclusion and social interaction ranks right up there, she says.

"The FOMO experience specifically is this feeling that I personally could have been there and I wasn't. I do think that part of the reason that's really powerful is this cue that maybe we're not being included by people we have important social relationships with," she told Healthline.

The now ubiquitous use of social media and technology has created a world in which we can gaze into our own crystal ball to see what our friends are doing at almost any time of day. And that's not necessarily a good thing.

So, should we all just be using less social media?

Maybe. But both Ybarra and Summerville say there isn't enough research to set any kind of real guidelines.

"I don't know that I would say, at this point, that the research necessarily says that everyone needs to put app blockers on their phone," Summerville said. "It does, to me, suggest that this could be helpful, especially for people who are already seeming to struggle with negative emotions and a sense of belonging."

Nevertheless, what's clear is that social media isn't going away. If anything, this kind of technology will likely only grow more pervasive.

Games like "Pokémon Go" changed the social atmosphere of what it means to play a video game. Apps like Strava have created a social network where users can share their fitness goals and routines. And LinkedIn has gone from a job-hunting platform to a full-on social network for the career-minded.

"Given how available these technologies are and continue to become, they are just going to be part of how we interact with our world and with people. There's definitely a lot of work to be done in this area," Ybarra said.

Social media use can harm your mental health, especially when it's used more frequently.

Setting limits and sticking to them can help minimize these effects.

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why social media is bad for mental health

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positive effects of social media on mental health

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psychological effects of social media on youth

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benefits of social media on mental health

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Social Media Increases Depression and Loneliness

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New research reveals how social media platforms like Facebook can greatly affect your mental health. No matter what you did today on your phone or computer, it's likely that social media was involved. Did you catch up with friends on Facebook, post photos of your dog on Instagram?

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. Invasion of privacy
. Sale of data to third parties such as: Location, likes and intention to purchase
. Problems separating the real from the fictitious
. Feeling of loneliness
. Fake news
. Deal with criticism from those who are not qualified

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Using social media has long become part of many artists' everyday lives, says curator Anika Meier at the Leipzig Fine Arts Museum. Social media have actually been part of their working lives for quite some time now - as is proven by the approximately 50 video installations, sculptures, photographs and paintings by 35 predominantly young artists at the Leipzig exhibition "Link in Bio."

What distinguishes all these works is that the visual art is in a place where the audience already frequent: primarily on Instagram. Using the good old website seems to have become a thing of the past.

Is it necessary to print out digital art to show visitors what young, online-influenced artists are up to? "We didn't do that," says Meier, pointing out that this wouldn't have been necessary because the works exhibited are as vivid as they are unusual.

The show kicks off with an internet-age exhibit that has already become obsolete by now: an original row of seats from a Berlin Internet café.

Oli Epp, Big Croc
The history of online art
Images flicker across a handful of screens, recalling the "speed shows" created by Aram Bartholl. The Berlin-based concept artist converted actual Internet cafés into galleries by using the computers for short-term exhibitions. Bartholl's room installation reflects the history of net art, which existed even long before the internet became accessible to a mass audience.

The rise of social media, however, has dramatically boosted the number of viewers of digital art - not least thanks to the fact that nowadays everyone seems to own a smartphone with internet access.
Challenging the meaning behind symbols
The symbols of the internet age along with its modern consumer world counterparts provide a focus for Tom Galle's work. The Belgian artist bent the blue Facebook "F" into a crowbar, and added finger holes to McDonald's golden arches. Now the logo looks like brass knuckles.

Arvida Byström, Upskirt

Other artists examine the effects that the tendency that staging events in social media has on users. Andy Picci from Paris, for instance, placed his smartphone on a pedestal, and whoever approaches it gets to see the artist on the display, dressed in black in a white room.

"I wanted to put my digital self in its own cage on my smartphone," Picci says.

He is one of a new generation of net artists embarking on a search for identity in the digital age. Some of them use augmented reality or artificial intelligence to test beauty ideals and challenge gender norms.

Andy Kassier, Just Swinging
Putting the 'art' in 'artificial intelligence'
Thomas Webb is an artist who works with artificial intelligence to explore the boundaries of AI. He programmed computers to move smiley-faces with neutral expressions across a mirrored surface on the wall, and let them imitate viewers' facial expressions. The result, Webb says, is not a reflection of the viewers' emotions, but the superficial image created through AI - much like an emoji used in a message is not a reflection of the sender's true feelings.

Not everything comes in a digital package at the Leipzig exhibition, however. Chris Drange from Hamburg took digital era motifs and approached them from a more visual arts-angle: he enlarged selfies from female members of the Kardashian clan, combined them with elements of classical painting, and had these images produced as oil paintings in China. Meanwhile Kristina Schuldt, a graduate of Neo Rauch's Leipzig master class, alludes to the Old Masters in her works - except for the fact that they're all holding smartphones in their hands.
The exhibition "Link in Bio" at the Museum of Fine Arts runs through March 15, 2020.

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The influence of social media in art | DW | 28.12.2019

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Using social media has long become part of many artists' everyday lives, says curator Anika Meier at the Leipzig Fine Arts Museum. Social media have actually been part of their working lives for quite some time now - as is proven by the approximately 50 video installations, sculptures, photographs and paintings by 35 predominantly young artists at the Leipzig exhibition "Link in Bio."

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cons - social media can bring addiction 

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cons - social media can bring addiction 

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on social media anyone can get addicted to social media but it is more noticeable with teens.

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child & adolescent outpatient psychiatry services

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The Addictiveness of Social Media: How Teens Get Hooked | Jefferson Health

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Nancy DeAngelis, CRNP, Director of Behavioral Health at Jefferson Health - Abington discusses the powerful effect of social media on teens mental health.

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The most important point to remember is that, even if you post on a personal social media account, those who use that information can attribute it directly to UNHCR. It is therefore important that only staff who are closest to the operation post updates. Remember too that social media are public for…

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. Find old friends
. Engagement Opportunitieshttps:
. Business opportunity
. Entertainmenthttps
. New friendships
. Tips and tricks on how to do

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Bud Light's Partnership with Dylan Mulvaney

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17 Cancel Culture Examples: Brands That Have Been Cancelled

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Brands that have experienced cancel culture find it hard to win back consumer trust. Here are some of them, and steps for how to avoid being cancelled.

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Spread of Misinformation
Social Media and Depression
Increases Loneliness
Unrealistic, Untrustworthy Content on Health
Decreases Quality Time & Satisfation in Relationships
Covid-19 misinformation & disinformation about vaccines and spread

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Yes Social media can be good for you, creating an identity online where you can communicate with people all over the world, however negatives do come with doing so such as, keeping you awake at night disrupting your sleep schedule or distracting you in an important situation.

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Teens and social media use: What's the impact?

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Find out how to help limit the negative impact of these popular apps on your teenager.

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At any moment, your private information along with potentially millions of others can be accessed by a single person with the right skill and motivation, it can be especially worse if it becomes a targeted attack towards a singular specific person such as yourself that could put your finances and social security at absolute risk.

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It was 9 o'clock on a Sunday night last July when a journalist called Brian Krebs came upon the scoop of his life. The 42-year-old was at home in Virginia at the time, and wearing pyjamas. For years Krebs had written a popular blog about internet security, analysing thefts of consumer data from big companies around the world, Tesco, Adobe, Domino's Pizza among them. Now Krebs, as his weekend came to an end, was being tipped off about a more sensational breach. An anonymous informant had emailed him a list of links, directing him to caches of data that had been stolen from servers at a Canadian firm called Avid Life Media (ALM). Krebs vaguely knew of ALM. For years it had run a notorious, widely publicised web service called Ashley Madison, a dating site founded in 2008 with the explicit intention of helping married people have affairs with each other. "Life is short. Have an affair" was the slogan Ashley Madison used.

At the time Krebs received his tip-off, Ashley Madison claimed to have an international membership of 37.6 million, all of them assured that their use of this service would be "anonymous", "100% discreet". Only now Krebs was looking at the real names and the real credit-card numbers of Ashley Madison members. He was looking at street addresses and postcodes. Among documents in the leaked cache, Krebs found a list of telephone numbers for senior executives at ALM and Ashley Madison. He even found the personal mobile number of the CEO, a Canadian called Noel Biderman.

Some people found they could be identified by their height, weight, and erotic desires

"How you doing?" Krebs asked Biderman when he dialled and got through - still not sure, until this moment, that he was on to a legitimate story.

Biderman said: "You can probably guess."

Then the CEO of Ashley Madison began the slow, careful work of begging Krebs not to publish anything about the most appallingly intimate internet leak of the modern age.

Only a few hours later, in the west of England, a contentedly married man we'll call Michael woke up and went through his usual Monday-morning routine. Coffee. Email. A skim of the news online. Already Krebs's story about a hack of servers at Ashley Madison had been picked up by prominent media agencies. The story was a lead item on every news page Michael browsed. Infidelity site hacked, he read; a group calling itself the Impact Team claiming responsibility and threatening to release a full database of Ashley Madison customers, present and past, inside a month. More than 30 million people in more than 40 countries affected.

Though in the days to come the number of active users of Ashley Madison's service would be disputed - was that figure of 37.6 million for real? - Michael could say for sure there were many authentic adulterers who used the site because he was one of them. "I'd taken some elementary precautions," Michael told me recently, explaining that he'd registered on Ashley Madison with a secret email address and chosen a username by which he couldn't be personally identified. He had uploaded a photograph. He was experienced enough with adultery websites - Ashley Madison and a British equivalent called Illicit Encounters - to know that "if you don't put a photo up you won't get many responses". But the picture he chose was small and he was wearing sunglasses in it. "Deniable," Michael said.

Whenever he visited the site he was careful. If he wanted to log on to Ashley Madison to speak to women he would only do so on a work laptop he kept in his office at home. Michael had six internet browsers installed on the laptop, and one of these browsers could only be loaded via external hard drive - this was the browser he used to arrange affairs. So Michael was "irritated and surprised" to realise, that Monday morning, that his elaborate precautions had been pointless. He tried to work out ways in which he would be exposed if the hackers went through with their threat to release Ashley Madison's customer database.

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Getting in on the act: moral crusaders, operating with impunity, began to shame and squeeze the exposed. Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images

Subscriptions to the site were arranged so that women could use the service for free while men paid a monthly fee - this, in theory, to encourage an even balance in its membership. Michael had joined Ashley Madison after seeing it written about in a newspaper. He recalled getting a deal as a new signee and being charged something like £20 for his first month. He paid using his credit card. The profile name and email address he'd chosen were no threat, the photograph deniable - "but your credit card," Michael realised, "is your credit card." At this time there would have been a lot of men (even conservative estimates put the number of paid- up Ashley Madison subscribers at the time well into the millions) thinking: your credit card is your credit card.

Michael followed it all from his home computer as the story evolved, through July and into August, into an enormous, consistently strange, consistently ghastly global calamity.

On 18 August, Ashley Madison's entire customer database was indeed put online. In the subsequent panic, rewards for information about the hackers were offered. Police in Toronto (the city where ALM was based) vowed to find the culprits. Meanwhile politicians, priests, military members, civil servants, celebrities - these and hundreds of other public figures were found among the listed membership. Millions more, formerly anonymous, suddenly had their private details sprayed out on to the internet. It varied according to an individual's caution when signing up to the site, and to their luck, and to their gender (the men in general more exposed because of Ashley Madison's requirement they pay by credit card), but after the leak some people found they could be identified not only by their names and their addresses but also by their height, their weight, even their erotic preferences.

Moral crusaders, operating with impunity, began to shame and squeeze the exposed. In Alabama editors at a newspaper decided to print in its pages all the names of people from the region who appeared on Ashley Madison's database. After some high-profile resignations all around North America, people wondered if there might not be a risk of more tragic repercussions. Brian Krebs, with some prescience, wrote a blog advising sensitivity: "There's a very real chance that people are going to overreact," he wrote. "I wouldn't be surprised if we saw people taking their lives because of this."

A small number of suicides were reported, a priest in Louisiana among them. Speaking to the media after his death, the priest's wife said he'd found out his name was among those on the list before he killed himself. She said she would have forgiven her husband, and that God would have too. "God's grace in the midst of shame is the centre of the story for us, not the hack. My husband knew that grace, but somehow forgot that it was his when he took his own life."

During the early weeks of the crisis ALM, the company behind Ashley Madison, stopped responding in any sort of adequate way to calls and emails from its terrified customers. Countless marriages were at risk, people teetered on appalling decisions, and meanwhile ALM put out brisk press releases, one announcing the departure of CEO Noel Biderman. It made superficial adjustments to the front of its website, at some point deciding to remove the graphic that described Ashley Madison as "100% discreet".

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'I was basically a therapist for them': Australian journalist Kristen Brown, who spoke to about 200 of those affected. Photograph: courtesy Kristen V Brown

So the masses sent spinning by the leak could not turn to ALM for advice. Most could not easily turn to their partners. Someone had to fill this enormous absence, hear grievances. Troy Hunt, a mild-mannered technology consultant from Sydney, had not expected it would be him.

As the crisis developed he found that dozens and then hundreds of people, caught up in the event, were looking to him for help and for counsel. Hunt, who is in his late 30s, explained what happened. His expertise is internet security; he teaches courses in it. As a side project, since 2013, he has run a free web service, HaveIBeenPwned.com, that allows concerned citizens of the internet to enter their email address, go through a simple process of verification, and then learn whether their personal information has ever been stolen or otherwise exposed in a data breach. When hackers pinched data from servers at Tesco, at Adobe, at Domino's Pizza, Hunt trawled through the data that leaked and updated his site so that people could quickly find out if they were affected. After the Ashley Madison leak he did the same.

Only this time, Hunt recalled, desperate and difficult and extremely personal messages began arriving in his inbox almost immediately. Mostly it was men who emailed - paying customers of Ashley Madison who mistakenly believed that Hunt, having sifted through the leaked data, might be able to help them. Could he somehow scrub their credit cards from the list? Hunt described the tone of these emails as fearful, illogical, "emotionally distraught". About a hundred emails a day arrived in that early period, Hunt recalls. Considered together they form a bleak and fascinating historical document: a clear view into the hivemind of those caught up in the leak, caught out.

People confessed to Hunt their reasons for subscribing to Ashley Madison in the first place: "I joined Ashley Madison one night bored, honestly... Curiosity... Drunken evening..." They volunteered to him what they'd done, or nearly done, or hadn't done at all. They described what it was like to learn about the leak: "The worst night of my life... Sheer fear... Sick and foolish... I can't sleep or eat, and on top of that I am trying to hide that something is wrong from my wife..." They pleaded with Hunt (who could do nothing for them). They apologised to him (a stranger). They wondered if they should admit everything to the people who mattered to them. And they wondered what that might cost. "Tell your wife and kids you love them tonight," said one email. "I shall do the same, as I really don't know if I will have many more chances to do so."

Some of those who got in touch, Hunt told me, mentioned suicide. He didn't know what to do. He was a computer consultant. He sent back the numbers of telephone helplines.

Who was behind the hack? Who was the Impact Team that claimed responsibility?

Troy Hunt often wondered about that. He knew a lot about data theft at big corporations, what it tended to look like. Hunt thought this episode seemed "out of character" with many such hacks he'd seen. The theft of such a large amount of data usually suggested to Hunt that somebody employed by the company (or someone who had physical access to its servers) was the culprit. But then, he reasoned, the subsequent leaks had been so careful, so deliberate. "They came out and said: 'This is what we're going to do.' Then radio silence. And then a month later: 'Here's all the data.'" It was sinister, Hunt thought, militaristic even.

Then there was the jarring strand of moralising in the messages the Impact Team did put out. "Learn your lesson and make amends" was the group's advice to any of Ashley Madison's users left in pieces by their work. Not the obvious behaviour, Hunt suggested, of a revenge-minded staffer who only wanted to hurt his or her employer.

Brian Krebs made efforts to understand the hackers, too. He'd never been able to figure out who first tipped him off, but he wondered at one point if he'd found a promising lead. In a detailed blog, published in late August, Krebs followed a trail of clues to a Twitter user who seemed to have suspicious early knowledge of the leak. "I wasn't saying they did it," Krebs told me, "I was just saying that maybe this was [a line of investigation] that deserved more attention." He didn't know if police forces investigating the case ever followed up on his lead. The Toronto force, to date, has announced no arrests. (When I asked, recently, if there had been any developments their press department did not reply.)

Krebs told me: "Whoever's responsible - no doubt they know that there are now lots of people wanting to put a bullet in their head. If it were me, if I was going to do something like this, I would make pretty darn sure that nobody could trace it back to me." At least in public, the Impact Team has not been heard from again.

What motivated the hackers, then? In the initial ransom note the Impact Team suggested that unseemly business practices at ALM - for instance a policy of charging users to delete their accounts on Ashley Madison and then continuing to store departing users' personal information on internal servers - had provoked the hackers' ire and justified its attack. But the mass release of private data, to make a point about the maltreatment of private data, cannot have seemed to anyone a very coherent reason for doing all this.

To try to better understand the thinking of the Impact Team I spoke to hackers who said they were not involved with the Ashley Madison attack but had kept a close eye on it. The general assumption, in this community, seemed to be that attacking a firm such as Avid Life Media (a bit shouty, a bit sleazy) was fair game. Few felt the mass release of millions of people's personal information - they called it "doxing" - was ideal hacker etiquette though. "Not sure I would have doxed 20 million people at the same time," one said. Even so they felt the saga would teach the world a useful lesson. "Anyone doing anything online," I was told, "should assume it isn't secure."

One hacker I spoke to said he'd spent hours and hours digging through the Ashley Madison data after the leak, going out of his way to draw attention to his most salacious findings. Speaking to me by email and in private chatrooms, he asked that I call him AMLolz, for "Ashley Madison laughs". We discussed some of the findings he'd made and subsequently publicised, through an AMLolz Twitter feed and an AMLolz website. He noted with some pride that in one of his deep searches he'd come across emails that suggested members of Ashley Madison's staff were themselves having extramarital affairs. He had posted screenshots of incriminating personal messages, and several magazines and newspapers had picked up on his findings and run stories.

AMLolz might not have been involved in the Ashley Madison hack, but he was certainly involved in giving it an impactful afterlife. I asked him what motivated him. Disapproval? Revenge? "Because it was very humorous," he said eventually. "And very interesting. No mission statement, just looking for lols."

AMLolz used the term "peripheral damage" more than once in conversation, neatly encompassing, in those words, all the sleepless unfaithful and their tortured other halves, the newly unemployed, the dead, their doubly grieving widows. I asked AMLolz what he would tell one of these "peripherally damaged" if he were to meet them in person.

He replied: "It would depend what they had to say to me first. [Smiley face.] That being said, something along the lines of: 'Own your actions. Don't lie to yourself, or anyone else...' It's not good. [Thoughtful face.]"

In the west of England, Michael could hardly disagree with this. Even as he sat in his home office, reading the developing news about Ashley Madison and wondering if his wife was doing the same, he was well aware of his own culpability. He didn't think he had anyone else to blame but himself. Who was he really going to blame? Ashley Madison? "I think it would probably be a little naive of me to expect high standards from a company that was promoting itself as a meeting point for people looking for adulterous affairs. It's a bit like borrowing money off your drug dealer and expecting him to pay it back." Michael simply accepted what was going on and watched, with a numb fascination, as the crisis rolled on.

In August, the private detective industry reported, cheerfully, an uptick in business. Lawyers steered high-publicity legal actions against Ashley Madison - at least three plaintiffs in America wanted to sue - as well as seeing through quieter divorce claims. In Australia a DJ decided to tell a woman live on air that her husband was on the database. Members and former members began to be sent anonymous extortion letters. Michael received several. Pay us in seven days, he was threatened in one email, "or you know what will happen... You can inform authorities but they can't help you. We are porfessionals [sic]." Michael was unnerved by the emails but ignored them. The world, in these small increments, got shabbier.

Like Troy Hunt in Australia, Kristen Brown, in California, found herself operating as a sort of on-the-go counsellor during these strange months. For Brown, a 29-year-old journalist, it began when she started interviewing victims of the Ashley Madison leak for the website Fusion.net. Interviewees kept wanting to talk, though, long after she'd published - a lot of these people, Brown guessed, left without anyone else they could speak to frankly. "I was basically functioning as a therapist for them. They were crushed by what happened." Brown guessed she'd spoken to about 200 of those affected by the hack over the past six months.

To an unusual degree, Brown thought, a tone of moral judgment skewed the commentary and discussion around the Ashley Madison affair. "It's a gut reaction, to pass a moral judgement," she said. "Because nobody likes the idea of being cheated on themselves. You don't want to find your own partner on Ashley Madison. But spending hours and hours on the phone with these people, it became so clear to me how frigging complicated relationships are."

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'Maybe we need privacy disasters like this to help us wake up': Brian Krebs, the cybercrime journalist who broke the Ashley Madison story in July 2015. Photograph: Daniel Rosenbaum/New York Times/Redux/Eyevine

Brown continued: "We all have this idea of the site as completely salacious, right? Cheating men cheating on their unassuming wives. And I did speak to those men. But then I spoke to others who'd, say, been with their wife since they were 19 - they loved their wives but there were problems, there were kids, they'd stopped sleeping together. They had good partnerships, their lives worked, they didn't want to upend everything. They just weren't fulfilled or satisfied romantically. Some people were on the site with the permission of their spouses. I talked to one woman who was afraid to leave her husband, and being on Ashley Madison was her way of working out what to do. Some people I spoke to were single and didn't want attachment and using Ashley Madison was just a way. People's reasons were complex. They were real."

This, more or less, had always been Michael's reasoning for cheating. His situation was complex, and real. He told me he had been unfaithful to his wife "from after we first got married", conducting a string of one-off or months- or years-long affairs for almost 30 years. "As life partners, my wife and I fit really well. We are very, very good friends - that describes us. But I know there's a missing dimension to our relationship."

Ashley Madison was a way to try to account for that missing dimension.

And not always, said Michael, a particularly satisfying way. He wasn't even sure that every woman he spoke to during his time on the site was genuine. Sometimes, when conversation had a flavour of "classic soft porn", he said, he wondered if his correspondents were employees of the company, reading from scripts. (The likely truth, as suggested by internal documentation made available in the leak, was stranger still. Coders at Ashley Madison had created a network of fake, flirtatious chatbots to converse with men like Michael, teasing them into maintaining their subscriptions on the site. It was for this reason that commentators began to doubt whether Ashley Madison had as many subscribers as it advertised; Avid Life Media, ever since the leak, has always claimed to have a healthy and even growing userbase.)

Michael had met someone real through Ashley Madison. Like him she was in a stable companionable marriage, only one that lacked a certain dimension. She lived in the north of England. She had children. She and Michael shared tastes in books and spoke a lot on the phone. Sometimes they discussed their partners and their respective marriages, other times they steered from the subject. There was a sexual element to the affair, Michael said, but they never slept together. It was a relationship that was precious to him.

"If you're going to chat a woman up in a bar, or at a work conference, or wherever," Michael told me, "then: 'Hello, I'm married' is not a good opening line. Whereas if you're going on to a website like Ashley Madison - they know. It's a bit ridiculous to talk about honesty in terms of these relationships. But they actually start with honesty. Because you're not pretending to be something you're not."

Ashley Madison was a way of having a "safe affair", he said. Safe in the sense that he didn't think it likely he'd be found out by his wife (he had his special browser, his secret email address). Also safe in the sense that he didn't think anyone would get hurt.Since the leak Michael had not used Ashley Madison again nor spoken to the woman in the north. His wife, as of February 2016, had not found out about his affairs.

The hack of Ashley Madison was historic - the first leak of the online era to expose to mass view not passwords, not pictures, not diplomatic gossip, not military secrets, but something weirder, deeper, less tangible. This was a leak of desires.

"I think that history's probably littered with examples of madams whose little black book went walking, you know what I mean?" said Brian Krebs. "But this was massive, en masse, on the internet. Who knows? Maybe we need privacy disasters like this to help us wake up."

Kristen Brown thought it was important to take away a different instruction from the saga. That marriage is not one thing, and that the millions of users of Ashley Madison very likely had millions of different reasons for being on there. "There's a vibe between two people that can't be quantified. How to say what the right path is for any one pair? Relationships are fucking weird. And they get weirder the longer they go on."

In London recently I met with Troy Hunt. He'd flown in from Australia to teach a corporate course on internet security. We had lunch between morning and afternoon sessions in his classroom in Canary Wharf. While we ate Hunt showed me his phone - another email had just come in from someone requesting his help. Six months had gone by since the leak; the flow of desperate messages had slowed but not stopped.

Hunt responded to this email the way he always did now, sending back a prewritten response that included a list of answers to frequently asked questions about the hack. Also that list of hotline numbers.

When we'd finished eating his teaching resumed. Two dozen people filed into the room with their laptops and sat quietly while Hunt lectured them about cyber security. He'd worked a contemporary lesson into his speech, and projecting an image of a now-infamous website on to a screen behind him, he said to the class: "Put up your hand if any of you have an account with Ashley Madison."

A nervous laugh went around the room. Nobody put up their hand.
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It was 9 o'clock on a Sunday night last July when a journalist called Brian Krebs came upon the scoop of his life. The 42-year-old was at home in Virginia at the time, and wearing pyjamas. For years Krebs had written a popular blog about internet security, analysing thefts of consumer data from big companies around the world, Tesco, Adobe, Domino's Pizza among them.

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Social media benefits businesses greatly through promotion and helps to earn a profit

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The key word for the social media industry today is 'growth'. The We Are Social Digital 2022 report shows YouTube ad reach has increased by 11.9% in the last year, contributing to a global ad audience of 2.56 billion - and that's just video.

Elsewhere, Instagram has experienced almost double this growth, with its ad reach numbers growing 21% since 2021. Even more impressive, between October 2021 and January 2022, TikTok's ad reach grew by 7.3%.

How social media can help your business

Before we get into our full list, we wanted to provide a quick summary of the key areas where social media may help your business thrive.

Brand building. Establish and shape your brand in terms of your language and messaging and visual identity

Sales and marketing. Advertise your products and services to your chosen demographics at your chosen time with targeted social media promotion

Content distribution. Distribute your content and products to anyone, everywhere - if you so desire

Customer services. Deal with issues and queries directly and instantly to get to the root of the problem

Analytics and ROI. Evaluate your business outputs, inputs and KPIs in a way that was impossible a decade ago.

The best social media platforms for businesses

Now you have a top-level overview of how social media can help, it's time to consider the main social media platforms and decide which one - or combination of them - will be right for your business to use.

Facebook

A Facebook Business Page provides your customers with a one-stop shop for everything to do with your brand and products. Add options to contact you instantly via Messenger or over email, link directly to your site and products and create and advertise upcoming events. Learn more about using Facebook for marketing your small business.

Instagram

Instagram has become much more than a place to share pictures of your breakfast. With the introduction of Instagram Shop, suggested ads, shoppable links and product tags, the platform is a great place to both advertise and sell your products over a streamlined user interface. Learn more about using Instagram for your small business.

Twitter

Grow organic brand awareness and build a loyal following with Twitter. With its trending topics it sets the agenda, so you can see what's happening in the world. Its in-depth analytics tools measure performance, and flexible ad campaigns provide you with the tools to adapt, grow and sell.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the professional face of social media. Grow your business to business (B2B) reach with a network of professionals who can help you develop. Take advantage of its comprehensive job platform and LinkedIn Learning, with the latter helping you to expand your knowledge to further your brand impact and streamline your processes.

YouTube

Video-sharing platform YouTube is a great place to market your small business. Starting a YouTube channel is step one, then it's up to you. Whether creating your own videos on subjects that link to your brand and are useful for your audience, or working with influencers and exploring paid advertising. Learn more about using YouTube for marketing.

15 Benefits of using social media for business

Now you know your Instagram from your LinkedIn, it's time to take a closer look at those 15 benefits of social media up close you can see what the right strategy could bring to your small business.

1. Build brand awareness

Social media platforms provide a variety of tools and tactics to build brand awareness - from ads to space to grow your audience and experiment with different marketing techniques. Use social media as an expansive tool kit to meet your business goals.

2. Grow your audience

Social media provides the opportunity to build a loyal following of customers and clients as well as fans of your brand. Followers are won authentically, so they're likely to be genuinely interested in your products and services. The more followers you can generate, the more interactions, conversions and, ultimately, sales you can expect.

3. Create a solid brand image

Being active on different online platforms provides the opportunity to present a consistent, streamlined image and aesthetic across all touchpoints. Social media, and a little bit of creativity, allow your business to grow into an instantly recognisable brand, however your customers want to access your services.

4. Create efficient marketing campaigns

If you feel you need to tighten your processes, social media is the perfect place to get started. Online platforms allow you to create tailored content to market to your desired demographics - through data gained from competitor research and analytics.

5. Market to the right people at the right time

Knowing who your audience is, where they are and when they're most likely to interact with your content is vital to those all-important sales conversions. Social media analytics provide insight from consumer data reports to push your content to the right people, in the right place at the right time.

6. Promote key products and services

Focusing on promoting key products and services that get the most interactions and sales can help to boost your business profits and reputation. It's better to be known for doing one thing well rather than multiple things at a mediocre level.

7. Harness the power of online ads

Organic traffic may not be enough to create the number of conversions you'd like when you're first starting out. This is where paid ads can come in. A reminder though of the importance of researching how paid ads work to ensure you understand them and the potential benefits and returns on any investment you make.

8. Experiment with your content

Social media platforms are also the perfect place to experiment. Take time to try new tools and tactics to work out exactly what your audience wants to see. Every 'failure' has its teachings, especially when it comes to marketing and refining your technique.

9. Take advantage of competitor analysis

One of the major benefits of using social media for business is the information and analysis you can take from similar businesses. Put on your observation cap and see what works for them and what doesn't. Consider researching their performance metrics.

10. Market to different demographics

Although finding your audience is key, you may consider advertising to a wider range of demographics. Social media has the power to uncover not only previously inaccessible customers, but also those who were previously unconsidered. Marketing to new demographics can bring success.

11. Connect with other businesses

Creating meaningful relationships with other brands is a great way to grow your reputation. This network may consist of businesses both internal and external to your industry. Every company will have lessons to learn and things to teach, however they operate.

12. Newsjack topical trends

Twitter is increasingly the place where news breaks and stories build. This is especially useful for brands fighting for online space, as jumping on trends, known as newsjacking, can help you to join and start popular conversation and garner traffic. One suggestion though: only comment on things that are relevant to your business.

13. Speak directly to your customers

Social media helps to open channels of communication between you and your customers. This helps build personal relationships and an intimate brand voice and personality. It will also create a space where customers can feel comfortable to feed back about your products and services.

14. Quickly solve customer complaints

This direct channel of communication can also improve your customer service. Solving problems and countering bad feedback should be one of your major priorities, as positive online reviews are important for maintaining a healthy brand reputation.

15. Make your business interactive

Brands that make their customers part of their story tend to do well. From sharing, likes, comments and clickable elements, ensuring your customers feel there is reciprocity in their relationship with you, and their customer journey, is essential to gaining and retaining an audience.

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The benefits of using social media for business

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People spent a record 12.5 trillion hours tapping, scrolling and searching Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and TikTok in 2022, according to We Are Social [1]. But how can harnessing these platforms boost your bottom line? Explore our 15 benefits of using social media for your business - from driving sales to growing your reach.

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There has been a huge negative impact on everyone's mental health due to cyberbullying. with the anomality the internet provides people are more inclined to be horrible to one another and disregard feelings of empathy to who's on the other side of the screen. Thus not open to take into account what they could be going through or even how old they could be.

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We look at the different effects of cyberbullying and the impact it has on the victims of online bullying.

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It is now easier than ever to stalk people online, even looking through the safest person online's friend group can lead you to finding addresses, phone numbers and photos. There are now even ai's that can find anyones infor,mation just by a picture of their face.

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A Dutchman convicted of sexually extorting a teenage Canadian girl who later took her own life has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Aydin Coban, 44, will serve his sentence in the Netherlands, prosecutors in British Columbia said.

He was convicted in August of child luring, child pornography, extortion and harassment of Amanda Todd.

Amanda, who was then 15, posted a video in 2012 detailing how the cyber-stalker had tormented her.

Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find upsetting.

The YouTube video was watched millions of times and sparked a national debate about online bullying.

Coban was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Dutch court in 2017 for blackmailing and harassing dozens of young women on the internet, some as far away as Britain, Canada and the United States.

He was later extradited to Canada where he faced the additional charges. He was not, however, charged with Amanda's death.

The 13-year sentence handed down on Friday will begin after the term imposed by the Dutch court has expired, said the British Columbia Prosecution Service.

Coban showed no remorse in court in New Westminster as he learned his fate.

Amanda killed herself five weeks after uploading her widely watched YouTube video, and after explicit photos of her were leaked online.

Coban harassed the girl for nearly three years online using 22 separate fake social media accounts.

He sent messages to her between 2009, starting when she was 13, and 2012. In some, he threatened to send explicit images of her to her friends, family and school staff if she didn't agree to give him a webcam "show".

Coban hid his IP address, so police were not able to trace the messages back to him at the time.

During Coban's sentencing hearing this week, prosecutors argued for a 12-year prison term to protect other young people from his "repugnant" abuse. They said they believed Coban was at high risk of offending again.

Coban's defence lawyers had pushed for a two-year sentence, arguing a longer punishment would be "disproportionate" to the crimes he committed.

British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Martha Devlin read the sentence in court on Friday.

She said that although Coban's behaviour was not the "dominating factor" in the girl's suicide, she did find that the "profound harm" he caused her aggravated mental health and substance abuse issues, according to CBC News.

"Ruining Amanda's life was Mr Coban's expressly stated goal and was, sadly, one that he achieved," she said.

His sentencing hearing in Canada began shortly after the 10th anniversary of Amanda's death. Her mother, Carol, has since become an outspoken advocate against online bullying and sex extortion.

"We need to talk about it," she said. "We need to make sure there is justice for Amanda."

If you want to talk to someone about the issues raised in this piece, you can call the US National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialling 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

You can call the UK Samaritans Helpline on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.

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Amanda Todd: Dutchman sentenced for fatal cyber-stalking

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A Dutchman convicted of sexually extorting a teenage Canadian girl who later took her own life has been sentenced to 13 years in prison. Aydin Coban, 44, will serve his sentence in the Netherlands, prosecutors in British Columbia said. He was convicted in August of child luring, child pornography, extortion and harassment of Amanda Todd.

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With the easy access to the internet there is a rise of sites and fake links people use to try and scam them

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Fake news can be anywhere on social media and it can be from an untrusted source

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The researchers sought to understand how the reward structure of social media sites drives users to develop habits of posting misinformation on social media. (Photo/AdobeStock)

USC researchers may have found the biggest influencer in the spread of fake news: social platforms' structure of rewarding users for habitually sharing information.

The team's findings, published Monday by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, upend popular misconceptions that misinformation spreads because users lack the critical thinking skills necessary for discerning truth from falsehood or because their strong political beliefs skew their judgment.

Just 15% of the most habitual news sharers in the research were responsible for spreading about 30% to 40% of the fake news.

The research team from the USC Marshall School of Business and the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences wondered: What motivates these users? As it turns out, much like any video game, social media has a rewards system that encourages users to stay on their accounts and keep posting and sharing. Users who post and share frequently, especially sensational, eye-catching information, are likely to attract attention.

"Due to the reward-based learning systems on social media, users form habits of sharing information that gets recognition from others," the researchers wrote. "Once habits form, information sharing is automatically activated by cues on the platform without users considering critical response outcomes, such as spreading misinformation."

Posting, sharing and engaging with others on social media can, therefore, become a habit.

[Misinformation is] really a function of the structure of the social media sites themselves.

Wendy Wood, USC expert on habits

"Our findings show that misinformation isn't spread through a deficit of users. It's really a function of the structure of the social media sites themselves," said Wendy Wood, an expert on habits and USC emerita Provost Professor of psychology and business.

"The habits of social media users are a bigger driver of misinformation spread than individual attributes. We know from prior research that some people don't process information critically, and others form opinions based on political biases, which also affects their ability to recognize false stories online," said Gizem Ceylan, who led the study during her doctorate at USC Marshall and is now a postdoctoral researcher at the Yale School of Management. "However, we show that the reward structure of social media platforms plays a bigger role when it comes to misinformation spread."

In a novel approach, Ceylan and her co-authors sought to understand how the reward structure of social media sites drives users to develop habits of posting misinformation on social media.

Why fake news spreads: behind the social network

Overall, the study involved 2,476 active Facebook users ranging in age from 18 to 89 who volunteered in response to online advertising to participate. They were compensated to complete a "decision-making" survey approximately seven minutes long.

Surprisingly, the researchers found that users' social media habits doubled and, in some cases, tripled the amount of fake news they shared. Their habits were more influential in sharing fake news than other factors, including political beliefs and lack of critical reasoning.

Frequent, habitual users forwarded six times more fake news than occasional or new users.

"This type of behavior has been rewarded in the past by algorithms that prioritize engagement when selecting which posts users see in their news feed, and by the structure and design of the sites themselves," said second author Ian A. Anderson, a behavioral scientist and doctoral candidate at USC Dornsife. "Understanding the dynamics behind misinformation spread is important given its political, health and social consequences."

Experimenting with different scenarios to see why fake news spreads

In the first experiment, the researchers found that habitual users of social media share both true and fake news.

In another experiment, the researchers found that habitual sharing of misinformation is part of a broader pattern of insensitivity to the information being shared. In fact, habitual users shared politically discordant news - news that challenged their political beliefs - as much as concordant news that they endorsed.

Lastly, the team tested whether social media reward structures could be devised to promote sharing of true over false information. They showed that incentives for accuracy rather than popularity (as is currently the case on social media sites) doubled the amount of accurate news that users share on social platforms.

The study's conclusions:

Habitual sharing of misinformation is not inevitable.

Users could be incentivized to build sharing habits that make them more sensitive to sharing truthful content.

Effectively reducing misinformation would require restructuring the online environments that promote and support its sharing.

These findings suggest that social media platforms can take a more active step than moderating what information is posted and instead pursue structural changes in their reward structure to limit the spread of misinformation.
About the study: The research was supported and funded by the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology, the USC Marshall School of Business and the Yale University School of Management.
More stories about: Digital Media, Research, Social Media

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Study reveals key reason why fake news spreads on social media

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USC researchers may have found the biggest influencer in the spread of fake news: social platforms' structure of rewarding users for habitually sharing information. The team's findings, published Monday by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, upend popular misconceptions that misinformation spreads because users lack the critical thinking skills necessary for discerning truth from falsehood or because their strong political beliefs skew their judgment.

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What kinds of crime there is online

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Let's talk about something that has become all too common in our digital age: social media crimes. Yep, you heard it right. With the rise of social media platforms, we've unfortunately witnessed increased criminal activities online.

From cyberbullying to identity theft, social media crimes come in all shapes and sizes, wreaking havoc on individuals and communities. It's like the Wild West of the internet, where people can get away with all sorts of mischief and mayhem. Luckily, cybercrimes are being taken more seriously, so let's get into 10 common cybercrimes and explore ways to improve the digital world.
Related: Top 10 Terrible Deaths Connected To Social Media
10 Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying has emerged as a distressing social media crime with far-reaching consequences. Through hurtful comments, spreading rumors, or publicly shaming individuals, cyberbullies exploit the interconnectedness of the digital world to target and harm their victims.

The impact of this crime extends beyond the immediate emotional distress, as it can lead to long-lasting psychological trauma, decreased self-esteem, and even withdrawal from social interactions. Recognizing cyberbullying as a social media crime is essential to hold perpetrators accountable and protect the well-being of individuals within online communities.

By actively monitoring online activities, swiftly identifying and removing harmful content, and taking legal action against offenders, we can create an environment where cyberbullying is actively deterred and punished. Promoting digital literacy and responsible online behavior through educational initiatives is also crucial to fostering a sense of empathy and respect among internet users.

9 Cyberstalking

Picture this: someone obsessively tracks your every move, monitors your online activities, and invades your privacy without you knowing. That, my friend, is cyberstalking, a chilling social media crime that has become all too real in today's digital era.

Cyberstalkers exploit the vast reach and accessibility of social media platforms to harass, intimidate, and control their victims. They might send incessant messages, stalk their profiles, or even use fake accounts to gain information and exert control. The psychological impact of cyberstalking is profound, leading to anxiety, fear, and a constant sense of violation. It's like having a digital shadow that follows your every virtual step, leaving you feeling vulnerable and trapped.

Raising awareness about cyberstalking and educating users about online safety and privacy measures is crucial. While social media platforms must improve their security features and provide easier reporting mechanisms for victims. Law enforcement agencies also play a pivotal role in investigating and prosecuting cyberstalkers, ensuring these criminals face the consequences of their actions.

8 Catfishing

Get ready for a mind-boggling tale that sounds straight out of a suspenseful movie plot. This peculiar social media crime involves individuals creating fake identities and personas to deceive and manipulate others online. It's like a virtual game of cat and mouse, where the catfisher lures unsuspecting victims into a web of lies and deceit. They might use stolen photos, concoct elaborate stories, or even engage in romantic relationships while hiding their true intentions.

The emotional toll on victims is significant, as they invest time, trust, and often their hearts in relationships that are nothing but a mirage. Catfishing is a potent reminder that not everything we see on social media is what it seems.

To combat catfishing as a social media crime, we must empower individuals with knowledge and critical thinking skills. Education about online safety, privacy, and the warning signs of catfishing is essential to help users navigate the treacherous waters of the digital world. Social media platforms can also play a crucial role by implementing stricter verification processes and actively monitoring suspicious accounts.

7 Sextortion

Now into the dark side of social media crimes with a particularly insidious one. Sextortion is a horrifying form of exploitation that occurs when someone coerces or blackmails individuals into providing explicit content or engaging in sexual activities, primarily through social media channels.

Predators may employ manipulative tactics, such as pretending to be someone else, gaining victims' trust, and then using their personal information or compromising images against them. The emotional and psychological impact on victims is immense, as they are forced into fear, shame, and vulnerability.

Educating individuals, particularly young people, about online safety, privacy settings, and the risks associated with sharing explicit content is crucial. Social media platforms must bolster their security measures, employing advanced algorithms to detect and remove accounts involved in sextortion activities. Law enforcement agencies must also have the resources and expertise to investigate and apprehend offenders.

Swatting is an alarming phenomenon that involves making false emergency reports, often through social media platforms, to trigger a large-scale response from law enforcement, including SWAT teams. Swatters use deception to manipulate emergency services, fabricating scenarios such as hostage situations or active shooters, leading to unnecessary and potentially dangerous deployments.

The consequences of swatting are far-reaching, as innocent individuals become unsuspecting victims of a terrifying and potentially life-threatening ordeal. Swatting is not just a cruel prank; it is a criminal act that puts lives at risk and burdens emergency services, diverting resources from genuine emergencies.

Addressing swatting starts with raising awareness and educating individuals about the severe consequences of swatting and the importance of responsible online behavior. Social media platforms must quickly identify and remove accounts that engage in or promote swatting activities.

Enhanced collaboration between social media companies and law enforcement agencies can facilitate information sharing and expedite investigations into swatting incidents. Additionally, implementing stricter penalties for swatters, including legal consequences proportional to the potential harm caused, can serve as a deterrent.

Get ready to uncover a disturbing social media crime known as doxing. This cruel practice involves intentionally exposing and disseminating someone's personal and private information, such as their home address, phone number, or workplace, without their consent.

Doxing is often carried out to harass, intimidate, or incite harm against the targeted individual. The perpetrators may use social media platforms to gather and share sensitive information, exposing the victim to various dangers, including offline stalking, identity theft, and even physical harm. It's a chilling invasion of privacy that can have long-lasting repercussions on the victim's safety and well-being.

Education and awareness campaigns are vital to informing individuals about the risks of sharing personal information online and the importance of maintaining digital privacy. Social media platforms must implement strict policies and mechanisms to detect and swiftly remove doxing content and provide effective reporting systems for victims to seek assistance.

Additionally, legal frameworks must be strengthened to ensure that doxing is recognized as a criminal offense, with appropriate consequences for those who engage in such activities.

4 Flash Robs

Get ready to explore a unique and concerning social media crime known as flash robs. This phenomenon involves organizing large groups through social media platforms to coordinate thefts or acts of vandalism. Flash robs typically occur spontaneously, with participants converging on a specific location, causing chaos and committing crimes before dispersing quickly.

Social media enables the rapid dissemination of information, allowing participants to coordinate their actions and avoid detection by authorities. The impact of flash robs extends beyond the immediate criminal activities, as they can lead to property damage and injury and instill fear within communities. It's a stark reminder of how social media can be misused to facilitate criminal behavior and undermine public safety.

To reduce flash robs, police departments must closely monitor social media platforms for any signs of planned flash robs and be prepared to respond swiftly to prevent and mitigate such incidents. While social media platforms must have stringent policies and algorithms to detect and remove content promoting criminal behavior.

Additionally, community awareness campaigns can help educate individuals about the consequences of participating in flash robs, encouraging them to use social media responsibly and report any suspicious activities.

3 Child Exploitation

Child exploitation as a social media crime is a heinous act that involves the production, distribution, and consumption of explicit or abusive material involving minors facilitated through social media platforms. Predators exploit the anonymity and wide reach of the internet to groom, manipulate, and exploit vulnerable children. They may engage in online conversations, coerce victims into sharing explicit content, or even orchestrate physical meetings.

The consequences for child victims are devastating, leading to severe emotional trauma, long-term psychological harm, and a loss of trust. It's a chilling reminder of the dark side of social media and the urgent need to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

First and foremost, law enforcement agencies must prioritize investigating and prosecuting offenders, working closely with internet service providers and social media platforms to promptly identify and remove illegal content.

Educational programs must be implemented to empower children with knowledge about online safety, recognizing grooming tactics, and reporting inappropriate behavior. Additionally, social media platforms must have robust systems to detect and remove child exploitation material while providing resources and support for victims.

2 Digital Art Theft

Digital art theft has emerged as a concerning social media crime in the era of digital creativity. With the increasing popularity of digital artwork, social media platforms have become hotspots for sharing and promoting artistic creations. Unfortunately, this has also given rise to the unauthorized reproduction and distribution of digital artwork without the artist's consent.

Digital art theft involves the copying, downloading, and sharing of someone's artwork without proper attribution or permission, infringing upon the artist's rights and potentially impacting their livelihood. This form of theft not only undermines the value and originality of the artwork but also deprives artists of the recognition and compensation they deserve for their creative endeavors.

Combating digital art theft as a social media crime requires a collective effort from artists, social media platforms, and users alike. Artists must take steps to protect their work by employing watermarks, digital signatures, or encryption techniques to safeguard their creations. Social media platforms should enhance their copyright infringement detection algorithms and provide efficient reporting mechanisms for artists to report stolen artwork.

Additionally, users are responsible for respecting artists' rights and only sharing or promoting artwork with proper attribution and permission.

1 Identity Theft

Identity theft looms as a significant and distressing social media crime in the vast landscape of social media. With the abundance of personal information available on social media profiles, identity thieves exploit this digital goldmine to assume someone else's identity and carry out fraudulent activities.

The consequences for victims of identity theft can be devastating, including financial loss, damaged credit scores, and the erosion of their online and offline reputations. Identity theft is a stark reminder that vigilance and caution are essential when navigating the digital world.

Individuals must prioritize protecting their personal information by carefully managing privacy settings on social media platforms, being cautious about accepting friend requests, or sharing sensitive details with unknown individuals. Social media platforms must continually enhance their security measures, implement robust identity verification procedures, and promptly investigate and act against suspicious accounts.

Law enforcement agencies also play a crucial role in investigating and prosecuting identity theft cases, collaborating with social media platforms to track down and apprehend perpetrators.

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10 Ways Social Media Is Used to Commit Crimes - Listverse

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Let's talk about something that has become all too common in our digital age: social media crimes. Yep, you heard it right. With the rise of social media

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Social media careers are taking off. Just a decade ago, the only role associated with the channel was "intern." Now, social media professionals are in line for the C-suite.

This rapid growth can make navigating a once linear career path a bit more challenging. Now you can choose from several specialties under the social umbrella, each requiring different interests and skill sets. You need to understand your options to know which one to pick.

To help you navigate this evolving profession, we put together this guide to jobs in social media. Keep reading to find out which skills you need, where to look and which jobs to consider as you enter and advance through the field of social.

What is the current state of social media careers?

Over the past few years, social has become the go-to channel for everything from product discovery to sharing reviews. To tap into this growing opportunity, marketers are rethinking the structure of their social teams.

According to data from the 2022 Sprout Social Index™, 88% of marketers expect to hire another social team member over the next two years. More than half (62%) anticipate expanding their social teams by 2-6 positions within the same period of time.

This rapid change in headcount is likely due to the increasingly collaborative nature of social media jobs. The channel is being used to support several business functions, including human resources, customer service and product development. Meeting internal and external demands requires a diversified team of specialists, strategists and managers.

Today, there's a world of opportunities available for those working in social. So much so, that it's driving up competition for employers. More than half of marketers (52%) say that finding experienced talent is their number one challenge this year.

What skills do social media careers require?

The journey to becoming a social media professional varies. Some get their start with an internship or customer service role. Others may go as far as earning a social media master's degree.

These variations in career paths actually create more opportunity for those interested in social media marketing careers. It may make your start in the industry feel ambiguous, but it also means you don't have to adhere to a single, linear career path. Use this to your advantage and build on these core social media skills:

1. Industry-specific skills

Social moves fast. A successful career in social media hinges on your ability to keep up.

"What matters most is that you know your stuff," Sprout's Social Media Manager Rachael Samuels tells us. "Domain and customer knowledge is a matter of research. Hiring managers want to know that you can speak on social media without relying on buzzwords or jargon."

Incorporate reading trade publications like Social Media Today or AdWeek's Social Pro Daily into your daily routine. These will help you stay up to date on the trends that motivate how consumers are using their favorite social media platforms.

You'll also need to spend quality time with priority networks as well to understand what's driving patterns of engagement. Most jobs may discourage on-the-clock scrolling but in social media careers, it's critical to building your expertise.

2. Copywriting

Social allows brands to get more experimental with their voice. For example, it's difficult to imagine Auntie Anne's using this writing style in an email.

Copywriting for social is an act of translation. In a social media role, it's up to you to determine how to translate your brand persona into a social identity.

You don't need to wait until you land your first social role to build on this skill. Practice writing the same message for different brands. How would companies like Harley Davidson or Ford make an announcement compared to Apple or Microsoft? Understanding those nuances is the key to writing attention-grabbing, on-brand copy that connects with your audience.

3. Data analysis

More than half of organizations use social data daily and 29% use it on a weekly basis as well.

Social analytics are driving proactive decision-making at top brands, impacting everything from marketing revenue to customer experience. As a social professional, you'll be tasked with providing these insights to a whole slew of internal stakeholders. That's why you need to be able to communicate the story behind any given data set.

4. Creative direction

Think of your favorite social media campaign. It probably went a step beyond a few posts here and there, right?

On social, the campaigns that manage to rise above the noise have one thing in common: clear creative direction. This extends well beyond visuals alone. Creative direction also applies to:

Campaign pacing

Network-specific approaches

Voice and tone

Copy and multimedia formats

Keep your creative skills sharp by maintaining a steady stream of inspiration from a variety of sources. Most social media hiring processes include some kind of brainstorming exercise, so this will help you be ready to flex your talents at a moment's notice.

5. Customer service

Four out of five executives agree that social media will soon become the primary channel for customer service and support.

Consumers are turning to brands' public profiles to seek help, air grievances and everything in between. Those seeking careers in social media will have to tap into their inner customer service representative to handle these requests.

That goes a step beyond responding to comments and DMs in a polite and timely fashion. Given the varied nature of social customer care, you'll also have to know how to create a company-specific escalation management strategy to share with your team.

Where to look for jobs in social media

As more companies look to expand their social media teams, knowing where to look for jobs becomes a competitive edge in itself. If you've scanned the careers section of your favorite companies to no avail, don't fret. Try these sites instead:

Job boards

Employers use job boards like LinkedIn and Glassdoor to promote open positions to a wider pool of job seekers. These sites are indispensable in a world that's shifting toward more remote work options. Use their filters to set your sights well beyond your own city or even state.

Newsletters

If you're looking for a more curated approach to your job search, try industry newsletters like Rachel Karten's Link in Bio or SocialMedia.org's The Shortlist. These sources provide round ups of some exciting roles available in social media marketing. They're perfect for someone looking for roles that require more strategic or creative skills.

Online communities

Online marketing communities are the job hunter's secret weapon. Members aren't constantly posting every vacant role they know of, but if you ask, many are more than happy to provide job leads. Look for groups specific to social media marketing for the best results, like Sprout's Social Marketers' Exchange, for example.

7 social media careers to explore

We've come a long way from the "social media intern" stereotype. Many social media roles don't even have the word "social media" in the title anymore.

These roles are specialized and compensation can vary widely by location and experience. On average, social media managers can expect to make $53,000 a year.

"When I started my career, the breadth of social media management roles was a lot more limited," says Samuels. "Now, there are so many different areas to specialize in. My advice to those just starting out in their social career is to find what you like and figure out ways to keep rounding out that skill set. If you can identify what you enjoy and use that to create success for an organization, you'll both be happy."

Understanding your options is the key to choosing a career path that gets you excited to log on each morning. Here are some job titles to check out if you're interested in a career in social media.

1. Social media specialist jobs

A social media specialist job is a great way to gain exposure to the wild world of social media marketing. In these roles, you'll get a full primer on all the basics, like content creation, scheduling and engagement.

These jobs tend to vary by company and industry. For example, a specialist working in the hospitality industry might have more customer care-related duties than someone working in real estate or recruiting.

Job listings typically give an overview of what to expect in the role, but always do your own research. Scan the social feeds of prospective job opportunities to get a realistic idea of what your day-to-day responsibilities might look like.

You'll enjoy a social media specialist role if:

2. Social media manager jobs

Social media manager jobs are a common next step for those who have a few years of social experience under their belt. As a social media manager, your focus will shift from publishing social content to managing a team that oversees most of the execution. You'll provide direction, support and feedback to direct reports and work with your team to develop their professional growth.

Alongside people management duties, these roles typically call for a more analytical mindset. You'll spend a lot more time creating reports and analyzing them to figure out what's working and what's not. These findings will inform ongoing strategic decisions for you and your team.

Consider this role if:

3. Social community management jobs

For those attracted to the connectivity of social, community management is where it's at. These roles are focused on fostering relationships with your brand's audience through an owned channel (like a Facebook Group, for example).

As a community manager, you'll be responsible for the growth and day-to-day maintenance of a social media community. Driving community engagement will play a key factor in your success in this role. You want to get people talking so they can work, learn and grow together.

Consider this role if:

4. Influencer marketing jobs

Influencer marketing is an offshoot of social media management that involves seeking and securing endorsements from individuals with a strong online following. These roles are particularly popular within retail industries like cosmetics, for example.

In an influencer marketing role, you'll support the ongoing management of influencer programs. This might include elements of account management, events management and budgeting, alongside some standard social media responsibilities.

Consider a role in influencer marketing if:

5. Content creator jobs

If you've ever spoken directly to your front-facing camera in public and not thought much of it, you may want to consider becoming a content creator.

Content creators (AKA digital creators) create and distribute content across various networks like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and more. In-house content creators tend to be heavily focused on video, as opposed to text or image-based posts. Basically, you'll spend quite a bit of time recording, editing and posting as the face of a brand account.

This role might be right for you if:

6. Social media consulting jobs

As you grow in your social media expertise, you may eventually consider a career as a social media consultant. In this role, you'll manage multiple client relationships and advise a variety of brands on how to build and deploy their social strategies. As a consultant, you'll be helping clients develop their presence online and directly impact goals like raising awareness and increasing website traffic.

(Source: Mini Media Marketing)

Consultants are excellent at identifying problems and coming up with solutions. If that's you, it may be time to research the ins and outs of owning your own business, along with the market demand for your skills. Or, if you prefer to work with a team, look for strategist roles at an agency where you'll work with a range of clients.

This role is right for you if:

7. Social media intelligence jobs

Social media intelligence is kind of like the FBI of social, according to Kate O'Hagan, Senior Specialist of Social Media Intelligence at United Airlines.

"We cover the behind the scenes of what you see in your feed," says O'Hagan. "We monitor online chatter for any trends and threats to the airline to protect the brand."

O'Hagan and her team work closely with United's social engagement, public relations, global response and executive solutions teams to keep an eye on the expansive world of social media. For a business as large as United Airlines, that can mean tracking conversations on anything from the launch of a new route to helping the government with an emergency shipment of baby formula.

"There is no 'normal day' in social media intelligence," explains O'Hagan. "It all depends on what's going on with the airline. We also run sentiment analysis reports on certain things for potential upcoming projects. For example, if we wanted to partner with a celebrity, we look into their history and what the internet thinks of the person to see if it's a good match for our brand."

A career in social media intelligence might be right for you if:

Kickstart your career in social media

If you love brainstorming, creating content and connecting with audiences, then a career in social media might just be the job for you. The great news is, there's never been a better time to break into the field.

Set yourself apart from the rest of the applicant pool with this guide to crafting a data-driven social media resume. It'll show you all the do's and don'ts of landing your next dream job.

Ronnie Gomez

Ronnie Gomez is a Content Strategist at Sprout Social where she writes to help social professionals learn and grow at every stage of their careers. When she's not writing, she's reading or looking for Chicago's next best place to get a vanilla oat milk latte.

Read all articles by Ronnie Gomez

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Social media careers: The skills you need, where to look and jobs to consider

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Social media careers are taking off. Here are the skills you need, where to look and titles to consider if you want in on the action.

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Social media helps people through tough or difficult times

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COVID-19 poses so many challenges to businesses struggling to stay afloat in these uncertain times.

For her SEJ eSummit session, Mary Davies, President of Beanstalk Internet Marketing, will share tips on how to use social media to build strong connections and long-lasting relationships with your user base and customers that will stand the test of time.

Here's a recap of her presentation.

Connecting with people and focusing on the human element can create brand loyalty that lasts not only through the tough times but for years to come.

Here are three ways businesses can achieve this.

1. Be a Person

Talk with - Not at - Your Followers

Followers are friends, not "food."

Remember that you're going to connect with them as a person.

You're neither going to gobble them up nor try and sell them stuff all of the time.

One great way to do this is to talk with - not at - your followers.

Social media is their space, not yours.

You are simply a guest and you need to be respectful of that as a brand.

This is a space where people like to get together, share pictures of their babies, look at cat videos, post what they ate for dinner, and the like.

This is not a space that people go to to be sold.

We do have ads that we'll throw at them, but that's not what they're there for.

Implement a 50/50 rule: half of your content is connection-based and the other half is promotional.

To to find this balance, try putting:

Your sales pushes in your paid ads.

Connection type content in your profile or page.

You can go a little heavy on that sales pitch when you're in the ad space. People are expecting that.

But when they come onto your page, you want to create an environment that they actually want to be a part of, seek out, and want to communicate with.

You can do that by:

Having discussions about tips on certain topics.

Hosting contests.

Posting fun, engaging content that people will want to comment on.

Empathize & Relate to Struggles & Frustrations

When we're being a person, we also need to take the time to empathize and relate to struggles and frustrations.

Social media has a lot of complaining in it.

There are plenty of people who have a lot of big feelings about what went wrong.

You need to make sure that when you're experiencing that as a social media manager, you have to try and take the time to find those areas where you can connect and relate to them.

This will help make them feel like they're being heard and that you're not just the brand.

They're actually talking to a person on the other end.

If we take the time to let them know that we understand and that we're relating, it breaks that barrier.

We can have a communication that can create long-lasting, actual connections and relationships.

Also, keep in mind that your long day is not their problem.

They're probably having a long day when they're having their rant.

There are times when you're probably feeling the same and you're not really in the mood for it.

But when you're on the business side, it's your job to take a step back and to make sure that you're representing the business well and taking the time to relate to the struggle that they're experiencing.

Here's an example of how we can form that strong connection when we take some empathy and relate to a struggle.

In their recommendation, a customer commented "super fast shipping even during tough times."

Similar to what the business did, you can take this opportunity, not just say thank you, but also relate to them.

This is a time where we can go, Hey, I am a person and yes, I'm struggling just like you. And we're in this together.

Be a Part of the Group/Discussion

Comment on and like/love user comments and reviews.

It's a way to acknowledge the time they've taken to communicate with your brand.

Knowing and using their language is also a good way to be part of the discussion.

Also, remember to let loose. A little humor goes a long way - and your followers will appreciate that.

Use Wording That Reinforces That You're a Person

You can do this by:

Using personalized salutations (e.g., "Thanks for sharing your photo with us Mary!")

Using terms like "community", "group", "family", etc. (e.g., "We are so grateful for our amazing community!")

Introducing yourself and use your name in messaging (e.g., "Hi Dave! It's Mary here, how can I help you?")

Talk to Them Where They Are

Leave your own profile and "like" their posts when you're able to.

Be a part of the larger community via sponsoring or donating to events, contests etc.

2. Be a Source of Joy

Many people are probably already tired of the negativity all around.

Try to contribute in making social media a happy, positive space.

Here's how.

Offer People the Chance to Participate in Positivity

At the beginning of the pandemic, some brands became hesitant to be push out contests.

This is what happened to one of Davies' clients.

They thought hosting a contest was too celebratory, a little too joyous, and offensive because of the situation.

But she was positive that it was something their followers would want to see.

The result?

Great responses from participants.

Never React to Negativity, Find a Positive Way to Respond

There will always be instances when customers come to us with complaints or negative comments.

Take a pause, if necessary, prior to responding.

Make sure you're in a good frame of mind so that you can come into that conversation, ready to take whatever is going to come.

Always begin with gratitude.

You can either say "Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us." or "We appreciate the feedback!"

Acknowledge each of their concern point by point.

This helps them feel like you're reading, hearing and understanding their concerns.

You also have to keep your responses simple and easy to digest.

It will help them see that you're noticing and listening to what their concerns are and you're treating each of their individual concerns with respect.

Adopt a Positive & Supportive Brand Voice

This is massively important and can be incredibly lucrative.

Even when a lot of back and forth is involved, maintain a calm, constant, and positive communication style.

Be understanding and real - customers will appreciate that.

Share Positive Feedback From Your Community With Your Community

This is an awesome way to keep that positivity rolling on your profile or page.

When people see that they're being acknowledged, they'll get excited to see their review up there.

They'll also see when they're not up there and they'll go, "Oh, I need to go write a recommendation because I want to be featured in that."

This also shows them that other people do look at you in a positive light and enjoy you as a brand.

We don't want to gloat about it.

This is different than just highlighting one review or testimonial, because that can almost look as a sales tool.

When we do it in this respect, people will see the post and think that it's a community that they want to be a part of.

3. Go Above & Beyond

Sacrifice Where You Can to Support Your Current Customers

We want to focus on keeping our current customer base happy.

Here are a few ideas:

Offer coupons and discounts.

Make one off exceptions to rules.

Offer payment plans.

Give freebies.

Invest in customer appreciation.

Highlight What You Are Doing That Others Aren't

We want to figure out the roadblocks customers are facing when dealing with competitors.

To find out what those are, you can:

Look at the comments and questions on competitor profiles.

Search related groups for competitor name mentions.

Read current Google, Yelp, Facebook, reviews, etc.

If you're already addressing those concerns, make sure to highlight that.

In ecommerce, one common issue with online retailers are shipping times.

This example shows how one brand highlights that in their social media cover photo.

What Else Can Be Done?

Mary also shared how she runs her business during these tough times:

Reducing rates for long-term clients, even free for some.

Upping services to boost clients as much as possible in hard times so they can thrive when things start up again rather than play catch up.

Being available to talk, not just about our services but as a fellow business owner who can empathize with the current stresses.

Doing everything she can to maintain the strong connections they have built with our clients, who are also "friends".

Summary

Here's a cheat sheet to help you use social media to survive and thrive in tough times.

Be a Person

Talk with - not at - your followers.

Empathize and relate to struggles and frustrations.

Be a part of the group/discussion.

Use wording that reinforces that you're a person .

Talk to them where they are.

Be a Source of Joy

Offer people the chance to participate in positivity.

Never react to negativity. Find a positive way to respond.

Adopt and consistently use a positive and understanding brand voice.

Share positive feedback from your community with your community.

Go Above & Beyond

Sacrifice where you can to support your current customers.

Highlight what you are doing that others aren't.

Watch This Presentation

You can now watch the video of Davies' full presentation from SEJ eSummit.
More Resources: Featured Image: Paulo Bobita
All screenshots taken by author

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How to Use Social Media to Survive & Thrive in Tough Times

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Connecting with people can create strong brand loyalty that stands the test of time. Here are three ways businesses can do this using social media.

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FriendMatch: A place to meet new friends

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FriendMatch is just what it sounds like - a place to meet new friends. With FriendMatch, you can find new friendships from your own city or from around the world.

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Easy to exploit children

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Today, many parents create and run social media accounts for their children. Whether this is on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or another platform, parents highlight parts of their child's life to attract followers and ultimately profit. Although many posts and videos of children seem cheerful and enjoyable from a viewer's perspective, the extensive work done by parents behind the scenes raises concerns over the well-being of children who have a strong presence on social media.

People's interest in children on social media is increasing and will likely continue to grow substantially. In fact, a 2019 study by the Pew Research Center found that videos of children under the age of thirteen receive three times as many views as videos of adults and teenagers. This alarming statistic indicates the recent popularity of children on social media. With this increasing popularity, children have also been able to profit greatly from their videos and posts. For example, YouTuber Ryan Kaji was named Forbes' 2020 top-earning YouTube star after earning $29.5 million in one year-he was nine years old at the time.

Since some children can earn a lot of money from social media, some parents' greed overcomes their morality. In an attempt to cash in on the lucrative industry, parents excessively pressure their children to maintain a regular updating schedule or invade their privacy by posting personal details about their lives. Parents may also post content about their children without their consent or demand that their children exaggerate their behaviors for the sake of viewer entertainment.

I find it very disappointing that parents are willing to put their child's well-being at risk for the sake of satisfying followers or subscribers.

- Juliana Neemeh (11)

An example of this occurred when vlogger Jordan Cheyenne accidentally forgot to cut off the end of her YouTube video when she told her son, "Act like you're crying." The family dog had been battling a fatal canine disease, and Cheyenne's son was already in tears, but his sadness was not good enough to satisfy viewers. This is just one of the many incidents of children being exploited for views, and it is certainly not the last ( ). Juliana Neemeh (11) was shocked to hear this story and said, "I find it very disappointing that parents are willing to put their child's well-being at risk for the sake of satisfying followers or subscribers."

Exposure to social media at a younger age also causes children to be more susceptible to hate comments and content. This negatively affects children's mental health, which could potentially cause mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression ( ).

Numerous laws have been passed to limit the extent of child exploitation on social media. In 1939, the California Child Actors Bill (or the Coogan Act) was passed in response to Jackie Coogan's troubles as a child star. As a child actor, he earned millions of dollars, but when he reached adulthood, he found out that his mother and stepfather spent most of his money. This law states that 15% of a child's actor's money would be placed in a trust that would be given back to the child once he or she is an adult.

More recently, the Kids Online Safety Act was introduced to provide children and their parents with resources to protect children against the harms of social media. This act requires social media platforms to put children's best interests before profit, which will hopefully make social media a safer place for children and their mental health.

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The Exploitation of Children on Social Media

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Today, many parents create and run social media accounts for their children. Whether this is on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or another platform, parents highlight parts of their child's life to attract followers and ultimately profit. Although many posts and videos of children seem cheerful and enjoyable from a viewer's perspective, the extensive work done by...

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Increases Social Connectedness
Positive Inspiration
Social Media as an Educational Tool
Supports Healthy Living
Boosts Connectivity in Relationships
Able to share key Covid-19 Data Rapidly

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Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook were created to universally connect us. These applications are an excellent way to meet new people and reconnect with old friends.

While it's well known that social media platforms can divide us, it has also given us an opportunity to make connections with others. Making the world a much smaller place.

Here are the ways that social media brings people together...

1. Keeping in Touch With Friends and Family

Many people around the world experience loneliness. It may be because you are newly single, widowed, have moved away from family and friends for work-or you may just be shy and uncomfortable with in-person interaction.

Thankfully, social media allows us to connect with anyone, at any time.

It's a great way to reconnect with people you have lost touch with and keep in contact with your loved ones. Check out our guide on stopping strangers from seeing your Facebook if you want to up your privacy settings.

2. Maintaining Long-Distance Relationships

Sometimes, life keeps couples physically apart from one another. But through social media, you and your partner can stay connected without needing to constantly chat.

You can look through each other's photos and reminisce, then connect via Messenger chat. Facebook's Messenger application also has a video call option available when you want some face-to-face time.

To use Facebook Messenger's video call feature:

1. Open Messenger.

2. In the search box at the top, search for the person you wish to chat with.

3. Click on their conversation and press the video camera icon.

Long-distance relationships are easier to maintain than ever with the help of social media. If you and your partner are separated by distance, never fear: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are here.

If you're looking for different messaging apps to try, consider checking out the best all-in-one messaging platforms to simplify your communications.

3. Sharing Pictures With Your Family and Friends

Many families live away from each other and this can be very difficult for everyone involved. Grandparents, especially, have a difficult time being away from their grandchildren. But social media is an easy way to stay connected even when you're far apart.

Sharing photos to your Instagram account is a great way for your family to feel like they are involved in your everyday activities. The platform lets you share as many photos as you like and it's easy to use even for beginners. You can add artistic filters to your photos, tag people in them, and privately chat via their message application.

Instagram can be used on your phone or computer. If you want to make a new post on Instagram, follow the tips in this article detailing how to post on Instagram from your PC or Mac. Your family will enjoy seeing what you're up to every day!

4. Connecting Through Facebook Groups

Social media has given us the amazing ability to connect with people on the internet and turn them into friends. Many strong bonds have been forged through shared hobbies and interests.

Facebook lets you search for and join various groups and communities where you can chat, post questions, and engage with other people. There are groups available for physical illnesses, mental health diagnoses, television shows, and places of employment.

If you are feeling lonely, joining a Facebook group is a perfect way to meet people who share the same interests as you.

How to Join Groups on Facebook

To join a group on Facebook, follow these steps:

1. Go to the search bar at the top of your Facebook homepage.

2. Type in a topic.

3. Select the "Group" option at the top of your screen.

4. When you find a group you want to join, press the "+Join" button. Some groups may ask qualifying questions to see if you're right for the group, answer them, and click submit.

Then, wait for your request to be approved and start connecting!

Remember to protect your personal safety: you should never volunteer information about yourself online. If anyone you meet in a Facebook group asks you for your personal information, be sure to report it to the group's administrator.

Facebook groups are an excellent way to make friends and business connections. After all, a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet.

Social media has brought many of us closer together. One of the major ways people are uniting is via social media movements like the "Me Too" movement against sexual harassment and assault, which is one of the many Twitter hashtags that have shaped history.

People who have experienced these terrible crimes have come together to tell their stories and stand up against the exploitation of vulnerable people.

The birthplace of many social media movements is on Twitter. People use hashtags such as #metoo to unite all the posts in one place and tell their stories. Hashtags have brought attention to many injustices in the world and have also bonded people together in times of tragedy.

6. Meeting New People

We spoke earlier about how social media helps you connect with your existing loved ones, but platforms like Instagram and Twitter are also excellent for meeting new people with similar interests. For example, if you have a hobby like photography, you could potentially make lifelong friends by meeting these people in real life and going for regular photoshoots.

Sports fans can similarly use social media networks to meet fans of the same or different teams, and even watch games together. The more niche your interests are, the better social media is for helping you find like-minded people. Consider trying these great social media apps for making friends in your community if you're looking to build your network.

7. Helping People Reunite With Others and Items

In addition to raising awareness for important global issues, social media is also powerful in potentially dangerous situations. For example, some people have used Facebook and Twitter to share details of missing people or pets-which has allowed others to inform the original poster if they see or know something.

Similarly, social media is useful for reuniting people with items that they might have lost-such as their house keys or wallet.

These are just a few of the many ways that social media connects us all in our daily lives. Because when you open yourself up to the idea of making friends online, the possibilities for connecting are endless.

Sure, many people will condemn social media for being a negative influence on our lives-but it's up to us to use social media as a force for good rather than bad.

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7 Ways Social Media Brings People Together

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While social media sometimes divides us, it can also help us connect. Here are some ways social media brings people together.

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A job group in the Go Up Jobs UK is a community focused on connecting job seekers with employment opportunities specifically within the Glasgow United Kingdom. It serves as a platform for members to...

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marketing is a great job opportunity

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Social media marketing is the use of social media platforms and websites to promote a product or service.[1] Although the terms e-marketing and digital marketing are still dominant in academia, social media marketing is becoming more popular for both practitioners and researchers.[2] Most social med…

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Too many bots and fake profiles

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If you use social networks on a daily basis, you will probably have discovered fake profiles on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter more than once.

These fake social media accounts exist and it is important to identify them so that their activity is ignored or even reported.

What is the purpose of these profiles?

They can be created to give voice to a product of a brand, if it does not inflict serious damage to the network.

They can be created to impersonate someone else, stealing their identity and creating a bad reputation on them.

Are you worried about having followers or following fake profiles or bots? Here we will tell you how to identify them and what you can do about it.

If you have had or have suspicions that a profile may be false, don't worry we are here to help.

We will give you some clues to help you identify them.
#1. Profile photo
One of the main indications that you are facing a fake account or bot is the profile picture. This is usually a feature of the user's profile: a logo, their brand image or the person himself.

Therefore, if you see profile photos like the ones described below, proceed with caution:

➡️ The default avatar when you create an account, which can be an egg on Twitter or a silhouette on Instagram.

➡️ A photograph of a model, which could be their professional profile, but the photo doesn't match the content of their Twitter or bio.

➡️ An image that looks pixelated, that seems to be taken from the internet anyhow, or the content is not related to the profile.

How to know if a photo is from the internet?

One option is to use the Google Images tool, which you can access here.

You just have to upload the image that you think is suspicious and see the results that Google offers you.

#2. Username
The username or nickname can help you find a bot or fake account.

The name, like the photo, is something personal. Users like to be recognized by a 'username' of their liking, after different tests. It is something that they are clear about.

Therefore, if you see a somewhat strange name, such as a foreign name or a user with numbers, it may be fake. Especially since it is common that when a username is already taken, the social network itself proposes a 'name' with the numbers.
#3. The bio
The biography, that section where users introduce themselves, describe what they do or add ways to contact.

If you see that a user has not completed their biography or has suspicious links that can lead to places with probably viruses, it is a fake profile or bot.
#4. Profile content
Another way to detect fake profiles is by the content they have on their profile. If, for example, on Twitter or Facebook they only share retweets or posts from others, it may be a bot.

If on Instagram they do not have photos or the content is of dubious quality, it may also be a fake.
#5. The number of followers
If you think that a profile may be false, the followers and following are usually indicative of it.

Take a look at the account. If they do not have followers despite having content or their followers / following are accounts without a profile photo or with strange names, it is possible that it is a fake account.
#6. The topics
It is common for these bots to appear in political or religious campaigns and, uniquely, are monothematic. They support certain ideologies with tweets shared by other users and thus go viral.

An account with a suspicious name, without a bio and with thousands of retweets on the same topic, is likely to be fake or a bot.
#7. Interaction with other accounts
These types of fake profiles on social networks do not usually have interaction with other accounts. You can recognize them because many of them are dedicated to spamming and have similar interactions.

These are some of the traits you can look at to detect fake profiles on social networks.

What can you do as a user?

How to deal with fake accounts

Social networks have their own mechanisms to avoid these fake accounts or bots. The typical 'captcha' to detect whether you are a robot or not, are an example of this.

However, what happens after they pass the test? How do you act if you think you are facing a fake profile?

➡️ Report on the social network

Social platforms have different options to report fake profiles or inappropriate content. On Twitter, Facebook and Instagram you can report the profile or a publication that you think contains something 'fake'.

➡️ Look at verified profiles

Although it is difficult to contrast fake news or false profiles on social networks, one option is to stop feeding these types of accounts by following profiles that are verified. That blue check that is usually found next to the profile gives us the assurance that it is the real account.

If you want to know how to make a good strategy on your social profiles:

Now you know how to identify fake profiles on social networks. Remember that it is important not to feed those accounts with retweets or shared posts to prevent them from growing.

We will read any questions you have in the comments below.

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Do you know how to identify fake profiles or bots on the Internet? In this post we will give you some tips to detect them.

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A lot of people get news from social media platforms like Twitter

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Pew Research Center's Journalism Project

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Digital news has become an important part of Americans’ news media diets, with social media playing a crucial role in news consumption. Today, half of U.S. adults get news at least sometimes from social media. When it comes to where Americans regularly get news on social media, Facebook outpaces all…

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January 6, 2020- Mesfin Awoke Bekalu, research scientist in the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, discusses a new study he co-authored on associations between social media use and mental health and well-being.
What is healthy vs. potentially problematic social media use?
Our study has brought preliminary evidence to answer this question. Using a nationally representative sample, we assessed the association of two dimensions of social media use-how much it's routinely used and how emotionally connected users are to the platforms-with three health-related outcomes: social well-being, positive mental health, and self-rated health.

We found that routine social media use-for example, using social media as part of everyday routine and responding to content that others share-is positively associated with all three health outcomes. Emotional connection to social media-for example, checking apps excessively out of fear of missing out, being disappointed about or feeling disconnected from friends when not logged into social media-is negatively associated with all three outcomes.

In more general terms, these findings suggest that as long as we are mindful users, routine use may not in itself be a problem. Indeed, it could be beneficial.

For those with unhealthy social media use, behavioral interventions may help. For example, programs that develop "effortful control" skills-the ability to self-regulate behavior-have been widely shown to be useful in dealing with problematic Internet and social media use.
We're used to hearing that social media use is harmful to mental health and well-being, particularly for young people. Did it surprise you to find that it can have positive effects?
The findings go against what some might expect, which is intriguing. We know that having a strong social network is associated with positive mental health and well-being. Routine social media use may compensate for diminishing face-to-face social interactions in people's busy lives. Social media may provide individuals with a platform that overcomes barriers of distance and time, allowing them to connect and reconnect with others and thereby expand and strengthen their in-person networks and interactions. Indeed, there is some empirical evidence supporting this.

On the other hand, a growing body of research has demonstrated that social media use is negatively associated with mental health and well-being, particularly among young people-for example, it may contribute to increased risk of depression and anxiety symptoms.

Our findings suggest that the ways that people are using social media may have more of an impact on their mental health and well-being than just the frequency and duration of their use.
What disparities did you find in the ways that social media use benefits and harms certain populations? What concerns does this raise?
My co-authors Rachel McCloud, Vish Viswanath, and I found that the benefits and harms associated with social media use varied across demographic, socioeconomic, and racial population sub-groups. Specifically, while the benefits were generally associated with younger age, better education, and being white, the harms were associated with older age, less education, and being a racial minority. Indeed, these findings are consistent with the body of work on communication inequalities and health disparities that our lab, the Viswanath lab, has documented over the past 15 or so years. We know that education, income, race, and ethnicity influence people's access to, and ability to act on, health information from media, including the Internet. The concern is that social media may perpetuate those differences.

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Social media use can be positive for mental health and well-being

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A new study assessed the association of two dimensions of social media use-how much it's routinely used and how emotionally connected users are to the platforms-with three health-related outcomes: ...

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Social media may be best known for hosting selfies and light-hearted status updates, but in various applications, social media is saving lives every day.

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Cyberbullying is one of the greatest issues of modern society. It is known to sometimes result in worst case scenarios such as suicides or even school shootings.

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"He was a happy laddie, not depressed and the last type of person you would think would take their life.

"We're a very close family and I just wished he had come to me and said something."

The words of the mother of 17-year-old Daniel Perry, who took his own life after he was apparently blackmailed after befriending someone he thought was a girl of his age online.

In reality, it is thought he was "talking" to an extortion gang.

The apprentice mechanic was told on 15 July to deposit thousands of pounds in to an account or images or video of him would be shared with his family and friends or the public.

Hours later, he was dead.

It is a story that sends shivers down the spine of most parents.

In an interview with the Dunfermline Press, his mother said he had "not being doing anything wrong - just what anyone his age might do", but had been too "embarrassed and horrified" to tell anyone about what had happened.

'No signs'

Three months earlier, it is reported, the teenager had been bullied on the social networking site ask.fm and received messages telling him to kill himself.

Father and co-founder of the Cybersmile website, Dan Raisbeck, says the case is "extremely distressing" and shows the horrific consequences of "online hate".

"For a person to be manipulated in their home and bullied in their own loving home which is supposed to be where you feel safe... if that is undermined, what has a child got?" he said.

"This case is extremely distressing because of the short time span. There seemed to be no signs."

Psychologist Dr Lucy Maddox said for many young people, opening up to parents about something like cyber blackmail would be extremely difficult.

Not commenting on Daniel Perry's case in particular, she said: "Trying to talk to parents, especially if it's about sex, is very difficult, especially if you think of it as something you are ashamed of.

"Shame is a powerful driver not to tell someone something, so telling a parent that you have sent a naked picture of yourself... it's no wonder they don't tell. Sexual shame is a double whammy."

Dr Maddox said teenagers were prone to risky behaviour and were very influenced by their peer group and wanted to fit in, so might get drawn in to sending intimate images of themselves.

"It's very common for young people to encourage each other to send sexual pictures," she said.

"In the short term, the teenager gets a thrill from sending the picture and feeling grown up but they do not see the long-term consequences of that picture being passed on and then feeling very exposed.

Warning signs

For a parent, the thought of a child suffering in silence at the mouse-clicks of bullies while they are just feet away, unaware, is an upsetting idea.

But are there warning signs?

Hannah Smith, 14, who was found hanged at her home in Leicestershire on 2 August, was said to have been bullied online for months.

Following her death her father David found bullying posts on her ask.fm site - but he said there were "no signs Hannah would do this" beforehand.

Mr Raisbeck set up the Cybersmile charity after his 10-year-old son was bullied online while playing a game where competitors team up against each other.

He says there were warning signs in his case.

"There was a real stark change in his demeanour, played out in my living room. I could see he was getting frustrated," he said.

"A lot of abuse and banter goes on in this game. His account was hacked. It got very nasty, out of control.

"The biggest sign for me was the intensity of the emotional response and distress. It's as good as being attacked verbally - as if someone is screaming in your face. It's like they are there in the room with them, with dad, unaware, sitting next to them."

Mr Raisbeck got his son to talk to him about what was going on and told him he should not "bite back" if people attacked him online.

Dr Maddox, a member of the British Psychological Society, says children of the internet age face the threat of bullies reaching them wherever they are.

"Before someone could be bullied at school but could go home and have respite from it, now it can go on for 24 hours," she said.

Some ask why teenagers - or adults - do not log off permanently from sites where they are getting abused.

Dr Maddox says that although staying there might bring "very negative consequences" in the long-term, there could be short-term gains which keep them there.

"It's a hook that keeps people there. If they are getting loads of 'likes' for a picture or even one or two people spurring them on, it can be a powerful hook to stay in," she said.

"They make people feel connected and part of something and that sometimes flips, making them feel much more isolated and that the community is against them.

"That is such a powerful driver for people who feel very despairing."

'Audience of trillions'

Lucie Russell, campaigns director at the YoungMinds charity, agrees that young people might stay in an online place where they are getting bullied because they want interaction and attention.

"They feed on each other, young people feed off each other; they want attention," she said.

"Being online means they are getting attention and there is an audience of trillions."

According to a recent report from the NSPCC, almost one in five children who use social networking sites had bad experiences online last year, including bullying, unwanted sexual messages and cyber stalking.

Ms Russell says the media likes to present the situation as one of "goodies and baddies", but that the reality is often more complicated.

"The people doing it [bullying and trolling] can also be victims themselves," she said.

"We say trolls are the baddies but it's more nuanced than this."

Bronagh received support from the NSPCC's ChildLine after she was bullied online when she was 13 and says the person who bullied her went on to suffer too.

In an account she gave through the charity, she described how accepting a casual acquaintance as a contact on a social network led to a stream of attacks.

"He started saying really nasty things about me and about my family. The first time it happened I just logged off, but it kept happening.

"He'd say horrible things about how I looked. He called me fat and ugly... he said I should want to kill myself.

Bronagh said she did not talk to her family about the problem, even though she knew they would be supportive, because the boy was saying nasty things about them. She confided in her friends and one of them challenged the boy online.

"He blamed me. I logged back on and he showed me these red marks on his neck over the webcam, and said that he'd tried to hang himself because of what I'd said about him. Then I started to feel like it was all my fault.

"I brought it to an end by permanently blocking him and I found out he was creeping [another site] to find out about me, so I changed my settings.

"Now I just wish I'd done it sooner - that I'd cut him off straight away and not let him get to me."

'Emotional cost'

Often excluded from the teenage world, what can parents do to help their children?

Lucie Russell from YoungMinds said: "We have no idea what they are doing in their rooms and how many things can you block?

"The answer is not to close these sites down but to help young people develop resilience and understanding of themselves and their needs, and to help them find ways of meeting those needs in a better way."

"The internet is our kids pavement," says Cybersmile co-founder Dan Raisbeck.

"They are learning their social dynamics on the internet and staying abreast of that as a parent is difficult.

"Engaging with a teenager about the colour of their socks can be impossible at times, so prying into their internet habits is going to be difficult, but parents need to engage more with them and support them.

He believes everyone has a responsibility to "get rid of online hate".

"Schools, authorities and the companies themselves have to do their bit and make sure that the message gets across so this behaviour is seen to be wrong and socially unacceptable," he said.

"We need to have a massive campaign showing the real emotional cost of losing someone through this and how it happens.

"I count myself quite lucky that I managed to engage with my kid before it went too far - and that's where parents need to be."

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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"He was a happy laddie, not depressed and the last type of person you would think would take their life. "We're a very close family and I just wished he had come to me and said something."

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The rise of fake news

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View Fake News and Cyber Propaganda: The Use and Abuse of Social Media

When the term "fake news" comes up, people usually think of social media posts with rather fantastic, implausible stories. While posts shared on social media is its most visible aspect, there is so much more to fake news than exaggerated article titles on social media feeds.
Fake News and Cyber Propaganda
Fake news may seem new, but the platform used is the only new thing about it. Propaganda has been around for centuries, and the internet is only the latest means of communication to be abused to spread lies and misinformation.

The fire triangle represents the three elements a fire needs to burn: oxygen, heat, and a fuel. Similarly, fake news requires three different items to succeed. These collectively represent the Fake News Triangle: without any one of these factors, it is unable to spread and reach its target audience.

Figure 1. The Fake News Triangle

The first requirement: tools and services for manipulating and spreading the message across relevant social media networks, many of which are sold in various online communities from across the globe. A wide variety of tools and services are available; some are relatively simple (paid likes/followers, etc.), while some are more unusual-some services promise to stuff online polls, while some force site owners to take down stories. In any case, the tools and services for social media promotion are readily available, both inside and outside the underground scene.

Of course, for these tools to be of any use, social networks have to exist as a platform for spreading propaganda. With people spending more time on these sites as a way to get the latest news and information, their importance in spreading fake news cannot be underestimated. However, there's a difference between simply posting propaganda and actually turning it into something that the target audience consumes. We show what kinds of techniques are used by spammers in order to lure users into viewing their stories.

Studying social media also gives us a view of the relationships between bots and the recipients of social media promotion on Twitter. This gives us an idea of the scope and organization of the campaigns that attempt to manipulate public opinion.

Finally, propaganda campaign always comes with the question: why. We discuss the motivations behind fake news: sometimes it's simply a desire for monetary gain via advertising. In other cases, the goals can vary from the criminal to the political. Regardless of the motive, the success of any propaganda campaign will ultimately be based on how much it affects the real world.
Case Studies
To show the effectivity of these campaigns, our paper includes various case studies that show how various actors would use tools for spreading fake news for their own ends. Our case studies include:

The specific tools for each campaign are not particularly different-bought followers/fans, likes, reposts, comments, videos. Some campaigns may find it worthwhile to buy "high quality" versions of these products, which are theoretically harder to detect by the social media networks.

Figures 2-4. Various uses of fake news
Countermeasures
Governments, companies, and users are all waking up to how serious public opinion manipulation-as manifested in "fake news"-can be.

Governments are starting to recognize that fake news is something that must be actively fought. Various government agencies are now setting up services to debunk stories that they consider to be false. They are also considering imposing regulations and punishing sites that do publish misinformation.

The targets of these new regulations would include social networking services. This would make fake news very bad for business indeed, and so they're taking steps to fight it. The steps being taken include the suspension of bot/suspicious accounts, adding features to allow users to report fake news, and hiring more personnel to help deal with these reports.

In the end, however, it comes down to educated users. Our paper discusses some of the signs of fake news, in the hope that readers will be able to determine for themselves how to spot fake news. Our paper also discusses the psychology of fake news-what makes these campaigns work and how they're able to convince people-in the hope that awareness of these techniques will empower readers to resist them.

For more details on the aspects of fake news and cyber-propaganda, read the research paper: The Fake News Machine: How Propagandists Abuse the Internet and Manipulate the Public.

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Fake News and Cyber Propaganda: The Use and Abuse of Social Media

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This research paper explores the tools and methods used to spread fake news and manipulate public opinion: the services that enable them, their appearance on social media sites, and the motivations behind these activities.

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Some other negative effects of social media includes, mental health. being on social media for too long can cause you to feel drained or tired, you're seeing everyone else lives, people living their dreams it can really make you feel worthless.

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If you can't imagine your life without social media, you've probably fallen victim to the strong power that social networking sites have over the public. Chances are that you've also experienced some of the negative effects social media has on people.

Unfortunately, the bad effects of social media are all too real for a lot of us. Let's look at the negative impacts of social media on real people, so you can recognize these symptoms and get help if needed.

You might be surprised to learn that the negative effects of social media are both physical and mental. They can change your perception of the world and yourself. While social media does have some positive effects, and there are certainly positive social media stories, it also has a lot in the drawback column.

Don't believe this? Read on for a list of social media's negative effects. If you recognize any of them as issues in your own life, it may be time to reduce your usage or even stop using social media altogether.

1. Depression and Anxiety

Do you spend several hours per day browsing through social media? Spending too long on social networking sites could adversely affect your mood. In fact, chronic social users are more likely to report poor mental health, including symptoms of anxiety and depression.

It doesn't take much thinking to figure out why. Social media lets you see the carefully selected best parts of everyone else's lives, which you then compare to the negatives in your own life (that only you see). Comparing yourself to other people is a sure path to anxiety and unhappiness, and social media has made this much easier to do.

So how do you use social media without causing yourself psychological distress? If you turn to the same research (and common sense), the recommended amount of time you should spend on social networks is around half an hour per day. As with many other potential ills in life, it's all about moderation.

If you find yourself upset after a social media session, also consider the networks you use and the people you follow. You're much more likely to feel anxious after reading political arguments and doomsday news than you are after seeing fun updates from your favorite musicians or photos of your friends' pets.

2. Cyberbullying

Before social media, bullying was something that was only possible to do face-to-face. However, now people can bully others online-anonymously or not. Today everyone knows what cyberbullying is, and most of us have seen what it can do to a person.

While social media makes it easier to meet new people and make friends, it also enables cruel people to tear into others with little effort. Perpetrators of bullying can use the anonymity that (some) social networks provide to gain people's trust and then terrorize them in front of their peers. For instance, they might create a fake profile and act friendly to a classmate, then later betray and embarrass them online.

These online attacks often leave deep mental scars and even drive people to hurt themselves or take their own lives, in some cases. And as it turns out, cyberbullying doesn't just affect kids. Adults can become victims of online abuse, too. Since screens hide our faces, you can end up being a jerk on social media and other websites without even realizing it.

Learn how to make your Instagram profile more private, and apply the same advice to other social networks, if you suffer from this issue.

3. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is a phenomenon that became prominent around the same time as the rise of social media. Unsurprisingly, it's one of the most widespread negative effects of social media on society.

FOMO is just what it sounds like: a form of anxiety that you get when you're scared of missing out on a positive experience that someone else is having. For example, you might constantly check your messages to see if anyone has invited you out, or focus on your Instagram feed all day to make sure that nobody is doing something cool without you. You may also see pictures of something fun that your friends were able to do, feeling left out that you couldn't go because you had another responsibility.

This fear receives constant fuel from what you see on social media. With increased social network use, there's a better chance for you to see that someone is having more fun than you are right now. That's exactly what causes FOMO, so if you're prone to this, know how to prevent FOMO when using social media (or cut back on using it altogether).

4. Unrealistic Expectations

As most people are probably aware, social media forms unrealistic expectations of life and friendships in our minds.

Most social media sites have a severe lack of online authenticity. People use Snapchat to share their exciting adventures, post about how much they love their significant other on Facebook, and load up their Instagram page with heavily staged photos.

But in reality, you have no way of knowing whether this is all a farce. While it looks great on the surface, that person could be in massive debt, on bad terms with their significant other, or desperate for Instagram likes as a form of validation.

One simple way out of this mess is for everyone to quit lying on social media. But in the era of Instagram influencers and YouTubers who earn millions from being inauthentic, that isn't going to happen anytime soon.

Remember an important adage: you should not judge your everyday life against the highlights of someone else's.

5. Negative Body Image

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Speaking of Instagram celebrities, if you look at popular Instagram accounts, you'll find unbelievably beautiful people wearing expensive clothes on their perfectly shaped bodies.

And to nobody's surprise, body image is now an issue for almost everyone. Of course, seeing so many people who are supposedly perfect (according to society's standards) on a daily basis makes you conscious of how different you look from those pictures. And not everyone comes to healthy conclusions in this situation.

It's really important to remember that everybody is human. No one wakes up every day looking like a supermodel, and while many people have gone to great lengths to train their bodies, that's not the case for everyone who looks fit. Many people, in search of social media fame, have definitely taken unhealthy routes to appear more attractive.

Surround yourself with people who love you for who you are, and you won't have to stress about fake Instagram beauty.

6. Unhealthy Sleep Patterns

On top of increasing the cases of anxiety and depression, another bad thing about social media is that spending too much time on it can lead to poor sleep. Numerous studies have shown that increased use of social media has a negative effect on your sleep quality.

If you feel that your sleep patterns have become irregular, leading to a drop in productivity, try to cut down on the amount of time you browse social media.

This is especially the case when using your phone in bed at night. It's all too easy to tell yourself that you'll spend five minutes checking your Facebook notifications, only to realize an hour later that you've been mindlessly scrolling through some nonsense on Twitter you don't even care about.

Don't let social media algorithms, which are designed to keep your attention for as long as possible, steal your valuable sleep too. Getting less sleep, combined with that sleep being lower quality, is a dangerous, unhealthy combination.

7. General Addiction

Social media can be more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol. It has a powerful draw for many people that leads to them checking it all the time without even thinking about it.

If you're not sure whether you're addicted to social networks, try to remember the last time you went a full day without checking any social media accounts. Do you feel rejected if someone unfollows you? And if your favorite social networks completely disappeared tomorrow, would the absence make you feel empty and depressed?

At the end of the day, social media sites want to keep you scrolling for as long as possible so they can show you lots of ads and make more money. Because of the attention economy, these sites need your eyes on them for as long as possible. Apps like TikTok feed you a constant barrage of quick videos that destroy your attention span over time.

Just because you've been going overboard on social media use doesn't mean you necessarily need to wipe out all your social networking accounts. However, if you think quitting is the best solution for you, it isn't a bad idea. See our guide to quitting social media for good if you'd like help.

As with everything else, there are good and bad aspects of social media. We've discussed some of the negative impacts social media has for many, but you're the one who must decide whether there's more help or harm in it for you personally.

If you find that social media is having a negative impact on your life, stop using it. However, if you decide to stay, there are ways to waste less time on social media, and thus maintain a healthier relationship with it.

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7 Negative Effects of Social Media on People and Users

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If you're a heavy social media user, it's wise to think about the negative impacts of social media on you and your peers.

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There are so many relationship scams are now online where people catfish as others using fake profiles to scam lonely people out of their money. There are also a variety of other ways people catfish online with different motivations.

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By Larry Magid
This post first appeared in the Mercury News

You may have heard about the horrible recent case where a man traveled from Virginia to Riverside, California, to meet with a teenage girl who he "catfished." The girl, who was driven away by the suspect, was unharmed, and the suspect was killed in a shootout with police, but not before he had murdered three of the girl's relatives. In a press release, the Riverside Police Department said the suspect, Austin Lee Edwards, "had met the female teenager through the common form of online deception known as 'catfishing,' where someone pretends to be a different person than they actually are. It is believed Edwards had developed an online relationship with the teen and obtained her personal information."
Origins of 'catfishing'
The term catfishing was popularized by a 2010 documentary film called Catfish, whose producer was in an online relationship with what he thought was an attractive young woman, only to later find out that person he was communicating with what not who she said she was and used another person's photograph to represent herself. The producer, Nev Schulman, later hosted and produced an MTV series called Catfish: The TV Show. The term was derived from a quote from the original Catfish movie where someone says that having live catfish in the same tank as cod would keep the cod healthier when being transported. The metaphor may be based on a myth, but it caught on when the husband of the catfisher in Schulman's film said, "There are those people who are catfish in life, and they keep you on your toes."
Consequences
Catfishing can result in disappointment and broken hearts, but - as in the case in Riverside - it can also end in tragedy. And there are a lot of other potential harms, including financial fraud, sextortion and, of course, predatory sexual behavior toward adults and minors.

In most cases, catfishing involves using a false identity to start an online relationship. It can occur in dating apps, on social media or via messaging or email.

What happens next depends on the skills of the catfisher and the vulnerability of the victim. In some cases, the relationship is strictly online and never results in any in-person meetings or exchange of money or favors. But it can be part of a financial scam, and there are cases where the catfisher and met up with and assaulted the victim.
Many people are targeted
I've never been a victim of catfishing, but - like many people - I'm pretty sure I've been targeted. I occasionally get text or WhatsApp messages or messages on social media with a picture of an attractive woman who says she wants to get to know me. I'm married and have no interest in an outside romantic relationship, but regardless, the chances of a stranger randomly messaging you with the serious intent of establishing a relationship or even going on a date are slim to none. That's not the case on dating apps where the whole purpose is to meet new people, but it's very likely the case when you get messages or emails from strangers.

Those "women" who are writing to me may or may not be female, but whoever they are, the picture they're sending probably isn't them, and their interest in me is far more likely to be related to scamming me out of money than engaging me in a real relationship.
Catfishing clues
If you do start communicating with a stranger online, even if it's through a legitimate dating app, look for telltale signs. One of the main signs is the person avoiding a video call or an in-person meeting. Another sign is them not having an online presence or - if they have a social media account - very few friends or followers or an account that was recently set up.

You can't always tell if their picture is them or someone else, but sometimes they look too good to be true, or the photo looks like it was professionally taken. You can try a reverse image search on Google or another service which may - or may not - reveal if it's a professional picture, possibly of a model. On Google, go to images.google.com, click on the camera icon and upload the photo. If it's a stock image, it might tell you where it came from, but don't rely on this. It could be a photo of the catfisher's friend or relative or something they downloaded from someone else's social media profile.

Be very suspicious if the person asks for money or sexually explicit or suggestive pictures or videos. Years ago, I got a call from a friend who told me he'd been chatting online with a woman from the Philippines who asked him for money so she could buy a plane ticket to visit him. Fortunately, he heeded my advice and cut "her" off.

Sextortion schemes are increasingly common. The person might offer to send you an intimate image of themself in exchange for one of you. Once they get your picture, they might threaten to post it online or send it to your friends and family if you don't send them money. The picture they send you is probably one they downloaded, and that "person" could very well be part of an organized crime scheme in a foreign country, which makes it very hard for US authorities to catch and prosecute them.
If you do meet up with someone
Again, there are legitimate dating services, and there could be times when you have had a long-term online relationship via social media with mutual friends, and you do want to meet that person in real life. If so, please follow the advice in ConnectSafely's Quick-Guide to Online Dating, including:

Make sure the first meeting is in a public place, like a restaurant.

Let others know where you're going to be.

Bring your fully charged cell phone and keep in contact with a friend during the date.

Limit your use of alcohol or drugs.

Arrange your own transportation to and from the first meeting.

Consider using a tool from the service or a third party (like URSafe) that can help protect you during the date by tracking your location and allowing you to get help easily without having to make a call.

Resist any pressure to go home with the person or invite them into your home during that first date.

As with many aspects of internet safety, a bit of critical thinking can go a long way toward protecting you against catfishing and other scams.

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What is Catfishing and Why It's Dangerous - ConnectSafely

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Catfishing can result in disappointment and broken hearts, but -- as in the case in Riverside -- it can also end in tragedy.

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Used stuff for sale in North Lanarkshire | Gumtree

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Find the latest stuff for sale in North Lanarkshire on Gumtree. See used items for sale from clothes,electricals, furniture to tickets and more.

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Show how big the problem of bullying is

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Research and studies into levels of online bullying.

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you can be cyberbullied on any social media platform like Instagram or X (twitter)

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My Name is Lucie, I am in 10th grade and I am writing this to share a story about my cyberbullying experience so that other people can see that they are not alone and hopefully learn from my experience.

In January, there was a big party at a place called LIFE that a lot of the girls and boys in my grade were going to. I really wanted to go but had other plans made for that night. I was so upset that I couldn't go, I wrote a mean post on my spam account on Instagram that was immature, angry and rude directed to some of the people going to this party. Rather than accepting that I couldn't go, I made it seem like I didn't want to go in the first place. About a month later, a girl in my grade somehow came upon this post and shared it with other kids in our grade. People started to say terrible things about me while I was within earshot. Hearing this, I decided to go up to 4 or 5 of the girls and apologized immediately for the post and tried my best to make things right. They all said that they understood and that was the last I heard of it for the time being.

Fast forward 6 months later and I posted a photo of myself on Instagram with the caption "Life is good". A bunch of people including a boy I previously was hanging out with attacked this post with really mean and rude comments about me. I was so upset that I privately texted the girl who seemed to be leading these comments asking her why she was writing these hurtful things and she replied by saying "it's a joke and we are just having fun." She then continued to write more mean things about me and even made a post about me on her spam account, purposefully so I could see it. She threatened me saying "I deserved this" and that she would hurt me and live stream it for other people to watch. I was scared and devastated when students from my grade who I thought were my friends commented about how funny she was and how annoying I was. People from other schools that I didn't know even chimed in! I felt attacked and all alone. My close friends tried to comfort me privately, but no one had the courage to actually defend me on social media. I had this horrible sinking feeling of everyone hating me and talking about me behind my back. Some of my sympathetic friends even wrote to me that they would "hang themselves" if people were writing these kinds of things about them. I was so confused and sad that I decided the right thing to do was tell my mom and my family. My mom reached out to my school advisor who reminded us that my school has a code of conduct policy that includes a cyberbullying section that all student sign.

It states - "Definition - Bullying is the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, or emotional, or physical well-being; or conduct, verbal threats, intimidation, or abuse that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety. Cyberbullying, including electronic comments posted in e-mails or instant messages, or on social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter, or in blogs, etc. The School encourages all members of the school community to report all incidents of bullying, regardless of who the offender may be. The School will take prompt, reasonable action to prevent, investigate, and remedy bullying. Any student who believes that he or she has been the victim of bullying shall report the incident(s) to the Principal, Grade-Level Dean, Advisor, Counselor, School Nurse, or School Psychologist."

We all came to the decision that this was actual cyberbullying and decided to report this incident to ensure my safety and to try and better our school community and educate others about cyberbullying.

I then left for summer camp for 3 weeks without my phone and got to escape the toxic social media world. When I returned, I learned that the school had contacted the mother of this girl. She defended her actions by sharing with them a screenshot of the mean post that I had written way back in January. Although I didn't know it, what I had written came back to haunt me and she said it is the reason she decided to write those terrible thing about me on social media.

I have thought about this a lot and realize now how important it is to be careful about what you put online. I have learned that even though people forgive and forget, things stay on the internet forever and can come back to haunt you later in life. It is my hope that my story will help other people to understand that even if you feel like an innocent victim, there are always two sides to every story. The internet is definitely not the right place to let your emotions and angry feelings towards a person or situation out. I was very hurt by this experience and I know many of the other people involved have also been hurt and upset. Recently, the girl who wrote all those things about me and I got together. She apologized to me for the things she had posted and we decided that moving forward we would both do our best to look out for each other and only spread kindness out on social media. To anyone going through this, remember you are not alone. Don't be afraid to ask for help and to share your story, look at your own actions and do not say negative things on the internet and get caught in the moment. It can and will get better I promise.

If you are affected by bullying online we can help! Visit our Cyberbullying and Online Abuse Help Center or you can use our Total Access Support section to find the best way for us to help you for your particular problem. For further information about Cybersmile and the work we do, please explore the following recommendations.

Have you been involved in a cyberbullying situation similar to Lucie? Tweet us @CybersmileHQ or email your story to [email protected].

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Lucie shares her own cyberbullying story which highlights the importance of thinking carefully about what you post because, once it's out there - you can never take it back.

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Shows how social media can divide us

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People have never been more connected than they are today. The internet, social media networks, and other technologies allow us to instantly send messages across the world, and learn about breaking news as it happens.

With such expansive networks, Americans in different communities could be connecting with each other, learning about each other and building bridges to each other, no matter who they are, what they do, or where they live. Connections that transcend social divisions, known as bridging social capital and brought to national attention by political scientist Robert Putnam, should be expanding and pervasive. But that's not the case. In fact, social media is separating us further.

We generally use social media to build social capital with people like us, a connection different from bridging social capital - this is "bonding social capital" that strengthens our connections to people who are already similar to us. It seldom connects us with people who don't fit our expectations of behavior, and it does not build the understanding and empathy that can come from those disparate connections. The creation, strengthening and protecting of these like-us tribes saps the bridging social capital that is essential to addressing so many of our problems.

Bridging social capital, that key element that traverses socioeconomic, geographic and racial lines, simply cannot be gained through algorithms set up to steer people away from uncomfortable truths.

In the past, "bridging social capital" used to be more available and evenly established in America for two reasons. First, there were many more neighborhoods and communities that mixed people of different socioeconomic classes and backgrounds. Unlike in online interaction, there was no algorithm to make sure you didn't see anyone who disagrees with you at the grocery store. Community members, by encountering each other in real life, built friendships and mutual respect and greater understanding. These relationships created the bridging social capital that binds us together and creates a sturdy social fabric.

Second, strong community institutions provided the scaffolding for individual members to build social capital and climb towards the American Dream. Churches, unions, and other community organizations were the platforms we used to interact, not Facebook or Twitter. Community organizations still exist and continue to help members climb, but there are fewer of them, and fewer Americans participate in them.

On the other hand, online communities have sorted into two primary echo chambers. Anger and resentment is present in both groups.

One echo chamber is made of elites who hoard their social capital, excluding millions of Americans from the chance to succeed. Elites have leveraged social media to protect their social capital, however inadvertently. Through social media and networks, elites have formed digital webs among former classmates, colleagues and friends, which is an immense resource but only for those who are plugged into the system. By attending a prestigious university or working at an important institution, it's possible to leverage the relationships built there with ease. But without access to these institutions, people then lack access into these incredibly helpful circles.

Some elites discount the impact of social capital on their own success. In believing that their success is entirely due to their own efforts, they resent those who they feel are not sufficiently motivated to succeed.

The other echo chamber is made of non-elites suffering from a lack of access to social capital bridges and no longer feeling the promise of the American Dream. Many non-elites understand clearly the impact of social capital access on success, and they are fed up with the system, thumbing their noses at our institutions and norms - frustrated with a game that they see as rigged. A lack of bridging capital between these groups reinforces resentment on both sides. Even in the instances when connections are made between people with different views, it only serves to solidify our differences. Read any comments section on an opinion piece.

Bridging social capital, that key element that traverses socioeconomic, geographic and racial lines, simply cannot be gained through a social media whose algorithms are set up to connect with similar colleagues and steer people away from uncomfortable or inconvenient truths. The internet cannot fix this. We can't rebuild these connections without real, human contact. The connection two people might make online is not as strong as connections made in person, especially those that are made through the course of daily living. There is no replacement for personal interaction and empathizing with others unlike you. If we didn't know that before November, we certainly do now.
This article originally appeared on Huffington Post.

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How Social Media Divides Us - The Aspen Institute

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People have never been more connected than they are today. The internet, social media networks, and other technologies allow us to instantly send messages across the world, and learn about breaking news as it happens.

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Social Media can be a great source of hate speech. People are unfortunately free as they please to spam anyone they wish with hateful messages, ranging from simple mean comments to racially profiled insults or even death threats.

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Catherine O'Regan and Stefan Theil of the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights in the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford investigate initiatives to regulate hate speech online. They highlight the difficulties of finding a widely agreed definition of hate speech and assess the legislative initiatives in four major jurisdictions to inform those engaged in the policy debate concerning the regulation of online speech around the world.

The Internet has allowed people across the world to connect instantaneously and has revolutionised the way we communicate and share information with one another. More than 4 billion people were Internet users in 2018, more than half of the global population.

In many ways, the Internet has had a positive influence on society. For example, it helps us to communicate easily and to share knowledge on all kinds of important topics efficiently: from the treatment of disease to disaster relief. But the Internet has also broadened the potential for harm. Being able to communicate with a mass audience has meant that the way we engage with politics, public affairs and each other has also changed. Hateful messages and incitements to violence are distributed and amplified on social media in ways that were not previously possible.

Through social media platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat), 3.19 billion users converse and interact with each other by generating and sharing content. The business model of most social media companies is built on drawing attention, and given that offensive speech often attracts attention, it can become more audible on social media than it might on traditional mass media. Given the growing problem of offensive and harmful speech online, many countries are asking themselves the challenging question whether they should regulate speech online and if so, how they should legislate to curb these excesses.

Hate speech vs freedom of speech
The regulation of harmful speech in online spaces requires drawing a line between legitimate freedom of speech and hate speech. Freedom of speech is protected in the constitutions of most countries around the world, and in the major international human rights treaties. Of course, we know that despite this widespread protection, many countries do not provide effective protection for freedom of speech. One of the dangers of regulating hate speech online is that it will become a pretext for repressive regimes to further limit the rights of their citizens.
The age of digital media has allowed any online speech or content to be shared by one tap of a screen without a second thought for the consequences.
In countries committed to freedom of speech, it is necessary to develop a shared understanding of why freedom of speech is important. O'Regan and Theil suggest that there are three main reasons why we value freedom of speech: because we think being able to speak our minds is part of what makes us free and autonomous human beings, for democratic reasons, because we need to be able to talk about politics and policy freely to enable us to decide as equals how to vote and to hold those in power to account and for truth-related reasons, to enable us to refute false claims.

Just as we need to understand why we value freedom of speech, we also need to understand why we should prohibit hate speech. There are two main reasons for outlawing hate speech: the first and most widely accepted reason is that hate speech is likely to result in actual harm to those who are being targeted ("the incitement to harm" principle): so speech that incites violence against, for instance, people of a particular race, sexual orientation or gender identity is outlawed in most countries, including the USA. Many countries also agree that hate speech that is degrading of groups of people should also be prohibited ("the degrading of groups" principle), because it undermines their status as free and equal members of society. Again, many countries, but notably not the USA, prohibit such forms of hate speech as well. Both freedom of speech and hate speech are concepts that give rise to disagreement, both about their meaning and about how they should be applied.

Publication of information on social media
The age of digital media has allowed online speech and content to be shared anonymously and often without a second thought for the consequences. While the act of publishing online is instantaneous, mechanisms designed to regulate speech are often cumbersome and slow.

Moreover, in traditional forms of media, there is editorial oversight from a person other than the author prior to publishing. Historically, this has often provided an effective restraint on hate speech, a mechanism that plainly does not work on self-published social media platforms.

The speed and sheer amount of content, as well as the lack of editorial oversight make social media platforms a particular challenge for regulators. Increasingly, policymakers are suggesting that social media platforms should bear the brunt of the regulatory burden: for instance, through obligations to provide effective complaint mechanisms and remove unlawful speech. The risk with this approach is that lawful speech may be removed in error, or that the general environment will inhibit individuals from expressing themselves online.
Policymakers must ensure that any regulation of social media platforms does not unduly impair freedom of speech.
The four major jurisdictions
The United States differs from other jurisdictions being assessed in some important respects. 'The First Amendment of the US Constitution prohibits the restriction of free speech by government and public authorities. There are narrow exceptions for hate speech, understood as speech that is likely to incite imminent violence.' The First Amendment however does not prevent private actors, like social media platforms, from imposing their own restrictions on speech. Social media platforms are further protected from private litigation because they are not considered publishers of the content posted to their sites in terms of section 230 of the Communications Decency Act 1996.

The United Kingdom imposes a range of criminal prohibitions on hate speech, both online and in print. The Crime and Disorder Act, Public Order Act, Malicious Communications Act 1998 and Communications Act 2003 prohibit speech that is derogatory on grounds of race, ethnic origin and religious and sexual orientation. A recent White Paper contains sweeping proposals to regulate online media by imposing a duty of care upon social media platforms, and establishing a regulator to ensure that the duty of care is observed. The broad range of companies covered and open-ended list of online harms identified for regulation in the White Paper are a particular concern: it risks overburdening the regulator and leading to highly selective enforcement.

The European Union has adopted the e-Commerce Directive which prevents monitoring of content on websites before it is published, a provision which shapes and impacts the development of regulatory initiatives in Europe. The EU is exploring further options in regulating social media. So far, it has issued a Communication on Tackling Illegal Content Online - Towards Greater Responsibility of Social Media Platforms and has entered into a Code of Conduct on Countering Illegal Content Online with Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Microsoft, Snapchat, Google+ and Daily Motion. In terms of the Code of Conduct, these companies have agreed to take down any illegal content within 24 hours.

The German Network Enforcement Law introduced just over two years ago imposes obligations on social media platforms to establish complaints management mechanisms which must work quickly, transparently and effectively. Where unlawful content (as defined by the German Criminal Code) is identified it must be removed or blocked within a specified deadline. The specific deadline depends on whether content is manifestly illegal, or simply illegal, and whether the social media platform cooperates with a recognised body of industry self-regulation. Fines of up to 50 million Euros can be issued for systemic failings in the complaints management system, including not consistently meeting the required deletion deadlines, and ignoring reporting and transparency requirements.

Future directions
Regulating hate speech online is a major policy challenge. Policymakers must ensure that any regulation of social media platforms does not unduly impair freedom of speech. Given the complexity of the problem, close monitoring of new legislative initiatives around the world is necessary to assess whether a good balance has been struck between the protection of freedom of speech and the prohibition of hate speech. In order for this monitoring to take place, social media companies need to be transparent about the content that they are removing and make their data available to researchers and the wider public for scrutiny.

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Hate speech regulation on social media: An intractable contemporary challenge - Research Outreach

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Catherine O'Regan and Stefan Theil of the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights in the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford investigate initiatives to regulate hate speech online. They highlight the difficulties of finding a widely agreed definition of hate speech and assess the legislative initiatives in four major jurisdictions to inform those engaged in the policy debate concerning the regulation of online speech around the world.

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Where people get their information

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Digital magazines and newspapers. Picture: Shutterstock

Traditional news outlets are the top sources of news for UK adults, a survey on where people in the UK get their news from has found.

The research commissioned by communications company Woburn Partners and carried out by Find Out Now surveyed 5,890 British adults in March to understand where people get their news.

Most people, found the survey, get their news from the website of professional publishers (47%), followed by TV (35%), social media (33%), radio (24%), and printed publications (15%).

Young people were less likely however, to use offline news sources. While 36% of people aged over 65 said they used print sources for news, this fell to 7% among 18 - 24 year olds and 6% among 25-34 year olds. Almost six in ten (58%) of over 65s and 44% of people aged 55 to 64 said they used TV for news, compared to 32% of 18 to 24 year olds and 13% of 25 to 34 year olds.

Younger people were instead more likely to say they used social media as a news source. Over half (58%) of 18 to 24 year olds and 46% of 25 to 34 year olds said that they got their news from social media compared to 29% of people aged 45 to 54.

Among professional respondents (often classified as the AB social group) most (53%) said that they used non-social media websites as a news source. This fell to 41% among people classed as DE, which includes semi and unskilled workers as well as those out of work, although online news was still the most-often cited news source among this group too.

Looking at political leaning as defined by the way respondents voted in the last general election in 2019, Conservative voters were much more likely to state TV to be among their news sources (48%) compared to Labour voters (28%). Tory voters were also much less likely to say they got news from social media (22%) than Labour voters (41%) and SNP voters (44%).

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BBC News most popular news website

In line with other surveys and Press Gazette's monthly ranking of leading newsbrands, the survey found that BBC News was the most popular professional publisher website for news. Almost six in ten (59%) of people who said they used news websites said they counted BBC News as among their sources.

It was followed by Sky News (22%) and The Guardian (18%). Both sites were also particularly popular among 18 to 24 year olds, the youngest group included in the survey. Thirty percent of this Generation Z group said that they would put the Guardian and Sky News websites among their news sources. More older respondents in contrast reported using right-leaning Mail Online as a source than young respondents.

Breaking down respondents by social group, the survey found that the BBC's audience skews towards professional respondents with 69% of those classed as AB citing the BBC among their news sources, compared to 55% classed as DE. The BBC was also favoured by Remainers with almost three quarters (72%) of people who voted that Britain should stay in the EU saying that they used the BBC News website. Mail Online readers in contrast were tilted towards Leave. Over a quarter of people who said they used Mail Online said they had voted leave compared to 9% of people who voted remain.

Whilst these non-social media websites were read fairly consistently (35% - 59%) by all age groups, this was lowest amongst 18-24 year olds. This group overwhelmingly favoured social media websites.

Among the 18 to 24 year old group, Facebook (60%), Twitter (40%), Instagram (48%), YouTube (31%), Snapchat (28%) and TikTok (27%) all received high percentages of usage for news demonstrating the wide and potentially unpredictable nature of the news sources for young people.

Among all age groups, Facebook (63%), Twitter (31%), Instagram (29%), and Google (28%) were named the most popular social news sources. This is despite the fact that Facebook has been downgrading the importance of publisher content on its platform and cutting ties with the news industry.

Most popular TV and radio outlets for news: BBC dominates, GB News popular in Wales

As well as coming out as the public's top news website, the BBC was also named as the top TV news channel and radio news broadcaster.

Among those who use TV channels for news, 59% of people said they watched BBC News. Second most popular, ITV News was named by 57% of respondents.

Broken down by region, while the BBC dominated across the UK, GB News which has said that that it aims to serve "non-metropolitan voices in the national conversation" was tied for popularity with Channel 4 as a TV news source in the North East and Wales. The new channel was cited as a TV news source among 10% of people in the North and East and 14% in Wales. The channel was also more popular than Channel 4 among Leave voters (12% vs 10%).

BBC Radio 2 (22%) and Heart (18%) are the most popular radio stations for news.

Most popular print sources of news: 15% use newspapers for news

While print was found to be one of the least popular sources of news among the people surveyed, fifteen percent of people said that they still consider newspapers to be among their news sources. Most popular was The Daily Mail (named as a news source by 33% of people). It was followed by The Sun (27%) and Mail on Sunday (17%). The Mail on Sunday's position high up the list of most read newsbrands indicates that a significant portion of Britons still buy a Sunday newspaper.

Among younger newspaper readers, The Guardian and i are the most popular newspapers. Over a third (36%) of 18 to 24 year olds said that they read the Guardian, while 29% named the i. The Daily Mail audience in contrast skewed older with 41% of people aged over 65 citing it as a news source.

Men were also much more likely to say they used a print news source (20%), compared to women (11%).

The survey also found that a significant number of people get news from personal sources such as family, friends and acquaintances. Twenty-eight percent of people said their friends were a source of news, while 18% named colleagues and their partner.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

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Where do Britons get their news? Publisher websites and TV most popular sources

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A survey of over 5,000 UK adults finds that names such as the BBC, Mail Online and Guardian are still the top UK news sources.

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With the age of those using apps such as snapchat getting younger and younger there is a rise in young teen girls having body and self image issues and a rise in plastic surgery to match their filters

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Teens suffering ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’ having surgery to look like their selfies

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Young people going under the knife to ‘help them appear like the filtered versions of themselves’

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Most followed people on social media

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The Top 100 Social Media Influencers Worldwide

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Influencer marketing is a great way to boost your brand. From fashion to fitness, watch out for these top social media influencers worldwide.

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The different ways to keep up to date

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The world of social media is always changing, making it more important than ever to stay up to date with the latest news developments on the top sites.

By understanding what's new, you can optimize your strategy and take control of your marketing goals. The result? Greater power over your digital marketing story and the chance to build an active, engaged audience across a variety of sites and channels. Sounds awesome, right?

If you're wondering how you can catch up on the latest social media news, never fear! Here's how you can get the inside scoop on news as it happens.

Why bother staying up to date?

Staying aware of social media news is essential if you want to make the most of every growth opportunity and achieve digital marketing success!

By watching the news across your favorite sites, you can find out about new features and learn how to share amazing content.

As you learn about platform trends and ideas, you'll be able to expand your posting repertoire and improve the way you communicate with audiences online.

Where can you find social media news?

Wondering where to find the latest news? Try these simple solutions!

Check-in on social

Sometimes, the best place to find social media news is on social media! Whether you're a Facebook fan, a Twitter lover, or an Instagram great, you can turn to your favorite social media platforms for updates on new features.

Most social media platforms run their own accounts. By simply following these, you can hear about trends, feature updates, and upcoming insights. The more you learn about what's in the news, the better prepared you'll be to turn knowledge into marketing action!

Remember to check in for updates regularly. Change is happening all the time, so follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Insta, TikTok, and more. See what's going on even in communities you're not yet a part of. A new opportunity to share great content could be right around the corner.

Read up on the news

It's time to put your reading glasses on! If you're looking for updates on social media, blogs and articles are a great place to get started. Many online publications include social media news to keep you in the know.

For the best-quality information, it's a good idea to choose reputable industry sources, where you can always expect recent, accurate data. Start your research with well-known sites like Social Media Today and Forbes Magazine.

As you read, you'll learn much more than just what social media features are available. You'll discover new content ideas and marketing tools that could help you take your brand to the next level.

Never miss a newsletter

Newsletters are a great source of information if you want to hear the news as it happens! You can subscribe to get social media news and trends delivered directly to your inbox, giving you a head start on all new ideas and features.

Many social media platforms, creators, and gurus offer informative email updates that you can rely on to prove weekly or monthly updates. This makes it easy to find what's new without wasting hours searching.

If you're looking for a good newsletter to get you started, we humbly recommend you subscribe to the Plann newsletter, where we'll provide you with all the most important news and insights, plus helpful social scheduling tips!

Switch on Google alerts

Google alerts are a lifesaver when it comes to making sure you never miss out on the news! When you switch on Google alerts for social-focused keywords, you'll receive a notification every time news is released.

With alerts, you can expect to receive updates on fresh features and news announcements, helping you stay one step ahead of the competition. Every time you hear news about your favorite platform, you can set to work adapting your social media strategy!

Try setting up Google alerts for terms like "Facebook news," "Twitter news," "Instagram news," "TikTok news," and "social media news." Every day, you'll have a new opportunity to learn the latest and put what you know to good use.

Talk to the greats

Often, you can find great features and trend updates without ever leaving social media! By turning to your favorite influencers, you can learn what's going on in the news from the people it affects most.

On most social media sites, there are plenty of chances to connect with the greats and ask questions, so you can make the most of the virtual community. When you share knowledge ideas, you can build your audience while hearing the news.

Next time you log in to social media, be ready to find out the most recent social media news. Be willing to share your point of view, and even look for the chance to debate the value of news updates and features on the market.

Tune in to podcasts

Audio entertainment is on the rise, with many social media influencers now producing popular podcasts. What's more is that some podcasts focus on social media news and how new features and inclusions could influence your social experience.

By tuning in to podcasts, you can be a part of the conversation and hear real-time social media news, as well as learn how it could affect your brand presence. The great thing about podcasts is that you can listen on the go, staying up to date wherever life takes you.

If you want to truly understand social media news stories, it's best to diversify your news intake as much as possible. Listen to a range of different podcasts that represent unique opinions before deciding what you think about the news.

Hear it from Plann

Last but certainly not least, get your social media news directly from Plann! The Plann team is focused on providing you with all the info you need to achieve incredible things. We provide regular updates whenever we discover a social media news story we think you should know.

Additionally, Plann offers weekly updates on trend TikTok and Instagram Reels sounds! This way, you can get involved and make the most of a traffic boost as you set out to grow your following. We'll add in Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest updates too!

Here at Plann, we'll always offer real talk about social media news and what it means for you. Plus, if you like what you learn, you'll have plenty of reasons to stick around and become a part of our Plann'r crew.

Want more guidance from the Plann team? Download our user-friendly app, and sign up for a free 7-day trial now!

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How You Can Stay Up to Date with Social Media News and Updates - Plann

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The world of social media is always changing, making it more important than ever to stay up to date with the latest news developments on the top sites. By understanding what's new, you can optimize your strategy and take control of your marketing goals. The result?

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Due to the decline in tv usage more and more news outlets are posting information online

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The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP)

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By David Ardia, Evan Ringel, Victoria Smith Ekstrand, and Ashley Fox

UNC Center for Media Law and Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

To print or save: download a PDF of the full report or a PDF of the executive summary.
Executive Summary Workshop Description Part 1: The Decline of Local News Part 2: The Rise of Platforms and Growing Spread of Mis- and Disinformation Part 3: Regulatory and Policy Solutions Appendix A: Workshop Participant Biographies Appendix B: Research and Resources
Executive Summary

Social scientists who study the impact of the Internet, social media, and other forms of digital information sharing paint an alarming picture of the health of American democracy. Our current media ecosystem produces too little high-quality information; we have a tendency to be attracted to information that confirms our existing biases about the world and to share this information with little regard for its veracity; and there are an increasing number of actors who seek to leverage these observations to distort public discourse and to undermine democratic decision-making.

Framing the Problems

The Decline of Local News

Technological and economic assaults have destroyed the for-profit business model that sustained local journalism in this country for two centuries. While the advertising-based model for local news has been under threat for many years, the COVID-19 pandemic and recession have created what some describe as an "extinction level" threat for local newspapers and other struggling news outlets. More than one-fourth of the country's newspapers have disappeared, leaving residents in thousands of communities living in vast news deserts.

The latest report by Penny Abernathy, Knight Chair in Journalism and Digital Media Economics at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, titled News Deserts and Ghost Newspaper: Will Local News Survive? reveals an increasingly dire situation for local news. The economic fallout from the coronavirus has accelerated the decline in local newspapers - at least 30 newspapers closed or merged in April and May 2020, dozens of newspapers switched to online-only delivery, and thousands of journalists at legacy and digital news operations have been furloughed or laid off. All of this raises fears of the collapse of the country's local news ecosystem.

Key takeaways related to the decline of local news:

The scope of the problem is far worse than most people realize. In the U.S., 200 counties do not have a local newspaper, nearly 50% of counties only have one newspaper, usually a weekly, and more than 6% of counties have no dedicated news coverage at all. Other media sources have been unable so far to fill the gap. Digital startups are focused on population-dense communities rather than the rural areas most often abandoned by local newspapers, while many subsidized public media outlets rely primarily on non-original content.

The issues facing the local news ecosystem are systemic. The newspaper industry enjoyed prolonged success due to a stable business model, but the industry's inability to evolve in the face of financial adversity and technological change has rendered that model largely obsolete. Online platforms capture a significant portion of overall advertising spending by leveraging user data. Local news organizations cannot offer the same level of targeting and have been unable to attract the advertising revenue necessary to remain financially sustainable. Many local news sources have been forced to scale back their reporting efforts or rely on third-party content.

The information vacuum left when communities lose dedicated news coverage can have wide-ranging effects. Local news outlets play an important role in informing community members about local government, elections, and other civic events. They also help to shape community views around common values and beliefs, creating a sense of shared purpose that can be a powerful uniting force within a town or county. Without a source for local news, community members get most of their news from social media, leaving them vulnerable to mis- and disinformation and exacerbating political polarization.

The Rise of Platforms and Growing Spread of Mis- and Disinformation

As local news sources decline, a growing proportion of Americans are getting their news and other information from social media. This raises concerns, including the spread of misinformation and the use of platform infrastructure to engage in disinformation campaigns. Platforms wield significant advantages over local news sources in the current information environment: the dominant platforms possess proprietary, detailed caches of user data, which the platforms use to force advertisers, users, and news outlets into asymmetrical relationships. In the vacuum left by the disappearance of local news sources, users are increasingly reliant on information sources that are incomplete, and may be misleading or deceptive.

Key takeaways related to the rise of platforms and growing spread of mis- and disinformation:

Platforms leverage user data as a key source of power over other actors. Data collection gives platforms power over users, who are generally unaware of how platforms use data to manipulate their behavior, and advertisers, who need access to a platform's proprietary data to target consumers. The use of micro-targeting is sidelining many traditional news sources, who no longer control the relationship between advertiser and consumer.

Platform dominance contributes to news outlets' inability to retain readers and attract advertisers. Local news providers face challenges in having their content seen and monetized on online platforms. Platforms are able to offer their services to users without charging a fee. As a result, consumers have become increasingly unwilling to pay for news when they can access content on social media for free, creating a vicious cycle where a continued decrease in readers/subscribers leads to even less advertising income for news organizations. Moreover, because the market power of online platforms is concentrated and platforms enjoy varying types and degrees of network effects, consumers have limited incentive to switch to alternative platforms.

The decline in local news reporting has created an information vacuum where misinformation and disinformation have flourished. Social media platforms are designed to disseminate content using algorithms that can modify patterns of individual exposure in opaque ways, often prioritizing content that provokes extreme reactions from users. Furthermore, users' self-selection of content can create homogeneous, polarized clusters and increase the diffusion of misinformation over social media. This problem is exacerbated when local news sources are unavailable to fill needed information gaps or to counteract the spread of misinformation.

Platforms want guidance as they struggle with content moderation practices and policies. Although the platforms enjoy wide latitude to decide what content to allow on their services, they are ill-equipped to deal with the problem of mis- and disinformation on their own. Several platforms have explicitly acknowledged these difficulties, with Facebook and others calling for additional federal regulation combating election interference and addressing data privacy. Though platforms are working to respond to harmful content, they view themselves as lacking the legitimacy and capacity to serve as "arbiters of truth."

Regulatory and Policy Solutions

A number of regulatory and policy responses have been proposed to address the decline of local news, the rise of platforms, and the spread of mis- and disinformation. Some proposals focus on increasing the supply of - and demand for - local news, including increased public education and expanded support for journalists and local news organizations. Other proposals focus on market-based reforms that address the growing power disparities between news producers and platform operators as well as between platforms and their users.

Recent regulatory and policy proposals include:

Educating the public to explain the work of journalists and the value of local news. This is an obvious and important step to address the public's declining support for journalism. This means helping people to better understand the harms associated with the collapse of local news, and to develop strategies for evaluating the information sources they currently use.

Empowering journalists to serve the needs of local communities. Rebuilding local news begins with ensuring that local news organizations have the resources to hire enough reporting staff and giving them the tools and training they need to succeed. This support can range from direct government funding to indirect support in the form of regulatory, tax, and other legal changes that strengthen journalism and allow local news organizations to thrive.

Reducing the power of the "data oligarchy" of Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Platforms enjoy a significant competitive advantage stemming from their ability to collect and monetize user data. Multiple solutions have been offered to increase competition and alter the power dynamics between platforms and their users. One such approach is data portability and interoperability legislation, which would allow platform users to access their data and take it with them to another platform or use it cross-platform. A complimentary approach is comprehensive federal privacy legislation, which would establish stronger consumer protections, lessen pervasive data collection and limit its uses.

Using antitrust and other competition laws to address the systemic advantages platforms currently possess. The conclusion that platforms have a significant competitive advantage over news providers has prompted advocates for local news to look for ways to use existing antitrust and competition laws to level the playing field. A proposal that has recently gained traction in Congress is to create an antitrust exemption that would allow news organizations to negotiate jointly with the platforms over licensing fees for their content. Another proposal in Congress would instruct federal agencies to presume that some acquisitions and mergers by dominant platforms are anticompetitive.

Expanding antitrust law to deal with the monopoly power of platforms. Many critics assert that new antitrust exemptions and stricter merger controls will not be enough to rein in the power of the dominant platforms and that more significant change is warranted. This includes extending the Sherman Act to prohibit abuses of dominance by online platforms; prohibiting the use of monopoly power in one market to harm competition in a second market; and reestablishing the "essential facilities" doctrine for platforms, which would impose a requirement that dominant platforms provide access to their data, infrastructure services, and facilities on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Breaking up dominant platforms by imposing structural separations and prohibiting platforms from entering adjacent lines of business. Some experts assert that antitrust and competition laws are simply not up to the task of addressing the anticompetitive behaviors of platforms. They point to the explosive growth of Google in search and advertising, Facebook in social networking, and Amazon in online retailing as demonstrating that these digital markets have winner-take-all characteristics that tend to leave just one dominant player. Because dominant platforms enjoy uniquely durable market power, they argue that reliance on traditional antitrust remedies is misplaced and that the government should impose ex ante restructuring to limit anticompetitive practices.

While many of the proposals described above face significant industry and political opposition, recent congressional hearings directed at technology companies and the October 2020 report on Competition in Digital Markets by the Majority Staff of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law recommending significant changes to U.S. antitrust law may mark a turning point in terms of support for more significant government action to limit the power of online platforms. Indeed, the antitrust lawsuit against Google, which was filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and eleven state Attorneys General as we were finalizing this report, is further evidence of this shift to a more aggressive posture by the government.

Regardless of whether the government moves to limit the power of the platforms, many supporters of local news are optimistic that Congress - and state legislatures - will take action to address the dire situation local news organizations face. "It's as if for the first time, people on the Hill care about newspapers," Seattle Times publisher Frank Blethen recently told researchers at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. In News Deserts and Ghost Newspapers, Penny Abernathy wrote that the shift in support is apparent both in the number of concerned lawmakers and in the breadth of their proposals to address the decline of local news. As 2020 ends, there are several serious proposals to direct funds to local media, and hundreds of lawmakers from both parties have written to House and Senate leadership expressing their support.

Solutions to the difficult problems we face will require a multifaceted, multi-disciplinary approach. No one lever within the market, law, or society will deliver a magic bullet. Instead, experts and policymakers will need to pull at multiple levers using a new vocabulary to talk across the different disciplines - a set of new propositions that recognize the legal, social, journalistic, and economic principles at stake, particularly the harm done to democracy if the status quo continues.

We are still in the early stages of understanding how technology is transforming our democracy and the ways we receive and engage with information. This work will require cross-disciplinary research and collaboration in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of information environments focused on the interaction of information and technology, particularly in the context of misinformation, partisanship, polarization, propaganda, and political institutions.

Funding for this report was provided by the Hearst Foundations and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

In November 2019, the UNC Center for Media Law and Policy; UNC Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media; and UNC Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life brought together experts on the decline of local news, the rise of online platforms, and the spread of mis- and disinformation for a workshop that was part of a two-day, interdisciplinary conference titled " Fostering an Informed Society: The Role of the First Amendment in Strengthening Local News and Democracy." The conference began with a symposium at the UNC School of Law hosted by the First Amendment Law Review, which examined the role of the First Amendment in creating an informed society and explored whether the First Amendment places affirmative obligations on the government to ensure that citizens are informed.

The workshop, which is the subject of this white paper, commenced on day two. The goal of the workshop was to convene a diverse group of media executives, economists, social scientists, lawyers, and others with expertise in journalism, media business models, antitrust, FCC policy, intellectual property, and constitutional law to discuss the problems facing local news organizations and to examine the regulatory and policy solutions that have been offered to address these problems. The workshop took place at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media and was co-led by Philip Napoli, James R. Shepley Professor of Public Policy at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. A full list of workshop attendees is included in Appendix A.

What follows is a report of the day's proceedings. It is organized in the same way we structured the workshop, starting with an overview of the decline of local news followed by a discussion of the rise of platforms and the spread of mis- and disinformation online. We then examine a number of regulatory and policy responses to the problems identified in the earlier sections and conclude by offering some suggestions for next steps. Throughout this report, we have included the affiliations of workshop participants when referring to their contributions to the workshop. In Appendix B we provide a list of recent research and resources available for those who wish to engage in more study of these important issues.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all of the participants at the November 2019 workshop and to members of the First Amendment Law Review who helped make the symposium and workshop possible, including Alyssa Leader, Alison Rossi, and Rachel Ann Stephens. We are also grateful to Kathryn Johnson and Isabela Palmieri for assistance in drafting this report and to Kathryn Peters and Joanna Burke for editing, formatting, and promotion. The Hearst Foundations provided funding for the workshop and funding for the preparation of this report was provided by the Hearst Foundations and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Ghost Newspapers and Disappearing Local Coverage

Although the loss of newspapers is widespread, participants at the workshop highlighted the connection between poorer communities and the lack of a local newspaper. Most of the counties in danger of losing a newspaper or without a newspaper altogether are in the American South and the average poverty rate is "substantially higher" in counties without newspapers than in counties with local news coverage.

Alternative media sources have been unable to fill the vacuum left by the disappearance of local newspapers. The lack of consistent broadband access in rural areas limits the ability of rural communities to get news in a digital format. Many communities that lack access to a local newspaper or to a reliable high-speed internet connection rely on either television or radio to provide local news. Though television stations remain on the air, broadcast journalism may not plug the local news gap left by the disappearance of local newspapers. Local television news typically focuses on either national stories or the local stories most likely to attract viewers, leading to extensive coverage of crime, car accidents, and natural disasters.[12]

The emphasis on maximizing viewership in order to bring in advertising dollars comes at the cost of local news stories. A 2018 report from the Knight Foundation refers to local television news as a "headline service with periodic forays into meaningful investigations,"[13] and those at the workshop expressed concern that television news is not filling the void left behind when local news outlets disappear. At the workshop, Melanie Sill (Executive Director, NC Local News Workshop) depicted local news stations as covering ever-increasing markets and focusing on a few big stories, arguing that "any domestic murder in America" would be considered a "local" story on the evening newscast. Workshop participants also identified the increasing time commitments for station staff as a barrier to community-level local news coverage. As television stations continue to add additional broadcasts and digital/social media responsibilities, journalists lack the time and resources to devote their attention to stories that, though informative to the community, might not guarantee maximum attention from viewers.

As the realities of commercial broadcast television limit its viability as a dedicated local news source, policymakers and others have cited public broadcasting as a potential mechanism to provide local news coverage to underserved communities.[14] Congress allocates limited funds to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which subsidizes both PBS television stations and NPR radio stations, while most funding comes from contributions from individual viewers and listeners. However, Abernathy noted that less than one-fourth of public media outlets used any sort of originally created content, and that much of the original "local news" content came in the form of talk shows that featured moderators interviewing journalists from other outlets who had covered a local news story.[15]

The decline of local news has several causes and it predates the rise of the Internet. As far back as the 1950s (and even earlier), newspapers were on the decline due to competitive challenges first from radio and then from television. But the Internet has accelerated the decline. As the changing demands of news consumers became apparent in the early 2000s, news organizations were initially reluctant to change what had largely been a successful model, which led to a lack of innovation until the situation was already dire. In addition, news organizations and the digital start-ups that attempted to supplement or replace them failed to engage with audiences in new ways, limiting outreach to consumers who viewed newspapers as anachronistic. While newspapers may have failed to evolve, a main cause of the decline of local news is the collapse of the advertising-driven for-profit business model that newspapers relied on for decades. In an era where few media sources existed, newspapers were able to position themselves as an effective way for advertisers to target consumers in a particular market. The rise of platforms like Facebook and Google has destroyed that model.

"[W]e have relied on a for-profit model for newspapers. What especially happened after 2008 is that the problems on Wall Street came down to Main Street so you lost the last of the retail advertising that was supporting the very small and midsize papers going forward."

As discussed further in Part 3 of this paper, platforms can identify the users who will be most likely to purchase a particular product or service by collecting detailed data about an individual's browsing history, purchasing preferences, and other personal information. They can then offer advertisers a more efficient use of advertising money, allowing them to target only those who are ostensibly more likely to be interested in their product. Andrew Gavil (Professor, Howard University School of Law) argued that platforms are able to offer "higher value, higher quality targeted ads in a local community." Newspapers do not have the data, and thus cannot offer the same level of targeted advertising. As a result, businesses have diverted their advertising efforts from traditional local news sources to online platforms. According to Abernathy, in some markets as much as 80% of advertising revenue goes to Google and Facebook, leaving television stations, newspapers and radio stations fighting over a fraction of the advertising revenue they once received.

"Why is Google more successful than the News & Observer at selling advertising to [a business] in Chapel Hill? I think the answer is that Google can tell advertisers, much more credibly, 'If you advertise with us, we can find exactly the people you, Joe Advertiser, are looking for, and you won't have to waste any money reaching people that don't give a damn about what you sell or how you sell.'"

-Robert Kaiser, former Associate Editor and Senior Correspondent at The Washington Post

Platforms are able to use their leverage in a two-sided market (with consumers on one side and advertisers on the other) to make advertising more effective while also undercutting other local news attempts to collect the revenue needed to stay afloat. The platforms are able to mediate the relationship between news consumer and news producer, forcing news outlets to use platform-based services to reach their audience and collecting the profits from advertisers. Consumers increasingly rely on social media as their source for news, enhancing revenue for platforms at the expense of news providers who are losing advertising income while they still bear the cost of reporting the news.

Even relatively successful news outlets who operate using a traditional, subscription-based model struggle in a platform-driven news ecosystem. At the workshop, Deb Aikat (Professor, Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina) referred to an increasingly common situation where a subscription-based newspaper (in this case, the Wall Street Journal) devotes significant time and resources into breaking a national news story. However, once the story is broken, platform-based outlets that are free for users to access report a nearly-identical story, with only a mere mention of it being "reported by the Wall Street Journal." Those outlets siphon valuable user clicks and advertising money from the traditional media outlet, leaving the Journal holding the bill without reaping the corresponding financial benefit. This situation disincentivizes remaining news outlets from investing the time and energy necessary to cover news stories, an issue that is only exacerbated in local news environments where resources are tighter.

As their advertising revenue began declining, publishers took a number of steps to remain profitable. To cut distribution costs, newspapers in larger areas reduced their distribution area, leaving communities that once relied on metro newspapers without access to a print newspaper. For example, in 1996, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sold 426,000 copies to people living in 124 Georgia counties; the paper now sells only 111,000 copies in only 32 counties.[16] To offset lost subscription income, many newspapers raised their subscription rates, which only accelerated the decline of subscribers who had become accustomed to accessing news and information on social media for free.[17]

Newspapers also began laying off newsroom personnel. The number of newspaper newsroom employees dropped by 51% between 2008 and 2019, from about 71,000 workers to 35,000, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data.[18] Abernathy reported that the large regional dailies have shed the most journalists during that time period - an estimated 24,000 - or two-thirds of the total. Many large dailies, which often had several hundred journalists on staff in the late 1990s, today have only a few dozen.[19]

Consolidation and Decreased Quality

As newspaper and television media struggle to earn the revenue necessary to remain in operation, hundreds of news outlets have consolidated under the ownership of a handful of opportunistic investors. These mass acquisitions of media companies have been aided by a decline in regulations previously intended to diversify media ownership. At the workshop, Yosef Getachew (Media & Democracy Program Director, Common Cause) identified several regulatory changes that loosened restrictions on media ownership, including the elimination of the " main studio rule," which required that broadcasters have full-time management and staff present during normal business hours and that television studios have the capability to originate content from their premises.[20] The removal of this rule makes it easier for broadcast television and radio stations to air in a community without actually having a local studio, potentially reducing the ability of a media organization to effectively cover local news.[21] The FCC also reinstated the UHF discount, a step that effectively raised the cap on how many television stations an individual conglomerate could own.[22] Getachew suggested that, due to the easing of ownership restrictions, companies like Sinclair and Nextstar hold so much of the media marketplace that they can effectively drown out other voices in the marketplace.

At the workshop, Melanie Sill observed that local newspapers and media outlets owned by investor-backed chains have demonstrated an interest in focusing more on national stories in an effort to attract web traffic and consumers from a wider audience. By expanding their reach outside a local community, newspapers can pitch advertisers on huge, aggregated audiences and a wider advertising reach. Sill argued that, by targeting a national audience, newspapers tend to focus on drawing attention and clicks rather than effectively covering a local community.

One casualty of the decline in local news coverage has been coverage of local and state governments. Napoli's study finds that the presence of local government activity "fails to generate any increases in journalistic production," suggesting that local-level government no longer demands a commitment of journalistic resources.[29] Sill also suggested that a weakening press "lack clout" at the state level, noting that legislative leadership at the North Carolina General Assembly moved the press room from the legislative building to a basement in an adjoining building, converting the existing press room into a members' lounge for legislators. This decline in dedicated coverage for civic matters of interest like government and education makes it harder for local newspapers to effectively cover their communities.

Consequences of Declining Local News

The removal of a dedicated local news source from a market can have significant negative effects on community engagement and issue knowledge. Participants at the workshop discussed several key functions that local news outlets serve in a community. First, a local newspaper serves an important agenda-setting role within a community, helping community members understand their stances on issues. Local newspapers historically set this agenda by choosing which stories are published and how those stories are presented in terms of length, tone, and depth.

Second, the editorial function of a local newspaper is crucial in helping community members express and understand their feelings on a topic or candidate. Abernathy used her personal experience to argue for the importance of newspaper editorials and endorsements, suggesting that she often relies on a newspaper to evaluate the credentials and policy positions of candidates for statewide races she may not know much about.

Acquisition of local television stations by large national conglomerates can have a similar effect on local election information. A 2019 study found that local television news stations by the Sinclair Broadcast Group shifted away from airtime previously spent on local politics, instead dedicating increased coverage to national politics.[30] This change in priorities emphasizes that nationally-owned television stations may struggle to fill the gap left when dedicated local newspapers cease operation.

Third, local newspapers encourage regional economic growth and development. While local and regional advertising dollars once helped the newspaper economy flourish, that money has now been shifted to platforms like Facebook and Google. The closure of local newspapers has further hindered any attempts by businesses to advertise locally through print media. Fourth, local newspapers foster a sense of social identity. A newspaper has traditionally served as a key source of information for communities, spreading awareness of local events and election. Workshop participants expressed concern that the disappearance of a local newspaper, which has historically informed readers about candidates in local elections, leads to a subsequent decrease in local election participation.

"Part of our work is also going to local communities and talking to them about what they're seeing in the news and we held town halls in Dayton, Ohio, in Charlottesville, in Chicago... And time and time again we've heard that... 'we don't know what's going on with the legislature anymore or a school board or what's happening at town hall.'"
-Yosef Getachew

Studies have confirmed the fear that the decline of local news may negatively affect the ability of a community to engage in democratic self-governance. A 2010 study found that respondents living in suburban Los Angeles County who had access to a daily local newspaper were more likely to vote regularly than those living in communities without one,[31] while a 2019 report shows that mayoral elections are less competitive in communities where newspaper staffing cuts are the most severe.[32] Those who continue to participate in elections after the loss of a local newspaper are more susceptible to political polarization; a 2018 study found that counties that lost a local newspaper had fewer split-ticket votes in the 2012 election than those counties with a dedicated local news source. [33]

As local news sources have declined, a growing proportion of Americans are getting their news and other information from social media. This raises a number of concerns, including the spread of misinformation and the use of platform infrastructure to engage in disinformation campaigns. Platforms also wield a significant advantage over local news sources in the current information environment. The dominant platforms possess proprietary, detailed caches of user data. This information can be used to force advertisers, users, and news outlets into asymmetrical relationships favorable to the platform. In the vacuum left by the disappearance of local news sources, users are increasingly reliant on information sources that are incomplete, and may in fact be misleading or deceptive.

Platforms and Market Power

Maurice Stucke (Professor, University of Tennessee College of Law) stated at the workshop that online platforms have captured two types of market power that are particularly relevant to the topic of fostering an informed society: a competitive advantage over traditional media outlets in harnessing advertising revenue and an information advantage over their users from whom they collect data.

Online platforms have a competitive advantage over traditional media outlets because they collect data from their users that the platform can use to disseminate targeted advertising while traditional media outlets, which do not have access to such data, cannot create that same personalized advertising experience. Advertisers view advertising with traditional media outlets, like newspapers, as a black box because there is no effective way for them to determine who actually saw their advertisements or to precisely target specific audiences.

"The Philadelphia retailer John Wanamaker famously said 50% of my advertising dollars are wasted, I just don't know which ones. What Amazon and Google have extracted over the last decade and a half is really the ability to get that 50%."
-Adam Candeub, Professor, Michigan State University School of Law

With their enormous user bases and sophisticated data collection practices, some online platforms are better positioned than others to capture these advertising dollars. A 2019 report on the market structure of digital platforms published by the Stigler Center at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business states that machine learning and big data have transformed the advertising industry to make advertising dollars work more efficiently for advertisers.[42] In their 2019 report, eMarketer explains that digital advertising accounted for 50.1 percent of total media ad spending worldwide in 2019, and most of this digital ad revenue went to Google and Facebook who, together, account for about 60 percent of the digital advertising market.[43] The Stigler report explains that these large online platforms have powerful economies of scale and scope. Platforms "can apply machine learning to extensive data sets to improve their products and expand their activities into new areas," ultimately contributing to market concentration.[44]

At the same time, what data platforms collect and how that data are used creates an information asymmetry between online platforms and their users. Charlotte Slaiman (Competition Policy Director, Public Knowledge) reminded participants at the workshop that users often do not understand what giving up their data to these companies truly entails. According to a 2019 Pew study, eight in ten American adults are at least a little concerned about the amount of personal information that social media companies collect about them and 75 percent of adults believe there should be more privacy regulation for companies in general.[45]With their enormous user bases and sophisticated data collection practices, some online platforms are better positioned than others to capture these advertising dollars. A 2019 report on the market structure of digital platforms published by the Stigler Center at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business states that machine learning and big data have transformed the advertising industry to make advertising dollars work more efficiently for advertisers.[42] In their 2019 report, eMarketer explains that digital advertising accounted for 50.1 percent of total media ad spending worldwide in 2019, and most of this digital ad revenue went to Google and Facebook who, together, account for about 60 percent of the digital advertising market.[43] The Stigler report explains that these large online platforms have powerful economies of scale and scope. Platforms "can apply machine learning to extensive data sets to improve their products and expand their activities into new areas," ultimately contributing to market concentration.[44]

Nor do users fully understand how these platforms use their data. To that point, a 2017 study, My News Feed is Filtered?, reports that U.S. college students were generally unaware how Facebook and Google use algorithms to personalize what users see in their news feeds.[46] In the study, 37 percent of students thought that every post made by their friends appears on their Facebook news feed. The students who did understand that not every post appears in their news feed were still largely "unable to explain how personalization works on Facebook."[47] When asked about how search results appear on Google, "[n]o one referenced an algorithm and just one participant used the term personalization."[48] Accordingly, as policymakers debate how best to create increased privacy protections to adjust the balance of power between large platforms and their users - a subject we discuss in Part 3 of this paper - one concern is whether consumers understand enough to make informed decisions about what social media service to use and to effectively take ownership and control of their data.

In recent years, companies that operate online platforms have also grown in size and competitive advantage as the result of several mergers, which, as Andrew Gavil (Professor, Howard University School of Law) noted at the workshop, have not always fit the types of mergers that traditionally receive closer scrutiny under antitrust law. Gavil explained that the United States currently has robust guidelines for evaluating horizontal mergers, or mergers of companies that sell similar, competing products, and less robust guidelines for evaluating vertical mergers, or mergers of companies that sell complimentary products or mergers of companies along a supply chain. However, Gavil stated that recent mergers involving online platforms do not easily fit within the definitions of either horizontal or vertical mergers in many cases. For example, Amazon's merger with Whole Foods was not challenged because the companies were not viewed as operating the same type of business. While Amazon operates a digital marketplace, Whole Foods is in the grocery industry. Likewise, Facebook's acquisition of Instagram avoided serious antitrust scrutiny because, rather than viewing both platforms as providing social media services, Instagram was viewed as offering a differentiated service focused only on photos.

Most recently, Google's proposed acquisition of Fitbit is similarly being viewed as a merger between two firms offering very different types of products and services. Some organizations have questioned this reasoning. In a recent blog post, the Electronic Frontier Foundation argued that Google's acquisition of Fitbit will decrease competition and "cement Google's data empire."[49] Though this merger may seem vertical, the effect on the market resembles a horizontal merger in the sense that Google can use the data acquired to increase their market dominance. This type of acquisition is designed to increase a major platform's control over data, allowing it to further capitalize on the market advantage user data provide. At the workshop, Gavil and others wondered whether the traditional horizontal/vertical conception of antitrust should be adapted or revisited to allow for greater scrutiny of data-driven mergers.

Despite concerns about the communication environment created by concentrated market power and mergers, Robert Picard (Senior Research Fellow, Reuters Institute, University of Oxford) told participants at the workshop that online platforms lack many of the inherent monopolistic structures that produce competitive imbalances in other areas of telecommunications. While wired telephone service providers and internet service providers are concentrated based on physical infrastructure constraints, especially at the local level, digital media operations are not constrained by such barriers. Digital operations are much cheaper to operate than other forms of media. They also make it possible to serve niche audiences or small groups of people efficiently and promote competition more so than in an offline, non-digital environment. According to Picard, production of content is highly competitive. Though a large audience may not hear them, companies, institutions, and individuals alike can produce content without the barriers presented by other forms of communication.

Even if the structure of digital platforms may not be inherently monopolistic, several issues can lead to a lack of competition in online spaces, a point that Picard and other economists recognize. Network economics theory draws a direct connection between an entity's utility and the number of consumers using the technology, which can lead to increased concentration and potential anticompetitive behavior.[50] In the same way that advertisers direct their advertising money to larger platforms like Google, Facebook, and Amazon due to their efficient, data-driven targeted advertising services, users prefer these larger platforms because they can offer more compelling and efficient services.

These platforms and the revenue streams they provide are also attractive to investors. According to a March 2020 PricewaterhouseCoopers report, 7 of the top 10 global companies in terms of market capitalization (the total monetary value of a company's stock) have an online platform component: Microsoft ($1.20 trillion) was second, Apple ($1.13 trillion) third, Amazon ($971 billion) fourth, Alphabet ($799 billion) fifth, Alibaba ($522 billion) sixth, Facebook ($475 billion) seventh, and China-based platform Tencent ($469 billion) eighth.[51] Picard suggested that the nearly unmatched financial power wielded by these platforms enables them to buy out competitors and innovators in their field, allowing the platform to bring more users into their network and increase concentration.

While a concentrated market may provide fewer alternatives for consumers and users, concentration does not necessarily lead to monopoly power. In a 2019 report by the International Monetary Fund ("IMF") titled The Economics and Implications of Data, the IMF notes that concentration in the online sphere can be "consistent with innovation and competitive pricing" as long as the market can still be contested.[52] The IMF report suggests that a competitive market relies on the presence of "nonrival data," information collected from platform users that would be widely shared to assist innovation.[53] However, private companies operating digital platforms have little motivation to share their data with competitors, and the report admits that "data hoarding" may limit market contestability.[54] Platforms are increasingly reliant on the proprietary data collected from users to attract advertising revenue and stay afloat financially, with Alphabet's most recent annual disclosure to the SEC revealing that 83.9% of Google revenues came from advertising.[55]

Social Media Companies by Monthly Active Persons (MAP) in Millions as of Dec. 2019 [56]

As platforms continue to develop new ways to use harvested user data to offer microtargeted advertising, the incentive to share data with competitors is unlikely to increase. At the workshop, Maurice Stucke echoed the IMF's concern that increased concentration among tech platforms is coupled with decreased innovation. In addition, he argued that an increase in profits among the top platforms may not be connected to an increase in efficiency, but rather a result of the platforms wielding their substantial market power to lessen competition and force parties that wish to use their services into terms favorable to the platform.

Key Takeaway As user data take on increasing importance in terms of both revenue and services, platforms have used their collection of user data as a competitive advantage and key source of power over other actors in the platform economy. Generating substantial profits from advertising, Facebook and Google are able to offer their services to users without charging a subscription fee. Data collection also gives platforms negotiating leverage over advertisers, who need access to the platform's proprietary data hoard to efficiently reach the consumers interested in their products or services. The use of micro-targeting is forcing out many traditional news sources, who no longer control the relationship between advertiser and user in the way that they once did. Surviving local news outlets struggle to attract advertisers, who can target audiences more efficiently through platforms. Consumers are also increasingly unwilling to pay for news when they can access news content on social media for free, creating a vicious cycle where a continued decrease in subscribers leads to even less advertising income for news organizations.

Facebook, Google, and other online platforms operate what economists call a "multi-sided platform," by providing services to users (generally without charge) and advertisers (for a fee). While platforms provide benefits to both ends of this two-sided market, they use their structure to create asymmetries that can be difficult to identify and control. In a 2016 paper, David Evans notes that multi-sided platforms defy typical market power and antitrust analyses, arguing that traditional economic models fail to account for the "interdependent demands" shared by users and advertisers utilizing online platforms.[57]

Platforms have used this asymmetry to their advantage on both sides of the transaction, reaping the benefit of network effects from each market. By collecting huge amounts of personal data from their users, platforms are able to outcompete traditional media and other content providers for valuable advertising income through their ability to provide targeted advertising. This advertising advantage allows platforms to force news organizations and publishers to concede certain requirements in a market that would otherwise create fairer transactions for them.

The two-sided market supports an advertising-based income model, allowing most platforms to offer access to users for "free." Though users are not forced to pay money for the platform's services, they instead must share their personal information with the platform, often without full knowledge of what they are giving up. Even when a user objects to the information the platform collects, they have little option but to stop using the platform. The market power and network effects wielded by the platform enables increased market concentration, frequently leaving the user without a viable alternative.

Market Failures in the Marketplace of Ideas

Many participants at the workshop used the term "market failure" to describe the current media ecosystem. This term, however, has a very specific meaning for economists. According to Mankiw's Principles of Economics (Eighth Edition), market failure refers to a situation in which the market on its own fails to produce an efficient allocation of resources.[58] A market failure can be caused by several different factors, including externalities, barriers to entry, lack of property rights, market power, or the inability to monetize. A market failure can be a reason for government intervention, and many Chicago School economists view market failures as the sole justification for regulation.

According to Maurice Stucke, multiple characteristics of platforms might suggest a market failure worthy of recognition. Platforms like Facebook and Google have durable market power that allows them to accrue outsized profits. This market power allows platforms to exploit asymmetrical relationships with news organizations, publishers, and other content creators, along with creating an information and power asymmetry with users. At the workshop, Stucke specifically cited the incentive for platforms to collect data and use it to gain a competitive advantage on advertising, calling the advertising and data practices of the platforms "purposefully opaque."

The differing uses of the term market failure by participants at the workshop expose an important disciplinary barrier among journalists, media scholars, and economists. This divide is important because it could harm interdisciplinary efforts to address the problems we are facing. While non-economists have used the term market failure broadly, economists use the term narrowly to refer to a specific set of market conditions. A misunderstanding around the term could lead to a lack of consensus around the challenges we are facing and potential solutions.

The First Amendment is often discussed using the analogy of a "marketplace of ideas," a concept derived from the writings of John Milton and John Stuart Mill and developed by the jurisprudence of Justices Brandeis and Holmes. Under this framework, First Amendment scholars have used the term market failure expansively to describe failures in public discourse. In his 1997 piece How and Why the Marketplace of Ideas Fails, Paul Brietzke notes the possible utility of applying a market failure approach to free speech, claiming that "a badly-informed or misinformed public [is] a market failure itself" that may be worthy of government or judicial intervention.[59] He justifies his use of market failure by noting that the theory is not "well-developed," adding that market failures "are literally matters of definition, of what we want markets to do that they are not doing."[60]

Phil Napoli (Professor, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University) wrote a 2018 article identifying potential market failures in the marketplace of ideas stemming from the decreased effectiveness of counterspeech and imperfect competition of ideas.[61] Napoli points to the 2016 election as possible evidence that the speech marketplace is not working, noting that analyses show an "unusual degree" of voters failing to vote in their own self-interest and suggesting the potential influence of misinformation and disinformation via fake news.[62] Other media scholars have also used the term to refer to the state of journalism in the United States. A recent article in the Harvard Business Review refers to the market failure of local journalism as a "crisis for democracy" caused by the market's inability to sustain the journalism required to operate an effective democracy.[63]

Economists, on the other hand, view the term market failure more narrowly. At the workshop, Robert Picard was reticent to use the term market failure to describe the power of platforms, drawing a distinction between an environment in which privately owned platforms and companies are unable to give the public what they want (which would be a market failure) and one in which privately owned platforms and companies choose to provide certain kinds of content and not others (which would not be a market failure).

Andrew Gavil, an antitrust expert, also warned about misuse of the term market failure, suggesting that the use of a specific term of art as part of the larger debate around local news and online platforms could be a distraction. He argued that the decline of the print news media has a long history that predates the rise of the internet and that the failure of the traditional newspaper business model in the face of competitive challenges from radio, television, and now the Internet, should not be mischaracterized as a "market failure." It may instead be a reflection of markets at work. Michelle Connolly also rejected the characterization of the local journalism crisis as a market failure. She suggested that the decline of local journalism due to lack of demand is not a market failure, expressing concern that inaccurate use of the term market failure could make the challenge of resurrecting local news even more difficult.

Regardless of whether the current media ecosystem suffers from a market failure, the concentration of online platforms raises concerns about anticompetitive practices. The power of online platforms is significant because they act as walled gardens for public discussion online, which is governed by the algorithms and content moderation policies that platforms utilize. Because the market power of online platforms is concentrated and platforms enjoy network effects where the quality of users' experience increases as the platform gains more users, consumers have limited incentive to switch to alternative platforms. Consumers are unlikely to leave Facebook if their friends and family are only on Facebook because other platforms cannot provide the same user experience.

Key Takeaway The rise of platforms has coincided with - and some participants at the workshop say it has caused - a precipitous decline in local news reporting. The power of online platforms is significant because they act as walled gardens for public discussion online, which is governed by the algorithms and content moderation policies the platforms employ. Because the market power of online platforms is concentrated and platforms enjoy network effects where the quality of users' experience increases as the platform gains more users, consumers have limited incentive to switch to alternative platforms. As a result, at the same time that local news providers struggle to compete with online platforms over advertising revenue, they also face challenges in having their content seen and monetized on online platforms.

The Spread of Mis- and Disinformation in Online Environments

The rise of platforms has coincided with - and some participants at the workshop say it has caused - a precipitous decline in local news reporting. This has created an information vacuum making it possible for misinformation and disinformation to flourish.

Although misinformation in media is not new, it spreads rapidly in today's speech environments on social media. According to a 2018 study, The Spread of True and False News Online, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that false news stories on Twitter "diffused significantly farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than the truth in all categories of information," including information about terrorism, natural disasters, urban legends, and political news.[66] Specifically, the researchers found that falsity traveled six times faster than the truth online, and, while accurate news stories rarely reached more than 1,000 people, false news stories "routinely diffused to between 1,000 and 100,000 people."[67] Similarly, a 2017 study found that the lifecycle of political misinformation on social media was longer than that of facts, and political misinformation tended to reemerge multiple times.[68]

According to Brian Southwell, misinformation presents a significant public health challenge. He and other public health experts noted in a recent paper that social media platforms differ from traditional media platforms in key ways that make them more susceptible to the rapid spread of misinformation.[69] For example, while traditional media outlets are relatively contained and limited in authorship, social media platforms allow "a wider range of authors," are "less formally governed," and have "relatively few regulatory controls over false, misleading, incomplete, and false-equivalence information."[70] Moreover, social media platforms are designed to disseminate content through algorithms that "can modify patterns of individual exposure in opaque ways," causing different people to see and hear different content.[71] Furthermore, according to a 2015 study, users' self-selection of content creates homogeneous, polarized clusters or echo chambers that drive content diffusion, including diffusion of misinformation, over social media networks.[72] This problem is only heightened in an environment where local news sources are unavailable to counteract the misinformation spread on social media.

Other experts suggest, however, that we should be skeptical of claims that misinformation has a significant impact on political views, noting that there is little empirical evidence showing that misinformation has had large direct effects on voter's attitudes or behaviors.[73] Shannon McGregor and Daniel Kreiss (Professor, University of North Carolina Hussman School of Journalism and Media) have written that "[i]t's not misinformation or targeted advertising that directly drives the vast majority of citizens' political attitudes and voting patterns"; misinformation is less effective than we might think because rather than being swayed by a particular factual narrative, voters "see themselves as members of social groups and then in turn choose the parties that best represent those groups."[74] Nevertheless, McGregor and Kreiss caution that misinformation is still a problem, but efforts to address it would be better served by focusing less on specific factual elements and giving more attention to the motivations, content, and drivers of mis- and disinformation.

Southwell explained at the workshop that peoples' reactions to misinformation are often driven by sociological and psychological factors. According to Southwell, humans are social beings who look toward a hopeful future. However, when faced with uncertainty about that future, people can fill information vacuums with misinformation in an attempt to find certainty.[75] He suggested that we will continue to encounter misinformation in our online environments for four reasons. First, we tend to accept new information at face value before evaluating whether it is true or false. Second, we tend to share information because it connects us with others and not necessarily because it is true. Third, although we can correct misperceptions, it is difficult to ensure that corrective information gets the same level of attention as the original misinformation. And fourth, our legal tradition preferences allowing the public to evaluate the accuracy of information after it has been disseminated rather than preventing its distribution in the first place. Southwell proposed that understanding the psychological components of how people react to misinformation is an important aspect of learning how best to combat its spread, pointing to scholars like University of North Carolina professor Alice Marwick who have investigated why social media users share misinformation.[76]

Misinformation is not the only platform-based threat to an informed public. Deen Freelon (Professor, University of North Carolina Hussman School of Journalism and Media) has focused his research on disinformation, a "sibling concept" to misinformation which he defines as attempts to sway public opinion by using morally questionable techniques. At the workshop, Freelon drew a distinction between disinformation and misinformation based on the relationship between the person spreading the content and the users or organizations that are intended to consume the content. While misinformation is spread unknowingly or without regard to its veracity, the party spreading disinformation knows that the information is false and has an intention to damage other people or organizations. Freelon referred to disinformation as "propaganda information operations" and calls it a subset of information warfare.

Other foreign governments have also engaged in a targeted social media disinformation campaigns in the United States. Freelon noted at the workshop that disinformation content has also come from organizations affiliated with the governments of Iran, China, and Venezuela. Disinformation can also originate domestically. A 2017 report co-authored by Alice Marwick, Media Manipulation and Disinformation Online, identified online trolls, "alt-right" activists, men's rights advocates, conspiracy theorists, influencers, hyper-partisan news outlets, and politicians as all playing a role in the spread of disinformation on social media platforms.[80]

Regardless of whether disinformation campaigns have actually succeeded in mobilizing activists or persuading voters - and here, again, researchers have pointed to the dearth of empirical studies showing a direct impact on elections - there is reason to be concerned that the spread of disinformation is a threat to the stability of American democracy. David Karpf, Associate Professor of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, has written that "disinformation and propaganda do not have to be particularly effective at duping voters or directly altering electoral outcomes in order to be fundamentally toxic to a well-functioning democracy."[83] He notes that disinformation "undermines some of the essential governance norms that constrain the behavior of our political elites" and warns that "[i]t is entirely possible that the current disinformation disorder will render the country ungovernable despite barely convincing any mass of voters to cast ballots that they would not otherwise have cast." [84]

Platform Governance in Flux

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has referred to the legislation as "one of the most valuable tools for protecting freedom of expression and innovation on the Internet."[88] Without the protection Section 230 offers, platforms like Facebook, Amazon, and Google would be subject to potential liability for each individual piece of content posted on their sites, leading to enormous investments of time and resources to try and inspect each item in an attempt to avoid liability. Realistically, platforms would likely be forced to either eliminate many types of user postings entirely or impose stricter limits on wide swaths of content.

In a world where online entities are largely responsible for the policing of their user-created content with little government intervention or threat of liability, the self-governing role of platforms is a significant factor in shaping the online speech environment. Kate Klonick's 2017 article, The New Governors: The People, Rules, and Processes Governing Online Speech, argues that platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter have created content moderation systems resembling a formal governmental entity.[89] In the same way that governments create codified legal frameworks, platforms create a "detailed list of rules" dictating the limits of acceptable content on their site.[90] Trained decisionmakers serve in an adjudicatory function for the self-governed platform.

Platforms frequently alter their content guidelines based mainly on external factors and influences. Daniel Kreiss (Professor, University of North Carolina Hussman School of Journalism and Media) and Bridget Barrett have coined the term " platform transience" to describe the rapid changes in a platform's policies and procedures that result from external social and political pressures.[91] Kreiss and Barrett's use of "platform transience" emphasizes the fluid and unpredictable nature of platform self-governance. Platforms like Facebook,[92] YouTube,[93] Twitter,[94] and Instagram[95] each have their own content moderation guidelines, and though there is some cross-platform consistency in addressing clear societal harms like child pornography, the platforms often take very different approaches to other content. While Facebook has repeatedly refused to regulate political advertising on the site, including advertisements that contain false or misleading statements,[96] Twitter announced in November 2019 that it would ban all political advertising, a decision that Kreiss referred to at the workshop as "part business, part public relations, and part normative desire." Twitter's CFO disclosed in an interview that the platform made less than $3 million in political ad revenue during the 2018 midterms, a total that would represent less than half a percent of Twitter's revenue ($909 million) in the fourth quarter of 2018.[97]

In addition to inconsistencies across social media platforms, platforms are also internally inconsistent in enforcing their own guidelines. Though most platforms prohibit "hate speech" on their sites, each set of guidelines defines the term differently and the definitions themselves are extraordinarily difficult to apply consistently. For example, Facebook includes "statements of inferiority" as a category of prohibited hate speech in their terms of service, an extremely broad category that Kreiss suggested gives the platform "a ton of flexibility" when making content moderation decisions.

Moreover, media companies and users whose content has been removed by a platform during the content moderation process have little recourse to contest the platform's decisions. The decision to remove content is sometimes made by a proprietary algorithm, while in other cases, content moderators determine the acceptability of content through an adjudicative process that is closed to the public and generally lacking in transparency. The party whose content is removed is often unaware of the reasoning behind a content moderation decision. Facebook has attempted to address the process by establishing an independent oversight board that hears appeals of content moderation decisions and publishes the results publicly, but the board will only examine a small fraction of the content moderation decisions made on a daily basis by the company.[98]

Key Takeaway While Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act gives platforms wide latitude to decide what content to allow on their services, platforms are anxiously seeking guidance as they continue to struggle with content moderation practices and policies for misinformation and disinformation. Several platforms have acknowledged the difficulties, with Facebook and others explicitly calling for additional federal regulation combating election interference and data privacy. Though platforms are already working to address harmful content, they view themselves as lacking the legitimacy and capacity to serve as "arbiters of truth." Inconsistency between platforms and within individual platforms has led to a muddled information environment.

Attempts to ensure better platform governance practices are especially important as online platform users increasingly turn to social media as their primary news source. A 2017 study analyzing the news consumption patterns of Facebook users found that increased polarization in online news consumption led social media users to focus on a small number of news sources and made the users more susceptible to fake news and misinformation.[101] An increase in news polarization can cause division within communities, with individuals on opposing sides of the aisle obtaining their news through like-minded family, friends, and media outlets. This reliance on partisan-leaning information sources (both legitimate and illegitimate) exacerbated an already-tense political climate. Researchers who study mis- and disinformation argued that platforms need to counter these affects by taking an active role in identifying and removing misinformation and disinformation from their sites. Without direct platform intervention, the information vacuum left by the disappearance of local news will only continue to grow.

This part highlights the regulatory and policy responses that have been proposed to address the decline of local news, the rise of platforms, and the spread of mis- and disinformation online. Some proposals focus on increasing the supply of - and demand for - local news, including increased public education and expanded support for journalists and local news organizations. Other proposals focus on market-based reforms that address the growing power disparities between news producers and platform operators as well as between platforms and their users.

Public Education

Most Americans have no idea how badly local news providers are suffering. While the business model for local news has been weakening for many years, the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing recession has further worsened the situation. As noted in Part 1, in the past two decades, more than one-fourth of the country's newspapers have disappeared, leaving residents in thousands of communities living in vast news deserts. Despite the efforts of other media to fill this void, including commercial television and online-only sites, they have failed to slow the spread of news deserts, especially in economically struggling regions of the country.

Yet the Pew Research Center reports that most Americans think their local news media are doing fine financially. About seven-in-ten say their local news media are doing either somewhat or very well financially (71%), while only about a quarter say their local news organizations are not doing well (24%).[102] This disconnect - and corresponding complacency - needs to be addressed if local news organizations are going to survive.

Public education to explain the work of journalists and the value of local news is an obvious and important step to address these findings. This means helping people to better understand the harms associated with the collapse of local news, but also helping them develop strategies for evaluating the information sources they currently use. Such efforts are aimed at creating more demand for high-quality journalism and developing better-informed consumers of news.

Media literacy is more important than ever in today's world of media saturation. A recent study by the Stanford History Education Group analyzed the ability of 8,000 students (from tweens to college age) to evaluate credible sources of news.[106] The study tested the capability of students to evaluate evidence online and assess claims made on social media. The report demonstrated students' inability to do either, noting that "[d]espite their fluency with social media, many students are unaware of basic conventions for indicating verified digital information."[107] In response to these disturbing findings, the researchers proposed exercises for educators to instill skepticism and train students to become more discerning consumers of online information.[108]

Media literacy programs range from standard education programs to online games, like the "Bad News Game," an award-winning fake news intervention designed by researchers at the University of Cambridge "aimed at building psychological resistance against online misinformation."[109] The game teaches six different techniques used by fake news producers: impersonation, emotional exploitation, polarization, conspiracy, discredit and trolling. The game teaches users to recognize fake news tactics and become "inoculated" in their own media consumption.

Educators in public schools and institutions of higher education are also teaching their students to "read laterally" -- a tool for investigating unfamiliar online sources by leaving a webpage and opening a new browser tab to see what trusted websites say about the unknown source. Teachers demonstrate lateral reading and then students practice the strategy, determining who is behind a website and, ultimately, whether that website is trustworthy.[110]

These types of media literacy training are crucial. But equally important will be bringing back a well-supported and vibrant local news environment, a monumental task that will likely take more creativity among public leaders, journalists, educators, public-private partnerships and journalism institutions.

Expanded Support for Journalists and Local News Organizations

Empowering journalists to serve the needs of local communities begins with ensuring that local news organizations have the resources to hire sufficient reporting staff and giving them the tools and training they need to succeed. This support can come in a number of different ways, ranging from direct government funding to indirect support in the form of regulatory, tax, and other legal changes that strengthen journalism and allow local news organizations to thrive.

Direct government support for local news organizations can take many different forms. Most Americans are familiar with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ("CPB"). In fiscal year 2020, the CPB received an appropriation of $445 million from the federal government. However, only a very small portion of the money that goes to the CPB has historically been used to fund local news reporting. About 67 percent of spending by the CPB is earmarked for public TV,[111] and a 2011 study by the Federal Communications Commission found that 68 percent of public TV stations provided no local news in the course of three weeks, and 94 percent provided 30 minutes or less per day.[112]

Many advocates for local news have argued that the CPB's funding priorities should be changed to encourage more local news reporting. They point out that the CPB's original mission is outdated, arguing that audiences need news about their communities, not reruns of "Downton Abbey."[113] Steven Waldman of Report for America, who helped author the FCC's 2011 study, recently suggested that Congress should rewrite the statutory formula that governs the CPB's funding decisions, directing more money to public radio stations trying to improve local news. He notes that "many local public radio stations are now pushing hard to cover their communities," and that "[i]n many cases, radio stations have the business model (member support) and reach to deliver real impact."[114]

Advocates for local news also say that both the state and federal governments should increase their financial support of local media. Free Press, a media reform advocacy organization, has argued that Congress should substantially increase federal spending on public-media institutions, including creating a $1.5 billion emergency fund for local news jobs that the CPB should be permitted to distribute to both nonprofit and for-profit newsrooms.[115] Steven Waldman also argues that the CPB's mandate should be expanded to support all nonprofit news outlets, not just public broadcasters.[116]

While support for reforming and expanding the role of the CPB has been growing, researchers at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media report that there has been no recent congressional action to amend the CPB's authorizing legislation and "amending the statute is perilous at the current time when journalism-bashing is a popular political tactic."[117] They note, however, that the CPB can receive additional funding without an amendment of the law and that the CPB received an additional $20 million for infrastructure in its FY 2020 budget as well as a $75 million stimulus supplement.

Another way that government can provide direct financial support to local news organizations is through increased public service advertising. Government entities already purchase advertising across a wide array of media and many supporters of local journalism say that the government should focus its spending on local news organizations. On April 20, 2020, nearly 250 members of the House of Representatives wrote to the President, asking him to direct more of the government's $1 billion ad budget to local media.[118] Many industry supporters argue that the government should go even further and appropriate additional money for local media advertising.[119] The News Media Alliance along with the National Association of Broadcasters and National Newspaper Association, for example, have asked Congress to allocate an additional $5-$10 billion in direct funding for local media advertising.[120]

Some state governments are also stepping in to support local journalism and to combat the spread of news deserts. New Jersey became the first state to provide public funds for local news, outside of the traditional funding for PBS and NPR stations. This initiative began when legislators in New Jersey recognized that their local news outlets were "withering away."[121] After acknowledging the growing crisis, they concluded that there was a role for state government to play in addressing the issues by allocating state money specifically to ensure that communities throughout the state could get the news and information they need to be informed about local issues. The final amount allocated towards rehabilitating local news in New Jersey was between $1 million and $2 million dollars, and will be distributed through grants to projects aimed at supporting the information needs of underserved New Jersey communities. A bipartisan "Civic Information Consortium," comprised of fifteen board members with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, will decide upon the allocation of funds.

Similarly, Canada implemented the "Local Journalism Initiative" in 2019 to increase Canadians' access to informed reliable journalism.[122] The Canadian government announced an investment of $50 million dollars over five years to support local journalism with a focus on Canadians living in underserved communities. Media outlets that receive funding from the Local Journalism Initiative will use those funds to hire journalists to strengthen local news coverage. To continue to support Canadian journalism, the Canadian government also proposed permitting non-profit news organizations to receive charitable donations and issue official donation recipients; instituting a new refundable labor tax credit for news organizations; and creating a temporary, non-refundable tax credit for those who subscribe to Canadian digital news media.[123]

Despite these efforts, direct government support for news organizations remains controversial. Many journalists oppose the idea, worrying that government funding will compromise editorial independence. Over the past few years, however, the financial situation for local news has become so dire that opposition to government funding appears to be softening. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the former dean of the Columbia Journalism School, Nicholas Lemann, argued that the local news crisis had become so severe that only direct government support could save it.[124] The impact of the pandemic and ensuing recession has brought further attention to the need for emergency financial assistance for news organization, including support through the government's Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"). After some journalists argued that newspapers should not take out PPP loans, Los Angeles Times correspondent Matt Pearce tweeted, "I appreciate the discussion, but if journalists don't get their oxygen masks on first, we're not gonna be around to help the people around us."[125]

Government can also provide indirect support for local news organizations in the form of regulatory, tax, and other legal changes. A number of ideas have been proposed, including changing bankruptcy and pension laws, offering tax credits for newsroom employment, making it easier for news organizations to receive IRS approval as nonprofits, and requiring that cable TV providers carry more news programming.

Many media companies, especially legacy media companies, are struggling with high debt loads and pension obligations, which make investing in additional newsroom personnel difficult. Lobbyists for news organizations have long argued for changes in bankruptcy and pension laws to help media companies reduce some of these financial obligations. Local news advocates have also begun making this argument as well, noting that better policies in these areas could profoundly help local news. For example, under current bankruptcy law, the courts are permitted to put only minor emphasis on whether a proposed restructuring deal is good for the community (as opposed to the creditors). Steven Waldman writes that judges overseeing bankruptcy proceedings for newspapers should be allowed to give greater weight to whether the new owners intend to invest in local reporting. [126]

Waldman and others make a similar argument with regard to reducing pension obligations. Due in part to its inability to make a $125 million pension payment, the 160-year old McClatchy Co. filed for bankruptcy in early 2020. The country's second-largest newspaper chain had long struggled under the weight of its $800 million pension debt. As researchers at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media report, McClatchy is not the only paper to grapple with an underfunded pension plan. Like other businesses with legacy plans created when defined benefits were common, many have found it difficult to come up with the cash to cover pension shortfalls. Noting that the federal government will likely assume responsibility for McClatchy's underfunded plan, the researchers suggest that firms like McClatchy should have been allowed more time to rework their pension obligations if they committed to invest in local reporting.[127]

The need to stem the tide of newsroom layoffs-and build back local reporting capacity-has also led to proposals to provide tax credits to support the retention and expansion of newsroom staff. In May 2020, Free Press issued a call to action arguing for a $40,000 annual tax credit to local newspapers that retain currently employed reporters at market wages or hire new newsroom employees.[128] The NewsGuild labor union and the advocacy group PEN America have also written to congressional leadership asking for emergency funding to prevent more layoffs. So far Rep. Tim Ryan's (D-OH) Protect Local Media Act is the only congressional measure to contain a news-specific employment tax credit (up to $20,000 for each new journalism hire), but Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) declined to include the provision in the recent HEROES Act.[129]

Other changes in tax law could also support local news. One area that nearly all proponents of local news agree on is the need to make it easier for commercial news organizations to convert to nonprofit status. Structured as nonprofits, news organizations can more readily solicit financial support from charities, private foundations, and individual donors who receive beneficial tax treatment for donating to a nonprofit. In addition, tax-exempt nonprofits do not have to pay taxes on the income they generate from business activities that are substantially related to and further the organization's tax-exempt purpose, thus allowing for a stronger bottom line for news organizations that rely primarily on advertising.

Nonprofit news organizations have become an important part of the American media ecosystem. The Philadelphia Inquirer, Tampa Bay Times, and Salt Lake Tribune are just a few examples of newspaper nonprofits. The Pew Research Center reports that 172 digital nonprofit outlets launched between 1987 and 2012, with at least 71% being formed between 2008 and 2012.[130] Many of these digital nonprofits are members of the Institute for Nonprofit News, which provides much needed support to news startups. Some, like ProPublica, produce national news, but half of the institute's 250 members are state or local news sites.

Advocates for local news want Congress to make it easier for commercial news outlets to transform themselves into tax-exempt nonprofits. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), has sponsored the Saving Local News Act, which would amend the Internal Revenue Code to clarify that entities that are organized and operated exclusively for publishing written news articles can qualify to become tax-exempt organizations.[131] The bill also exempts advertising revenues from taxation and requires the IRS to rule on news applications within 12 months.

Other legal changes would provide additional opportunities for the distribution of local news. A proposed New York bill would require all cable companies operating in the state to offer a local news channel with "news, weather and public affairs programming."[132] The legislation was proposed shortly after Verizon announced that it would shutter Fios1 News, its local news network that covers the Hudson Valley, Long Island and New Jersey. Under the proposed law, the programming would have to be independently produced; companies could not simply rebroadcast others' existing news shows. This proposal has been met with some criticism, including concerns regarding the burden it would put on cable companies to run and staff local news operations, opposition to the passing of cost to consumers, and questions regarding First Amendment implications regarding compelled speech.

In summary, there is much that the government can do to support local news. In fact, many of the ideas mentioned above have been discussed for over a decade, and some have already been implemented, albeit on a more limited scale. Indeed, there is wide agreement that one of the core functions of government is to supply or subsidize "public goods" that markets either fail to provide or cannot provide efficiently. Local news is just such a public good, producing benefits that extend broadly throughout society.[133]

The challenges facing local news, however, will require more than just increased government support. Many advocates for local news point to the need for market-based reforms that address the growing power disparities between news producers and platform operators as well as between platforms and their users.

Market Based Interventions: Addressing the "Data Oligarchy"

As discussed extensively in Part 2 of this paper, the decline of local news is attributable to some extent to the rise of online platforms, which have leveraged their ability to amass and monetize data from their users. Platforms collect extensive personal data from those using their services, allowing the platform to create detailed profiles on individual users. Platforms use this information to influence the behavior of their users while at the same time promising to advertisers that these data-rich profiles can be utilized to microtarget those users who are most likely to purchase their products or services.

This data-driven advertising has several effects on the market for news. First, microtargeting allows advertisers to spend their money more efficiently on the platforms; accordingly, the money advertisers once spent on advertising through newspapers, television and radio is now directed to platforms. 2019 marked a major milestone as digital ad spending in the United States was expected to surpass advertising spending through traditional media.[134] The shift in advertising spending has been especially disastrous for newspapers, which saw advertising revenues decline 62% between 2008 and 2018 from $37.8 billion to $14.3 billion.[135]

With a rich revenue stream from advertising, platforms are able to offer their services to users without charging a fee, giving platforms a significant advantage over subscription-based news entities in terms of acquiring users/viewers/readers. The network effects that arise from this increase in users further solidify a platform's competitive advantage and the subsequent disappearance of local news sources, which have been starved for advertising dollars, leaves users without viable alternatives for finding local news and other information.

Multiple solutions have been offered to help break up what many observers call a "data oligarchy" (made up of Google, Facebook, and Amazon) that is undercutting the revenue streams for news organizations. One approach is data portability and interoperability legislation, which would allow platform users to access their user data and take it with them to another platform. At the workshop we held, Adam Candeub (Professor, Michigan State University College of Law)compared the idea of data portability to the concept of phone number portability, which allowed individuals to take their old phone number with them when they changed phone providers and significantly increased competition in phone service. Charlotte Slaiman (Competition Policy Director, Public Knowledge) argued that to be effective, data portability must be combined with interoperability, which would allow users to communicate across platforms and networks rather than being locked in to a single platform's proprietary architecture. She suggested this will create additional competition among platforms, reducing market concentration and power among the top platforms and potentially helping the journalism industry.

The importance of data portability has been gaining acceptance across the world. In April 2016, the European Union passed the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which includes the right to data portability as one of eight rights enforced by the new law. It allows data subjects to obtain data related to them that is held by a "data controller" and to reuse it for their own purposes. Individuals are free to either store the data for personal use or to transmit it to another data controller. In addition, the GDPR requires that the data must be received "in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format." Similarly, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which went into effect on January 1, 2020, provides for data portability for consumers in California. We are awaiting more details from the California Attorney General as to the precise requirements of the CCPA.

Although there is wide agreement that data portability will encourage competition among online platforms, workshop participants noted that data portability alone would not solve the power disparity between news producers and online platforms. Even if individual users have the ability to take their data with them to a new platform or provider, existing market concentration means that users still lack alternatives to the two top platforms: Facebook and Google. Nevertheless, data portability is a useful way to focus the conversation on the importance of user data, which is becoming the most valuable asset of the platform economy.

Many of the workshop participants suggested that data portability could be most effective as the first step towards comprehensive federal privacy legislation, which would lessen pervasive data collection and reduce the competitive advantage held by platforms. Over time, platforms have been able to collect more and more data due to improvements in technology and also because they require consumers to agree to terms of service that are widely regarded as confusing and frequently changing, which prevents consumers from understanding what personal data are being collected and how it is monetized.

Although state legislatures have been active in developing new privacy laws, including the recently enacted CCPA, the U.S. lacks comprehensive federal privacy rules. Instead, there is a complex patchwork of sector-specific and medium-specific laws, including laws and regulations that address telecommunications, health information, credit information, financial institutions, and marketing. Though Congress is unlikely to pass privacy legislation before the end of the current term, there appears to be a growing consensus in both parties that federal consumer privacy legislation is necessary.[136] Several privacy bills are currently pending in Congress, including the Setting an American Framework to Ensure Data Access, Transparency, and Accountability (SAFE DATA) Act, which is sponsored by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, John Thune (R-SD), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).[137] Among other things, the SAFE DATA Act would create rights to data transparency, access, deletion, correction, and portability. It would also require opt-in consent to process or transfer "sensitive covered data," which includes a broad variety of identifiers, such as biometric information and geolocation data.

Unlike policies designed to directly support journalism, privacy legislation targets key parts of the business model of platforms. By limiting the data platforms and other online services can collect from their users, privacy law would lessen the effectiveness of microtargeting and potentially loosen the stranglehold data-rich platforms hold over the advertising market. Privacy legislation could allow users to place specific limits on data collection (for example, opting out of tracking across the Internet or tracking for behavioral advertising) without completely eliminating the ability of news organizations and platforms to monetize the data they collect. As a result, privacy legislation could redefine the relationships among advertisers, platforms, news organizations, and users.

Well-crafted privacy legislation can also limit the way platforms use algorithms, artificial intelligence, and user interface design to shape public discourse and manipulate users, further reducing their competitive advantage over news providers. For example, the SAFE DATA Act contains two key provisions that expand beyond traditional data privacy concerns. Section 205 would prohibit the use of "opaque algorithms" by covered internet platforms unless they (i) notify users of the opaque algorithm, and (ii) make available an "input-transparent algorithm" to which users can easily switch. The bill defines an "opaque algorithm" as "an algorithmic ranking system that determines the order or manner that information is furnished to a user on a covered internet platform based, in whole or part, on user-specific data that was not expressly provided by the user to the platform for such purpose." This section draws heavily from the bipartisan Filter Bubble Transparency Act introduced in October 2019.[138] According to the earlier bill's co-sponsors, it would "make it easier for internet platform users to understand the potential manipulation that exists with secret algorithms and require large-scale platforms to allow those users to consume information outside of that potential manipulation zone or 'filter bubble'."[139] Section 206 of the SAFE DATA Act prohibits "large online operators" from, inter alia, "design[ing], modify[ing], or manipulat[ing] a user interface with the purpose or substantial effect of obscuring, subverting, or impairing user autonomy, decision-making, or choice to obtain consent or user data[.]" This section draws from the bipartisan Deceptive Experiences To Online Users Reduction (DETOUR) Act proposed by Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Deb Fischer (R-NE),[140] which was designed to "prohibit large online platforms from using deceptive user interfaces, known as 'dark patterns' to trick consumers into handing over their personal data."[141]

Some workshop participants, however, voiced skepticism about the ability of privacy legislation to fix the problem. Cal Lee (Professor, UNC School of Information and Library Science) wondered whether users would be willing to pay for online services that they have grown accustomed to receiving for free, whether that payment came in the form of a subscription or lessened performance from the platform. Mary-Rose Papandrea (Professor, UNC School of Law) expressed two related concerns about the utility of privacy legislation. First, she suggested that many users hold data privacy in lesser regard than the services offered by platforms, especially as the platforms expand their collection of data to Internet-of Things-connected devices. Those users may prefer the personally curated advertising and content they receive as a result of the data collected by platforms. Second, she asked how privacy legislation would actually help journalists and news organizations, stating that the legislation may have to be "draconian" to have enough of an effect to reach local journalism.

While not a panacea, privacy legislation could support local journalism by reducing the competitive advantage platforms have over news organizations, making it possible for these organizations to compete again for users and advertising dollars that have been increasingly going to platforms such as Facebook and Google. The journalistic business model was built on selling eyeballs to advertisers, and the appeal of news outlets is that they brought the relevant eyeballs together. By putting users in control of the information that platforms can collect about them, privacy legislation could help level the playing field and allow local news organizations to better compete with platforms that have used user data to corner the advertising market.

Policies to Increase Competition

The conclusion that platforms enjoy a significant competitive advantage over news providers has prompted advocates for local news to argue that antitrust and other forms of competition law should be adapted to address the systemic advantages platforms currently enjoy.

One proposal that has gained traction in Congress is to create an antitrust exemption that would allow news organizations to jointly negotiate with the platforms over licensing fees for their content. One of the reasons news organizations have struggled to maintain profitability is that Facebook and Google reportedly collect nearly three-quarters of all digital advertising dollars.[142] According to industry advocates, these platforms share only a small fraction of their ad revenue with news organizations, which bear the cost of reporting the news. Part of the problem, they argue, is that individual news organizations simply do not have the power to negotiate with the platforms for better compensation.

In 2018, Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee's Antitrust Subcommittee proposed the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA) which would give news organization a four-year safe harbor to join together to negotiate licensing fees and terms with large platforms.[143] The bill has picked up a number of co-sponsors in the past year, including Doug Collins (R-GA), the Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) filed a companion bill in the Senate and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has joined as co-sponsor.[144] The JCPA's antitrust exemption has some precedent in the Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970, which already provides limited antitrust immunity for joint operating agreements between newspapers that combine certain business operations so long as the newspapers maintain separate newsroom staffs and that their editorial policies are "independently determined."[145]

Researchers at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media report that support for the JCPA "has been buoyed by 'techlash,' the growing public sentiment that tech giants must be held responsible for privacy violations and disinformation as well as their impact on local media."[146] They also note that Rep. Cicilline's antitrust subcommittee, the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice are all conducting investigations of the platforms.

However, some industry analysts question whether allowing news organizations to negotiate as a group will actually result in better licensing terms because, they assert, publishers need the platforms more than the platforms need news. According to Nieman Lab's Joshua Benton, around 85 percent of publishers' external traffic comes from Google or Facebook, but only about 1 in every 25 News Feed posts contains any "news," defined broadly.[147] So even if news organizations threaten to withhold their content, it is unlikely to sway the platforms. Moreover, he notes that many newspapers, not to mention broadcasters and digital-only sites, will likely break ranks rather than lose out on the chance to get referrals through the platforms.

Nevertheless, the platforms are facing growing pressure to increase the amount of advertising revenue they pass along to news organizations, with regulators in Europe indicating they will force Google to pay mandatory licensing fees to publishers. France's competition regulators recently ordered the company to negotiate with local publishers over content displayed in its news aggregation service or surfaced via Google Search. Australia is also reportedly closing in on a legal framework to force Facebook and Google to pay media companies for monetizing their news content.[148] Seeing the writing on the wall, Google announced in October 2020 that it is creating a $1billion licensing fund, which it has called the Google News Showcase, that would be paid to news publishers "to create and curate high-quality content" for new story panels to appear on Google News.[149]

Advocates for local news also argue that antitrust and competition laws should be used to effect broader, systemic change in the American technology and media ecosystem. Proposals in this area take many forms, ranging from more vigorous application of existing laws to imposing structural separations and prohibiting dominant platforms from entering adjacent lines of business.

Since the 1980s, the federal government has generally taken the view that consolidation within the media and technology industries was fine as long as it did not result in an increase in prices or suppress competition in any given community. As a result, there has been a significant increase in concentration of media ownership over the past four decades. Many advocates for local media argue that in hindsight, the government's hands-off approach has been highly detrimental for local news, resulting in the creation of publicly traded mega-chains, hedge funds, and private equity firms that have changed the incentive structure within media companies leading to steep cuts in newsroom personnel in an effort to meet short-term earnings targets. At the same time, they point to the remarkable concentration of power within the four largest online platforms, Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google, which have largely replaced traditional media companies as the source for news and other information.

One response to the power disparities between news producers and platform operators as well as between platforms and their users is to restrict acquisitions and mergers that reduce competition. The dominant positions that the largest platforms enjoy is due in part to their acquiring or merging with potential competitors, with some platforms having built entire lines of business through acquisitions while others used acquisitions to neutralize competitive threats. Because of rapid technological development in online services, competition can often come from innovative upstarts that may take several years to develop. In this context, acquisition by a dominant platform of a smaller firm could be very damaging to competition if, absent the acquisition, the smaller firm would develop into a major competitive threat or would lead to significant change in the nature of the market. In a concentrated market structure, potential competition from small entrants may be the most important source of competition faced by the incumbent firm.[150]

Proponents of antitrust reform point to Facebook's purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp as examples of the company's elimination of competition through acquisition. With 27 million registered users on iOS alone, Instagram "was increasingly positioning itself as a social network in its own right-not just a photo-sharing app"-when Facebook acquired the company in 2012 and eliminated a nascent competitor.[151] Two years later, Facebook's acquisition of the messaging service WhatsApp for $19 billion left many industry observers scratching their heads, given the staggering price Facebook paid for an app that made little money. Based on confidential internal company emails and documents subsequently released by the United Kingdom Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee which investigated the acquisition, Buzzfeed News reported in 2018 that WhatsApp's rise came at a crucial moment-just as Facebook was attempting to transition to a mobile-first company with messaging as a core service: "WhatsApp was quickly demonstrating that it could compete with Facebook on its most important battleground," which drove Facebook to acquire the company behind the messaging app.[152]

Section 7 of the Clayton Act of 1914 prohibits any transaction where "the effect of such acquisition may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly."[153] In 1950, Congress passed the Celler-Kefauver Anti-Merger Act to broaden the types of transactions covered by the Clayton Act, specifically to include vertical mergers, conglomerate mergers, and purchases of assets.[154]

In October 2020, the Majority Staff of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law ("Judiciary Subcommittee") released a report that found that "[a]lthough the dominant platforms collectively engaged in several hundred mergers and acquisitions between 2000-2019, antitrust enforcers did not block a single one of these transactions" under the Clayton Act.[155] The Judiciary Subcommittee concluded that several of these acquisitions enabled platforms to block emerging rivals and undermine competition and that all four of the dominate platforms (Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google) are currently focused on acquiring startups in the artificial intelligence and virtual reality space. The Subcommittee warned that ongoing acquisitions by the dominant platforms could entrench their existing positions and eliminate nascent competitors, thus strengthening their market power and potentially close off market entry.[156]

In response to the perceived anticompetitive acquisition practices of the platforms, the Judiciary Subcommittee recently recommended that Congress instruct federal agencies to presume that mergers by dominant platforms are anticompetitive. Under this change in the law, any acquisition by a dominant platform would be considered anticompetitive "unless the merging parties could show that the transaction was necessary for serving the public interest and that similar benefits could not be achieved through internal growth and expansion."[157] Steven Waldman has made a similar argument, albeit with a more direct focus on local news, suggesting that Congress should alter antitrust laws to restrict mergers that lead to less investment in local reporting.[158]

However, many critics of the platforms assert that stricter merger controls will not be enough to address the durable monopoly power of the dominant platforms and that antitrust and competition laws should be expanded in order to deal with the challenges that platforms present for antitrust enforcement.

American antitrust law is largely focused on consumer harm that results from anticompetitive behavior that leads to increases in price, reductions in quality, or declines in innovation. With online platforms like Facebook and Google, however, it is often difficult to identify and quantify the harms that consumers and other market participants experience as a result of monopolies or near-monopolies, thus making antitrust enforcement difficult. For example, online platforms typically offer their services for "free." In the language of economists, the platform has set a monetary price of zero yet the true "equilibrium price" may be negative because of the value of advertising. In other words, the user's data may be so valuable that the platform would pay for it. This unusual negative price is difficult for regulators to observe and value with precision, potentially leaving consumers "overcharged."[159]

Online platforms can also harm quality of service in ways that are equally difficult to discern. For example, Facebook and Google have amassed enormous datasets that they use to create detailed profiles of their users; the platforms then leverage this information to frame, nudge, and provide default settings that direct users to the choice that is most profitable for the platform. Platforms can also make real-time use of the data to determine when a user is in an emotional "hot state," and can even trigger consumer frailty at an individual level.[160] By exploiting users in this fashion, platforms reduce the quality of the zero-price content the user experiences in very subtle ways, making it difficult to quantify a precise level of harm.[161]

In a report issued in July 2019 by the George J. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State ("Stigler Report"), a number of economists and antitrust experts concluded that online platforms present especially difficult challenges for antitrust enforcement and that antitrust law needs better analytical and regulatory tools to adequately deliver competition to consumers.[162] They suggest that new legislation would not need to depart from the dual requirements of bad conduct and harm to competition in the market as a whole. Instead, regulators could implement a recalibration of the relative tolerance of antitrust law for the risk of over-enforcement and under-enforcement by prescribing rebuttable presumptions that would ease the high proof requirements currently imposed on antitrust plaintiffs and place on defendants a more rigorous burden of proving efficiencies. [163]

The Judiciary Subcommittee recently issued a report that recommends that Congress clarify and extend the Sherman Act to address the anticompetitive practices of platforms.[164] Under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, it is illegal to "monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States."[165] Over recent decades, courts have heightened the legal standards that plaintiffs must overcome in order to prove a violation of Section 2. As a result, U.S. antitrust authorities have not been active in policing allegedly anticompetitive conduct by online platforms; the government's last monopolization case involving issues raised by platforms was the Microsoft case in 1998.

In its report, the Judiciary Subcommittee recommended that Congress restate existing antitrust laws, "clarifying that they are designed to protect not just consumers but also workers, entrepreneurs, independent businesses, open markets, a fair economy, and democratic ideals."[166] The Judiciary Subcommittee offered a number specific reforms, including recommending that Congress extend the Sherman Act to prohibit abuses of dominance by online platforms and that it consider creating a statutory presumption that a market share of 30% or more constitutes a rebuttable presumption of dominance by a seller, and a market share of 25% or more constitutes a rebuttable presumption of dominance by a buyer. The Subcommittee also recommended that Congress prohibit the use of monopoly power in one market to harm competition in a second market, even if the conduct does not result in monopolization of the second market.[167]

In addition, the Judiciary Subcommittee recommended that Congress apply the "essential facilities" doctrine to platforms, which would impose a requirement that dominant platforms provide access to their infrastructural services or facilities on a nondiscriminatory basis.[168] Antitrust law prohibits unilateral refusals to deal only under very unusual circumstances, thus giving platforms substantial freedom to refuse to deal with other parties or to deal with them only on onerous terms (e.g., pricing, access to customer data, and interoperability) that raise the costs of rivals and enable the platforms to reinforce their dominant positions. [169] The Subcommittee's investigation uncovered several instances in which a dominant platform used the threat of delisting or refusing service to a third party as leverage to extract greater value or more data or to secure an advantage in a distinct market. The Subcommittee concluded: "Because the dominant platforms do not face meaningful competition in their primary markets, their threat to refuse business with a third party is the equivalent of depriving a market participant of an essential input. This denial of access in one market can undermine competition across adjacent markets, undermining the ability of market participants to compete on the merits."[170]

It should be noted, however, that Republican lawmakers on the Judiciary Subcommittee refused at the last minute to sign the report with their Democratic colleagues.[171] Instead, Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) issued his own report, with support from Reps. Doug Collins (R-GA), Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Andy Biggs (R-AZ). Rep. Buck's report largely agrees with the Judiciary Subcommittee's conclusion that Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google have amassed too much power, but he was unwilling to endorse all of the legislative recommendations offered by the majority. Instead, Buck calls on Congress to fund and empower regulatory agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) to increase enforcement under existing laws. [172]

Indeed, not all antitrust experts agree that current antitrust law needs to be altered in order to deal with platforms or even that the current media ecosystem is in need of changing. Maurice Stucke noted at the workshop that some experts have called for what is known as the "Roosevelt approach," which would leave the major platforms as is, but continue to use existing antitrust and competition law to investigate any anti-competitive behavior and enjoin specific conduct that violates antitrust law. The Stigler Report points out that there is a risk that antitrust reforms will not be enacted by experts committed to sound, economically-focused reforms, noting that in a politically charged environment this may not be the best time for Congress to enact major changes.[173]

Breaking Up Dominant Platforms

Some experts argue that antitrust and competition laws are simply not up to the task of addressing the anticompetitive behaviors of platforms and that more aggressive solutions are necessary.

They point to the explosive growth of Google in search, Facebook in social networking, and Amazon in online retailing as demonstrating that these digital markets have winner-take-all characteristics that tend to leave just one dominant player.[174] Because the platforms enjoy strong economies of scale and economies of scope (due to their low marginal costs and revenue from control of data) and are characterized by strong network effects, potential competitors face significant barriers to entry. They also point to the fact that platforms can maintain their dominance by exercising complete control over the user relationship and positioning themselves as necessary bottlenecks between partners and users, further limiting the possibility for competing services to gain traction and challenge the platform's power.[175]

In documents provided to the House Judiciary Subcommittee, Facebook boasted in 2012 that the firm controlled "95% of all social media" in the United States in terms of monthly minutes of use and noted that the "industry consolidates as it matures."[176] An investor presentation from that time period also described Facebook as having an "enduring competitive advantage" similar to other historically dominant firms.[177]
Facebook Investor Presentation [178]
One of the leading academic proponents of more aggressive government intervention has been Lena Khan, a fellow at Columbia Law School and counsel to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law. Khan points out that one feature the dominant digital platforms share is that they have integrated across business lines such that they operate both a platform and market their own goods and services on it. According to Kahn, "this structure places dominant platforms in direct competition with some of the businesses that depend on them, creating a conflict of interest that platforms can exploit to further entrench their dominance, thwart competition, and stifle innovation."[179] Khan asserts that growing empirical research shows that dominant tech platforms enjoy uniquely durable market power and reliance on traditional antitrust remedies for anticompetitive conduct - which she characterizes as "highly enfeebled and impoverished" - is misplaced.[180]

What Khan and others argue is that the government should impose structural separations and prohibit dominant platforms from entering adjacent lines of business. Separations differ from other regulatory tools in that separations are ex ante rules whose application does not require continuous government intervention or constant monitoring. Responding to potential objections to this approach, Kahn says: "Insofar as a primary criticism of the public utility era is that many of the regulations proved too unwieldy for courts and enforcers to implement, structural separations appear far more appealing. Contrasted with other public utility tools, separations reduce regulatory burden and reflect humility about the capacity of public officials to manage business conduct."[181]

Concentration, however, is associated with positive network effects. According to the Stigler Report, as the number of people who use online platforms increases and the amount of data collected from those users increases, online platforms are able to provide a richer user experience.[182] As Stucke and Christopher Lee (Professor, UNC School of Information and Library Science) noted at the workshop, Google has been successful as a search service because the data that Google collects feeds back into their algorithm to produce better search results. If Google were to be separated into several smaller search engines, those network effects would not be present, and the quality of search results would likely suffer. Consequently, as policymakers determine how best to address the growing market power of online platforms, proposals to break up these technology companies risk losing the beneficial aspects of scale that help make them capable of providing desirable services in the first place and allows them to marshal the resources needed to combat mis- and disinformation.

In March 2019, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) pushed the idea of structural separation to the forefront of the presidential campaign, proposing that Congress should pass legislation "that requires large tech platforms to be designated as 'Platform Utilities' and broken apart from any participant on that platform."[183] Under Sen. Warren's proposal, companies with an annual global revenue of $25 billion or more and that offer to the public an online marketplace, an exchange, or a platform for connecting third parties would be prohibited from owning both the platform utility and any participants on that platform. They would also be required to meet a standard of fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory dealing with users and would not be allowed to transfer or share data with third parties. Smaller companies with annual global revenue of between $90 million and $25 billion would be required to meet the same standard of fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory dealing with users, but would not be required to structurally separate from any participant on the platform. [184]

In its October 2020 report, the House Judiciary Subcommittee also came out in favor of structural separation and line of business restrictions for dominant platforms. In making its recommendation, the Judiciary Subcommittee noted that Congress has relied on both policy tools as part of a standard remedy for dominant intermediaries in other network industries, including railroads and telecommunications services.[185] The Judiciary Subcommittee did not lay out a specific proposal in the same way that Sen. Warren did, remarking instead that "[t]he challenges of crafting and implementing structural solutions vary by market and market participants," and that "some antitrust experts have cautioned that crafting separations can pose a major cost and challenge, especially in dynamic markets."[186]

As noted previously, Republicans on the Judiciary Subcommittee opposed some of the findings in the majority's report, including the Subcommittee's recommendation that Congress consider imposing structural separation on platforms. Rep. Buck calls such a proposal a "non-starter" for conservatives and writes, "We do not agree with the majority's approach to pass a Big Tech Glass-Steagall Act,"[187] referring to the 1933 law that separated commercial and investment banking.

Nevertheless, recent congressional hearings directed at technology companies and the Judiciary Subcommittee's October 2020 report appear to mark a turning point in terms of support for more aggressive government action to limit the power of online platforms through changes in antitrust law, increased antitrust enforcement, structural separation, or a combination of these approaches. Even in opposing the full set of proposals offered by the Judiciary Subcommittee, Rep. Buck stated to CNBC that "if I was one of the tech companies I would see this week of Democrat and Republican responses as very concerning because there is clearly a bipartisan conclusion that these companies are acting anticompetitively and that [there's] bipartisan consensus on many of the reforms that are necessary."[188]

Indeed, the antitrust lawsuit against Google, [189] which was filed by the Department of Justice and eleven state Attorneys General as we were finalizing this whitepaper, is further evidence of this shift to a more aggressive posture by the government.

The two-day event we held in November 2019, titled "Fostering an Informed Society: The Role of the First Amendment in Strengthening Local News and Democracy," made a number of key assumptions about Americans that today remain fluid and uncertain. A society that is informed is first and foremost one that wants to be informed. The rise and appeal of mis- and disinformation, as this report has explored, have challenged and distorted citizen understanding and public participation. To foster an informed society, people have to want access to reliable information for the purposes of governing themselves. They have to desire to understand more about the dangers of mis- and disinformation: how to identify it, but equally important, how it undermines democracy. We need all citizens to care about these issues as much as policymakers, activists and academics now do.

The problems we face will require a multifaceted, multi-disciplinary approach. No one lever within the market, law, or society will deliver a magic bullet. Instead, experts and policymakers will need to pull at multiple levers using a new vocabulary to talk across the different disciplines - a set of new propositions that recognize the legal, social, journalistic, and economic principles at stake, particularly the harm done to democracy if the status quo continues.

While there has been a growing and important focus on the causes of the decline of local news and the spread of mis- and disinformation online - as evidenced by the work of many of the participants in the workshop - we are still in the early stages of understanding how technology is transforming our democracy and the ways we receive and engage with information. This work will require cross-disciplinary research and collaboration in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of information environments focused on the interaction of information and technology, particularly in the context of misinformation, partisanship, polarization, propaganda, and political institutions.

The First Amendment came up many times in our discussions. But recent First Amendment jurisprudence speaks more to the government's reduced role as a regulator of speech than as an affirmative proponent of speech that serves the public interest. Any role for the First Amendment that is more active in promoting journalism in the public interest will be subject to significant political headwinds. Such a change in thinking around the purpose of the First Amendment will require more exposition. Should the marketplace of ideas remain the only paradigmatic force fueling the production of news? Or should the First Amendment more directly address the press' role as a critical fourth estate check on the power of government? When we lose a functioning and effective press, we lose a major part of our democracy. As new media law cases make their way through the courts, lawyers and scholars may need to rethink some of the theoretical underpinnings of the First Amendment to more actively support a vibrant local news ecosystem.

Finally, the notion of strengthening local news assumes consumer want such improvements. But consumers now seem satisfied with either free or reduced prices for news redistributed by powerful platforms who mostly reap what news providers sow, destroying the advertising backbone that used to support sustained news coverage. The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission have begun to push back with antitrust claims against Google and Facebook. Whether those actions solve the problems of local journalism remains to be seen, and it may well be too late to change the media ecosystem in any way that regains what was lost. But re-establishing an appetite for strong journalistic competition will be vital, and markets will need nudging to bend toward a reinvigorated local news ecosystem. Some combination of antitrust lawsuits and policy incentives will be necessary to support meaningful and effective journalism enterprises.

[20] Elimination of Main Studio Rule, 82 Fed. Reg. 57876 (proposed Dec. 11, 2017) (to be codified at 47 C.F.R. pts. 1, 73).

[22] National Television Multiple Ownership Rule, 82 Fed. Reg. 21124 (proposed June 5, 2017) (to be codified at 47 C.F.R. pt. 73).

[25] Penny M. Abernathy, The rise of a new media baron and the emerging threat of news deserts, UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media (2016), https://tinyurl.com/AbernathyNewMediaBaron [hereinafter Abernathy, New Media Baron].

[31] Jackie Filla & Martin Johnson, Local news outlets and political participation, 45 Urb. Affs. Rev. 5, 679-92 (2010), DOI: doi.org/10.1177/1078087409351947.

[33] Joshua P. Darr, Matthew P. Hitt, & Johanna L. Dunaway, Newspaper closures polarize voting behavior, 68 J. Communication 6, 1007-1028 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqy051.

[36] Jessice Mahone & Philip Napoli, Hundreds of hyperpartisan sites are masquerading as local news. This map shows if there's one near you, Neiman Lab (July 13, 2020), https://tinyurl.com/MahoneNapoli.

[41] Elisa Shearer, Social media outpaces print newspapers in the U.S. as a news source, Pew Research Center (Dec. 10, 2018), https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/12/10/social-media-outpaces-print-newspapers-in-the-u-s-as-a-news-source/

[45] See Brooke Auxier et al., Americans and Privacy: Concerned, Confused and Feeling Lack of Control Over Their Personal Information, Pew Research Ctr. (Nov. 15, 2019), https://tinyurl.com/Pew2019.

[46] See Ella Powers, My News Feed is Filtered? Awareness of News Personalization among College Students, 5 Digital Journalism 1315 (2017), doi: doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2017.1286943.

[50] See Oz Shy, A Short Survey of Network Economics, 38 Rev. Indus. Org. 119 (2011), doi: doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1600783.

[52] See Yan Carriere-Swallow & Vikram Haksar, The Economics and Implications of Data: An Integrated Approach (Dept. Paper No. 19/16), Int'l Monetary fund (Sept. 23, 2019), doi: doi.org/10.5089/9781513511436.087.

[53] See id. at 5.

[55] Alphabet Inc., 2019 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 3, 2020), https://tinyurl.com/Alphabet201910K.

[56] Prepared by the House Subcomm. on Antitrust, Commercial and Adminstrative Law, based on Production of Facebook, to H. Comm. on the Judiciary, FB-HJC-00086585 (Jan. 2020), https://tinyurl.com/HouseRepCompDigital.

[57] See David S. Evans, Multisided Platforms, Dynamic Competition, and the Assessment of Market Power for Internet-Based Firms (U. Chi. Coase-Sandor Inst. L. & Econ. Research Paper No. 753) 1, 23 (2016), doi: doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2746095.

[58] See N. Gregory Mankiw, Principles of Economics 814 (8th ed. 2017).

[61] Philip M. Napoli, What If More Speech Is No Longer the Solution? First Amendment Theory Meets Fake News and the Filter Bubble, 70 Fed. Com. L.J. 55 (2018).

[66] See Soroush Vosoughi et al., The Spread of True and False News Online, 359 Sci. Mag. 1146, 1146 (2018), doi: doi.org/10.1126/science.aap9559.

[68] See Jieun Shin et al., The Diffusion of Misinformation on Social Media: Temporal Pattern, Message, and Source, 83 Comp. in Hum. Behav. 278 (2018), doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.02.008.

[73] See Shannon C. McGregor & Daniel Kreiss, Americans Are Too Worried About Political Misinformation, Slate (Oct. 30, 2020), https://tinyurl.com/AmericansAreTooWorried.

[75] Brian G. Southwell et al., The persistence and peril of misinformation, 105 Am. Scientist 372 (2017).

[76] See Alice E. Marwick, Why Do People Share Fake News? A Sociotechnical Model of Media Effects, 2 Geo. L. Tech. Rev. 474 (2018).

[78] See id. at 3.

[81] See Craig Silverman, An Iranian Disinformation Operation Impersonated Dozens of Media Outlets to Spread Fake Articles, BuzzFeed News (May 14, 2019), https://tinyurl.com/IranFakeNewsBzfd.

[85] See Communications Decency Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. § 230.

[89] See Kate Klonick, The New Governors: The People, Rules, and Processes Governing Online Speech, 131 Harv. L. Rev. 1598 (2018).

[91] See Bridget Barrett & Daniel Kreiss, Platform Transience: Changes in Facebook's Policies, Procedures, and Affordances in Global Electoral Politics, 8 Internet Policy Review 1 (2019), doi: doi.org/10.14763/2019.4.1446.

[102] See For Local News, Americans Embrace Digital But Still Want Strong Community Connection, Pew Research Ctr. at 4 (Mar. 26, 2019), https://tinyurl.com/Pew2019LN.

[106] See Brooke Donald, Stanford Researchers Find Students Have Trouble Judging the Credibility of Information Online, Stan. Graduate Sch. of Educ. (Nov. 22, 2016), https://tinyurl.com/StnfdEd2016.

[115] See Craig Aaron and S. Derek Turner, What a Journalism-Recovery Package Should Look Like During the COVID-19 Crisis, Free Press Action (May 11, 2020), https://tinyurl.com/FPAcovid2020 [hereinafter Aaron and Turner, Recovery Package].

[116] See Waldman, Local News, supra note 109.

[118] Press Release, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Dingell, Flores, Veasey, Upton Lead Bipartisan Letter to President Trump in Support of Local Media (Apr. 20, 2020), https://tinyurl.com/DebDnglLtr.

[119] See Waldman, Local News, supra note 109.

[125] Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce), Twitter (Apr. 30, 2020, 12:26 PM), https://twitter.com/mattdpearce/status/1255896227113168899.

[126] See Waldman, Local News, supra note 111.

[131] See Saving Local News Act of 2019, H.R. 3126, 116 th Cong. (2019).

[134] See Douglas Clark, US Digital Ad Spending Will Surpass Traditional in 2019, eMarketer (Feb. 20, 2019),

https://tinyurl.com/emarketerad.

[135] See Elizabeth Grieco, Fast Facts About the Newspaper Industry's Financial Struggles as McClatchy Files for Bankruptcy, Fact Tank (Feb. 14, 2020), https://tinyurl.com/FctTnk2020.

[136] See Revisiting the Need for Federal Data Privacy Legislation, Hearing Before the Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 116th Cong. (Sept. 23, 2020).

[137] See SAFE DATA Act, S. 4626, 116th Cong. (2020).

[138] See Filter Bubble Transparency Act, S. 2763, 116th Cong. (2019).

[139] Press Release, Sen. John Thune, Thune, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Internet Platform Transparency and Provide Consumers 2ith Greater Control Over Digital Content (Nov. 1, 2019), https://tinyurl.com/ThunePR.

[140] See Deceptive Experiences to Online Users Reduction Act, S. 1084, 116th Cong. (2019).

[142] See Jillian D'Onfro, Google and Facebook Extend Their Lead in Online Ads, and That's Reason for Investors to be Cautious, CNBC (Dec. 20, 2017), https://tinyurl.com/DOnfroCNBC.

[143] See Journalism Competition and Preservation Act of 2018, H.R. 5190, 115th Cong. (2018).

[144] See Journalism Competition and Preservation Act of 2019, S. 1700, 116th Cong. (2019).

[145] See Newspaper Preservation Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1802(2).

[147] See Joshua Benton, Don't Expect McConnell's Paradox to Help News Publishers Get Real Money Out of Google and Facebook, Nieman Lab (Jan. 8, 2020), https://tinyurl.com/NmnLabMcCon.

[149] See Ingrid Lunden, Google to Pay Out $1B to Publishers to License Content for New Google News Showcase, TechCrunch (Oct. 1, 2020), https://tinyurl.com/GoogleNewsTC.

[153] See Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 18 (2018).

[154] See Celler-Kefauver Anti-Merger Act, 64 Stat. 1125 (1950).

[155] Majority Staff of H. Subcomm. on Antitrust, Commercial and Adminstrative Law of the H. Comm on the Judiciary, 116 th Cong., Investigation of Competition in Digital Markets 1, 386 (2020) https://tinyurl.com/HouseRepCompDigital [hereinafter House Report on Digital Competition].

[161] See Kimmelman, Digital Platforms, supra note 159.

[165] Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2 (2018).

[174] See Kimmelman, Digital Platforms, supra note 159.

[176] House Report on Digital Competition, supra note 155, at 139.

[178] Prepared by Subcommittee based on Production of Facebook, to H. Comm. on the Judiciary, FB-HJC-ACAL-00086798 (Aug. 22, 2020).

[179] Lina M. Kahn, The Separation of Platforms and Commerce, 119 Colum. L.R. 973, 977 (2019).
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[187] See Lauren Feiner, Key GOP Lawmaker Lays Out 'Non-Starters' for Big Tech Antitrust Reform, CNBC (Oct. 6, 2020), https://tinyurl.com/BuckCNBC.

Jerome Barron is the Harold H. Greene Professor Emeritus at George Washington University Law School. He joined the GW law faculty in 1965 and retired from the faculty in 2013. He has argued and participated in cases in the U.S. Supreme Court and served as a consultant to the Senate Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (Watergate). Barron writes in the areas of constitutional law and communications law. In 2004, he was the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Law at the University of Trento in Italy. His books include Freedom of the Press for Whom? (1973); Constitutional Law: Principles and Policy (8th ed. 2012); Constitutional Law in a Nutshell (9th ed. 2017); and First Amendment Law in a Nutshell (5th ed. 2018).

Robert Kaiser is a former associate editor and senior correspondent of The Washington Post, where he worked from 1963 until 2014. He has served as a special correspondent in London (1964-67), a reporter on the city desk in Washington (1967-69), and foreign correspondent in Saigon (1969-70) and Moscow (1971-74). He returned to the national staff in Washington and worked as a reporter for seven years, covering labor, the U.S. Senate, the 1980 presidential campaign, and the first Reagan administration. He has been a commentator on NPR's All Things Considered, and has appeared on Meet the Press, NBC's Today, and other television programs. Kaiser is the author or co-author of eight books. The News About the News won Harvard University's Goldsmith prize for the best book of 2002 on politics and the news media.

Laura Ruel is an associate professor of design, user experience and interactive media at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. Her research interests include examining user behavior and cognitive processes in the age of interactive media. Ruel uses eye tracking technologies to explore these issues, and is part of the FDA's Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science research at UNC. In addition, she conducts practical usability and eye tracking research studies for the news media. She also was a project leader for the Poynter Institute's Eyetrack III research, a study that examined online news consumer behavior in the digital age. Before joining the academic world in fall of 2000, she worked for more than 15 years in the journalism industry as a reporter, editor, designer and manager at a number of newspapers and magazines including the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Omaha World-Herald and the Denver Rocky Mountain News.

Jared Schroeder is the teaching chair for the Law & Policy Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication at SMU Meadows School of the Arts. Schroeder's research is particularly concerned with First Amendment theory, free-expression rationales, and technological influences on individuals and community. Schroeder is the author of The Press Clause and Digital Technology's Fourth Wave and co-author of Emma Goldman's No-Conscription League and the First Amendment. He has published his research in the First Amendment Law Review, Communication Law & Policy, The Review of Higher Education, and First Amendment Studies and is a frequent contributor to popular and trade publications, such as Columbia Journalism Review.
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Melanie Sill
News Executive, and former Editor at the News & Observer of Raleigh
Melanie Sill is an experienced news executive and change-maker who's led innovation aimed at strengthening journalism's public service and connection. Sills currently works as a news consultant with a focus on local news sustainability and audience connection. In prior roles she was the top editor and senior vice resident for news at the Sacramento Bee, News & Observer of Raleigh and KPCC - Southern California Public Radio in Los Angeles. She has worked actively in public interest journalism, content and staff diversity, open government and First Amendment issues.

The Decline of Local News

Many local news organizations have vanished and those that remain face plummeting advertising revenues and changes in ownership. Regulatory changes also have exacerbated the trend toward national ownership and a move away from local news reporting. The following resources discuss the decline of local news and various policy proposals to address this decline.

Aaron, C., & Turner, S. D. (2020, May). What a Journalism-Recovery Package Should Look Like During the COVID-19 Crisis. Free Press Action. Retrieved October 07, 2020.

Abernathy, P. M. (2014). Saving community journalism: The path to profitability. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press.

Abernathy, P. M. (2016). The rise of a new media baron and the emerging threat of news deserts. UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media.

Abernathy, P. M. (2017). Thwarting the Emergence of News Deserts. UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media.

Abernathy, P. M. (2020). News deserts and ghost newspapers: Will local news survive? UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media.

Brietzke, P.H. (1997). How and Why the Marketplace of Ideas Fails. Valparaiso University Law Review, 31(3), 951-969.

Downie, L., Jr., & Schudson, M. (2009, November/December). The Reconstruction of American Journalism. Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved October 07, 2020.

Grieco, E. (2020, May 31). U.S. newspapers have shed half of their newsroom employees since 2008. Pew Research Center. Retrieved October 07, 2020.

Hendrickson, C. (2020). Critical in a public health crisis, COVID-19 has hit local newsrooms hard. Brookings Institute.

Jennings, J., and Rubado, M. (2019). Newspaper decline and the effect on local government coverage. Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life.

Mahone, J., and Napoli, P.M. (July 13, 2020). Hundreds of hyperpartisan sites are masquerading as local news. This map shows if there's one near you. Neiman Lab.

Martin, G. J., and McCrain, J. (2019). Local news and national politics. American Political Science Review, 113(2), 372-384.

Napoli, P. M. (2018). Assessing local journalism: News deserts, journalism divides, and the determinants of the robustness of local news. Dewitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy.

Pickard, V. (2020). Journalism's Market Failure is a Crisis for Democracy. Harvard Business Review.

Waldman, S. (2020, March). Curing local news for good. Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved October 07, 2020.

Wenger, D. and Papper, B. (2018) Local TV news and the new media landscape: The future of local TV news. Knight Foundation.

Platform Economics

Knowledge of the economics of platforms is critical to understanding how they operate. Facebook, Google, and other online platforms operate what economists call a "multi-sided platform" by providing services to users (generally without charge) and advertisers (for a fee). While platforms can provide benefits to both ends of this two-sided market, they also use their structure to create asymmetries that can be difficult for regulators to identify and control. Today's dominant platforms are also characterized by strong network effects, which increase as their number of users increases. The following resources discuss the business model and economics of platforms.

Platforms and the Moderated Public Sphere

Platforms play an increasingly important role in providing a space for public discourse and democratic participation. Due in part to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, 47 USC § 230 (2018), online platforms have wide latitude to decide what content to allow on their services. The following resources examine the role that platforms play in moderating the public sphere.

Ardia, D. S. (2010). Free Speech Savior or Shield for Scoundrels: An Empirical Study of Intermediary Immunity Under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review, 43(2), 373-506.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. (2019, June). Digital platforms inquiry.

Auxier, B., Rainie, L., Anderson, M., Perrin, A., Kumar, M., & Turner, E. (2020, August 17). Americans and Privacy: Concerned, Confused and Feeling Lack of Control Over Their Personal Information. Pew Research Center. Retrieved October 07, 2020.

Denardis, L. (2020). The Internet in Everything: Freedom and Security in a World with No Off Switch. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Gallup (2020, October 02). Media Use and Evaluation. Retrieved October 07, 2020.

Gillespie, T. (2018). Custodians of the internet: Platforms, content moderation, and the hidden decisions that shape social media. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Mullin, J., Harmon, E., & Mackey, A. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Electronic Frontier Foundation. Retrieved October 07, 2020.

Pasquale, F. A. (2017). The Automated Public Sphere. University of Maryland Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2017-31.

Roberts, S. T. (2019). Behind the screen: Content moderation in the shadows of social media. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Taylor, E. & Hoffmann, S. (2019). Industry responses to computational propaganda and social media manipulation. Computational Propaganda Research Project.

Weber, M., Andringa, P., & Napoli, P. M. (2019, September). Local News on Facebook. Hubbard School or Journalism and Mass Communication. Retrieved October 07, 2020.

Misinformation and Disinformation

One of the core challenges that platforms are dealing with is the presence of misinformation and disinformation on their sites. Misinformation (false or misleading information spread unknowingly or without regard to its veracity) and disinformation (false information spread intentionally to damage other people or organizations) have spread with assistance from foreign actors, platform users, and even the platforms themselves. The following resources examine the problems associated with the spread of misinformation and disinformation, what contributes to the spread, and how platforms can respond to this growing issue.

Bradshaw, S., Howard, P. N., Kollanyi, B. & Lisa-Maria Neudert, L. (Oct. 26, 2019). Sourcing and Automation of Political News and Information over Social Media in the United States, Political Communication 37(2), 173-193.

DiResta, R. et al. (2017). The Tactics and Tropes of the Internet Research Agency, New Knowledge.

Garrett, R. K., Weeks, B. E., & Neo, R. L. (2016). Driving a Wedge Between Evidence and Beliefs: How Online Ideological News Exposure Promotes Political Misperceptions. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 21(5), 331-348.

Howard, P.N., Ganesh, B., Liotsiou, D., Kelly, J., & François, C. (2018). The IRA, social media and political polarization in the United States, 2012-2018. Computational Propaganda Research Project.

Karpf, D. (2020). On Digital Disinformation and Democratic Myths. Social Science Research Council Media Well.

Marwick, Alice E. (2018). Why Do People Share Fake News? A Sociotechnical Model of Media Effects. Georgetown Law Technology Review 2(2) 474-512.

Marwick, A. & Lewis, B. (2017) Media Manipulation and Disinformation Online, Data & Society Research Institute.

Silverman, C. (2019, May 14). An Iranian Disinformation Operation Impersonated Dozens Of Media Outlets To Spread Fake Articles. BuzzFeed. Retrieved October 07, 2020.

Southwell, B. G., Thorson, E. A., & Sheble, L. (2017). The persistence and peril of misinformation. American Scientist, 105(6), 372-375.

Taylor, E. & Hoffman, S. (2019). Industry Responses To Computational Propaganda and Social Media Manipulation. Computational Propaganda Research Project.

Platform Policies

The following resources provide links to various online platforms' policies and content moderation practices.

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Addressing the decline of local news, rise of platforms, and spread of mis- and disinformation online - The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP)

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A Summary of current research and policy proposals By David Ardia, Evan Ringel, Victoria Smith Ekstrand, and Ashley Fox UNC Center for Media Law and Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill­­ To print or save: download a PDF of the full report or a PDF of the executive summary.

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your self-esteem can be damage to the point where you are depressed by comparing your self to another

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In response to growing research on the increasing rates of stress, anxiety, and depression among today's teens, driven in large part by constant connectivity through devices and social media, we wanted to hear how teenagers themselves are navigating these pressures and stressors. Thrive joined forces with Write the World to host an op-ed writing competition and give young people's perspectives a global audience. The prompt? Unplugged; how social media and technology has impacted your well-being. Featured below is the runner-up entry of the competition, which was guest judged by Thrive's Editorial Director, Marina Khidekel. Tackett, Brittany. "How Social Media Affects Body Image." Project Know. 16 Nov. 2018. 27 May 2019 <http://www.projectknow.com/eating-disorders/and-social-media/>. Spettigue, Wendy, and Katherine A Henderson. "Eating disorders and the role of the media." The Canadian child and adolescent psychiatry review = La revue canadienne de psychiatrie de l'enfantet de l'adolescent. Feb. 2004. Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 27 May 2019 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2533817/>.

You've just aced your AP Physics exam, placed into the internship of your dreams, and scored an interview for a job that makes your heart leap. You're practically on top of the world, life's puzzle pieces are snapping into place all at once, and you're just sitting back to enjoy the view.

In the midst of all of this glory, you take a moment to scroll through your Instagram feed, only to be instantly bombarded with images of impossibly thin celebrities and advertisements for weight loss teas and hair care supplements. And suddenly, your prestigious internship opportunity no longer feels like much of an accomplishment when social media makes it clear that the only things that truly matter are the size of your waist and how voluminous your hair is.

This is precisely the message that we receive upon logging onto social media, and the pervasive lies from diet culture and wealthy influencers flood our subconscious minds, despite how immune we may claim ourselves to be. The altered photos that we worship without a second thought are detrimental in the sense that they craft an impossible narrative that we expect ourselves to emulate. The impractical standards, as established by facetuned Instagrammers and money-making corporations, negatively impact our feelings of self-worth while perpetuating body image issues and a false sense of failure.

As social media has progressed, people have begun to utilize the various platforms as a source of financial income, writing off blatant photoshop and harmful supplement promotion as mere paychecks. The Kardashian sisters sell empty promises as they pose next to mugs of laxative tea and pretty pink pill bottles, suggesting that their surgically crafted bodies are actually the products of gummy vitamins and special "cleanses." In turn, impressionable teenagers are left to compare themselves to these images of unattainable beauty. It is in this way that social media presents itself as a silent enemy, we are oblivious to the ways in which the media we consume rewires our brain.

Nearly every image that pops up on one's Instagram feed has been digitally altered, and the use of photoshop has become so prevalent that even your average high school student likely makes use of image-enhancing applications. ProjectKnow presents studies revealing how the ultimate desire of females aged 11-17 is sustained weight loss. Unsurprisingly, these survey results directly coincided with the rampant release of media images portraying models and actresses of shrinking sizes in the 1990s. ProjectKnow states that these images contributed to "an increased discrepancy" between the ideal female weight and the reality of female bodies during this time.

The same reality rings true for today's society as adolescents struggle with disordered eating and warped body image. I know from personal experience that time spent on Instagram is only time wasted as I compare myself to the godly portrayals of fitness influencers and other highly accomplished individuals. These portrayals, while illusory, have skewed my perception of what is truly important. I've noticed my values shift from academic success and lifelong fulfillment to petty weight loss and visible collarbones. This led me down a dark hole that I have yet to escape, a world in which my outward appearance trumps all other matters of importance. Since deleting my Instagram and taking time to observe "real world bodies," I have been able to reconstruct my views of beauty and realign myself with life's greatest pleasures. Shockingly, they don't involve having a flat tummy or bowls of watery protein ice cream.

My battle with body image relates to an overarching theme of perceived failure that I'm sure many social media users can relate to. Stories told on social media present only the "highlight reel," and it is widely known that these images only reveal a fraction of the truth. As a result, we are left to interpret these tales of perfection as the standards to which we must hold ourselves to. They set the bar and inform us of what is "acceptable." Whether it be an acceptance letter to an Ivy League school or a tropical getaway to Hawaii, nothing that we do will ever seem to compare to the idealistic Instagram-worthy depictions. Social media harms us in this way as it diminishes our personal achievement and holds us back from embracing our individual journey. This causes feelings of failure and may wreak havoc on our mental health.

While social media may just seem like a fun way to kill time, it's usage undoubtedly comes with serious consequences. From altering our perception of success to changing the ways that we feel about our bodies, social media has the ability to turn our lives upside down. In a world where photoshop is now abused by the typical teenager, it has never been more important to be conscious of the media that we consume.

Author(s)

Student Contributor, Write the World

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My Social Feed Was Hindering My Self-Esteem, and It Might Be Doing the Same For Yours - Thrive Global

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Here's how one teen learned to look beyond the altered images and highlight reels to see what really matters.

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How many users there are on social media

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Our compilation of the latest social media statistics of consumer adoption and usage of social networking platforms

Social networks have transformed marketing and, as this post shows, their popularity is still growing in our latest global social media statistics research summary for 2023.

Networks vary in popularity with different demographics and they're still evolving. Research by Global WebIndex that we reference in this article shows that globally,

59% of the world's population uses social media. The average daily usage is 2 hours and 31 minutes (January 2023).

We'll keep this post updated during 2023 as the latest statistics are published drawing on our recommended top 10 digital marketing statistics sources. We'll be pointing to new data on the popularity of social media from Global Web Index (worldwide), Pew Internet Surveys (US) and OfCom (UK), and most recently the Datareportal January 2023 global overview.

This post will apply the latest reports to our answers in 7 key areas crucial to understanding consumer use of social networks:

Q1. What is the overall popularity of social media compared to internet use globally?

Q2. Which are the most popular social networks by demographics (age and gender)?

Q3. Which are the fastest-growing social networks?

Q4. How do social users interact with brands when selecting products and services?

Q5. What are the different engagement metrics based on consumer behavior when using social media?

Q6. How do consumers interact with different post formats in social media?

Q7. What are the most popular times for consumers to use social media suggesting the best times to post?

Now more than ever, marketers need to make smart decisions when planning their digital distribution channels. So reviewing the latest social media diffusion and usage stats is a crucial part of any company's digital marketing strategy.

If you're looking for a new data-driven approach to planning your digital marketing strategy, why not download our free RACE Growth System template?

Q1. What is the overall popularity of social media compared to internet use globally?

Datareportal regularly updates its massive global compendium of social media statistics, which gives some great insights into the world of social media. It's a great download for including slides for your presentations.

How many people use social media?

As per the Datareportal January 2023 global overview we can see that social media growth has continued to increase:

More than half of the world now uses social media (59%)

4.76 billion people around the world now use social media, 137 million new users have come online within the last 12 months

The average daily time spent using social media is 2h 31m.

The full report from Datareportal contains a huge amount of insight collated from different data providers across 200+ slides. It provides country-specific data for the vast majority of the world, so you might want to check out the slides of the countries in your core markets to get a better idea of the current state of social in the areas you operate. In this post, we focus on the social media data which starts at slide 160 in the report.

This chart, by Datareportal, summarises the importance and growth of social media today.

Post-pandemic marketing update

In addition to business as usual, a special report by Datareportal in July 2020, examines changes in social media usage during the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown period. Notably a monumental increase in online and digital activities.

The increase came after a couple of years where growth had seemed to slow down, this behavior was attributed to changes in user behavior due to the lockdown. However, with growth continuing in 2023, there may be more at play than just the initial lockdown trends.

Q2. Which are the most popular social networks by demographics (age and gender)?

The best source for getting stats on the biggest social media platforms is direct from company statements and earning announcements.

Notably, of the top 4 social media platforms, 3 are owned by Meta. Facebook is the most-used platform in total - but as marketers, we know it's crucial to consider different trends of usage for different demographics, as we'll see below.

The rapid growth TikTok underwent in 2021 (resulting in a 142% increase YOY) saw it ranked the sixth most-used platform for the first time in July 2022. In January 2023 that remains the case.

With Elon Musk's proposed acquisition of Twitter we can expect changes to the platform including how Twitter regulates/empowers freedom of speech values for consumers and businesses.

So, what does this mean for your social media marketing strategy? Clearly, there are lots of opportunities to reach, interact with, convert and engage social media users across a wide number of channels, each with different features.

Don't forget you can use our free RACE Growth System template to identify digital priorities across targeted social media marketing to your identified target markets, through their favorite social media channels. You can find out more about the biggest social media channels in the breakdown below:

Global Facebook demographics

Since it is still the top dog, I'll share the Facebook demographics from Sprout Social Media's 2022 report. But you can get this breakdown for each channel and more in the report. This report was last updated in March 2022.

As we can see, from the Facebook data, the biggest demographic on Facebook is males aged 25-34. For females also this age range represents the largest user pool.
United States Social network popularity
The Pew Research Center news usage research is a very strong recent source showing US social media statistics trends in usage for news. Interestingly, nearly half of those surveyed in 2021 used social media to get news often or sometimes.

More interestingly, the stats breakdown below shows which social media channels are used by which genders, ages, education level, race, and political affiliations. For example, Facebook is a regular source of news to nearly double the amount of women to men. Nearly two thirds of Snapchat's regular news consumers are aged 18-29.

The 2021 Children and parents: media use and attitudes report published by OfCom (UK) is interesting if your business is involved in marketing to children or youth markets or you want to understand future adult use of social media. Notably, 44% of 8-11 year olds use social media apps/sites, swiftly increasing to 87% of 12-15 year olds.

Here's a snapshot of two of the four age groups featured.

Structure your marketing plan around a funnel proven to boost performance. Join Smart Insights as a Free Member for instant access to our RACE Growth System guide to hone your skills and drive the results you need.

Q3. Which are the fast-growing social networks?

Every marketer has limited time for social media marketing, so which fastest growing social network should you focus your efforts on?

The fastest growing social media network in 2021 was TikTok, with 18.3% YOY growth, over 87.1% growth in 2020, as measured by US Social Network User Growth.

With the ' Rise of Social media' interactive tool from 'Our World in Data' you can see the growth of the main networks between 2004 (when Myspace became the first platform to gain 1 million users) up to the end of 2019.

A summary of global social media growth

The number of social media users globally grew from 4.2 billion in January 2021 to 4.62 billion in January 2022. This accounts for a 10.1% growth YOY of global social media usage. In comparison, January 2023 saw a modest 3% growth of +137 million users.

Social media vs internet users: opportunities for growth

This chart shows the total number of Internet users as of January 2023. Whilst 64.4% of the world's population are internet users, 5% of those are still not active social media users.

Social media platforms today are evolving and developing to meet an ever-wider variety of consumer wants and needs. Surely the value that social media usage can add to consumers' lives is more evident than ever before - social media marketers can tap into that.

2023 analysis of regional use of social media shows the wide variation of social media penetration:

72% in Eastern Asia

74% in North America

72% in Southern America

84% in both Northern and Western Europe.

This falls to 41% in Southern Asia, 13% in Western Africa, and 7% in Middle Africa.

As you can see, the makeup of our international social media users is varied. This useful infographic demonstrates the share of global social media users - with Eastern Asia representing 27.7% of global social media users.

Q4. How do social users interact with brands when selecting products and services?

One of the challenges of social media marketing is that by its nature, social media are peer-to-peer, involving conversations between friends, families and colleagues. Given this, brands must be sensitive to how they use social media.

The research from GlobalWebIndex in their social media trends 2021 report shows how/why visitors use different social media services. Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin, Reddit and Twitter users all report 'follow/find information about products/brands' in their top 3 motivations.

Platform-specific social media marketing planning

Our new Organic Social Media Learning Path modules (released May 2022) are dedicated to helping marketers optimize their organic Instagram marketing with a strategic approach, integrated across the marketing funnel.

Our bite-sized modules contain tools and templates designed to help you address the systematic issue of businesses using social media platforms to create standalone posts rather than planning a strategy.

Our Social Media Learning Path has modules with dedicated help for:

This example plan, taken from our Facebook module, demonstrates how a joined-up approach can strengthen each stage of the funnel, across the RACE Framework of reach, act, convert, and engage.

Q5. What are the best benchmarks for different platforms' engagement rates?

Social media statistics benchmarking tool Rival IQ produces these useful sector-by-sector benchmarks of social media engagement metrics including:

Posts per day

Posts per week

Engagement rate

Top hashtags by engagement rate

These include useful sector benchmarks for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter you can compare against. Here is a sample of the insights from their 2022 report.
Facebook engagement rates
The 2021 median average engagement rate per post (by follower) on Facebook is 0.064%, across all industries. Sports Teams see the highest engagement, achieving an average of 0.27%, followed by Influencers with 0.23% and Higher Education with 0.15%.

At the lower end of the spectrum, Health & Beauty, and Tech & Software receive an average 0.02% engagement rate.
Instagram engagement rates
Engagement rates are significantly higher on Instagram compared to Facebook. As you can see the 2021 average median engagement rate per post (by follower) is more than 10x higher, despite engagement on Instagram dropping approx 30% between 2020-21.

Q6. How do consumers interact with different post formats in social media?

Marketers know intuitively that the right type of visuals and videos are more effective in gaining engagement.

This is supported by observed interaction rates. According to LinkedIn, Images typically result in a 2x higher comment rate and Video gets 5x more engagement on LinkedIn, Live Video gets 24x more.

This is also supported by this data from this Social Bakers social media trends report:

Videos longer than a minute achieved the highest median interactions and median reach on Facebook, according to Socialbakers data.

In fact, for both reach and interactions, there was a correlation that showed the longer a video was, the further it reached and the more interactions it received.

Socialbakers' metrics for video length are very short (less than 11.882 seconds), short (more than 11.882 and less than 24.362 seconds), medium (more than 24.362 and less than 61.248 seconds), long (more than 61.248 seconds and less than five minutes), and very long (more than five minutes).

Q7. What are the most popular times for consumers to use social media suggesting the best times to post?

Testing different frequency of updates and timing is another aspect of social media optimization based on consumer behaviour.

Each network tends to have a 'sweet spot' for frequency based on their algorithms. It used to be beneficial to post several times a day on Facebook for many brands, but with decrease organic reach, a single update tends to be more effective. We find a higher frequency on LinkedIn or Twitter tends to be more effective.

Sprout Social's 2022 social media strategy builder compares the best times to post on social media. Compare these to your patterns of posting and consider how you could post differently.

Each network tends to have a 'sweet spot' for frequency based on their algorithm and the most common times for consumer usage. It used to be beneficial to post several times a day on Facebook for many brands, but with decreased organic reach, a single update tends to be more effective.

We find a higher frequency on LinkedIn or Twitter tends to be more effective. The results from Instagram and Facebook show a clear preference for around midweek at midday, so you should consider this when scheduling your post updates.

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Global social media statistics research summary 2022 [June 2022]

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Social networks have transformed marketing and, as this post shows, their popularity is still growing in our latest global social media statistics research summary for 2023. Networks vary in popularity with different demographics and they're still evolving. Research by Global WebIndex that we reference in this article shows that globally, 59% of the world's population uses social media.

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you are able to get access to a lot of information like graphs for a project or for any questions you might have.

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Find the most up-to-date statistics about social media usage in the United Kingdom (UK)

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you are able to escape from reality and you can just relax knowing that you don't have to do anything for the rest of the day.

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Let's be honest, most of us spend more time than we want on social media. It is not unusual to lay down on our bed and watch our phones for "only 5 minutes" after a long day at work or a study session at the library. Hours pass and we realize that we spent them scrolling incessantly through endless cute cat videos on TikTok. It is also not unusual to hang out with your friends only to discover that everybody is actually on their phones. Why do we spend so much time on social media? Is Instagram the new reality? This last question might sound ridiculous for some, but we want you to think about the overuse of social media and how you can develop more healthy habits in your social life.

First, let us establish the problem. How much time on social media is too much? According to Statista, young individuals spend around two hours and 22 minutes on social media daily and check their phones around 96 times a day. This means that every 10 minutes we are somehow interacting with social media. Although we believe social media provides excellent ways to stay in touch with people around us, the overuse of these platforms can cause struggles like stress, body image issues, constant comparisons with others and Fear of Missing Out (FOMO).

Apps like Instagram and Tiktok are tailor-made so you never stop scrolling. Their algorithms are tailored to your activity patterns and taste which leads to a release of serotonin in the brain. Since the action of moving your finger through the screen is so simple, the effort-reward balance is unbeatable: minimum effort, high reward. Nevertheless, the more we consume on social media the more sensitive we become to the content we watch. This creates an effect of Plato's cave. We start believing that the pictures and videos we watch are real, when subconsciously we all know they are edited, or only represent one small part of reality. Unfortunately, as with every other source of pleasure, people find it extremely difficult to manage their use of social media. Professor Monideepa Tarafda of Lancaster University writes "While it might seem counter-intuitive, social media users are continuing to use the same platforms that are causing them stress rather than switching off from them, creating a blurring between the stress caused and the compulsive use."

Unfortunately, the problem is not only the time we spend on social media but also the kind of content we see. Watching people sharing the best part of their lives daily creates an inevitable competition to "strive for better," share "the perfect picture," "the perfect story" or "the perfect night with friends." It is completely right to record the happiest moments of your life, but the problem is when our life turns around what can we share with others on social media.

This stress to generate content from the part of the viewer can cause FOMO. When someone tells us a story they narrate what they remember, usually the best parts. Therefore our perspective of the given event is modified by what we were told. Social media causes this effect to be amplified. Although we know about the destructive nature of doom scrolling, which leads to consumption of fake news, we still indulge in it. There are many segments to this answer including psychological and sociological factors. The "slot machine effect" plays a role by keeping us waiting to find the post that suddenly gives us the most dopamine, but we never know when to stop looking. Also our ambition to remain informed during the the global crises of this decade brings us to consume any news. So, we can all agree that we spend too much time on social media, and often we will say it is unavoidable in this exceedingly globalized and interconnected world, that all the time we spend on Instagram goes towards building our network. But as our article stated above it is much more than a conscious decision and more of a compulsion. While it is undeniable that social media is now essential for our education and work, especially during the pandemic when everything is virtual, we must realize that the development of unhealthy habits and overindulgence can still be avoided. We have a couple tips that can help the process of decreasing our screen time that may lead to better mental health, without swearing to social media celibacy.

Out of sight, out of mind - remove the apps from your main screen. By having to work more to access the platform one would think twice before going through the trouble of opening it, leaving access for when there is a pressing need.

Use apps to control apps, ironic as it may sound. But there are some useful apps that can record your time away from your phone and give little rewards for each period to incentivize that desired behavior. These include Forest or Daywise. iPhone owners can even play around in their settings to restrict their data intake and time spent on apps.

Get a hobby, whether it is horseback riding, wine tasting or coin collecting, but certainly something that does not involve screens. Having an enjoyable hobby is likely to improve one's mood even if done only once a week for an hour.

Think of screen time as a reward. Reverse the process and instead of trying to get off of your phone, work to get back on it. Limit your screen time by allocating certain times to hop on the apps as a treat after some work. Just make sure you are staying within reasonable limits.

Share your bed with anyone but your phone - having the temptation of grabbing your phone while you are comfortably in your bed is dangerous during evenings when you want to get some rest or in the morning when you want to start the day being productive. Just leave it on your smart charger in the kitchen! By doing this, studies have shown that you can improve your sleep and avoid the increased risk for cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity, low HDL cholesterol and poor stress regulation.

We acknowledge that it is almost impossible to delete your social media these days. Nevertheless, we believe that we can limit our use to improve our mental health. Little actions, like the ones mentioned above, can make big changes in our lives. Let's use social media rather than letting social media use us.
Bruno Juarez and Karina Miszori are contributing writers. Email them at feedback@thegazelle.org.

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Social Media And Our Perception Of Reality: Ways To Unplug

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With an expansion of the social media landscape, the pernicious need for connection has blurred the distinction between reality and fiction. At what point does it get problematic and how can we prevent it?

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pros - able to make people laugh or smile

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pros - able to make people laugh or smile

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you can make people laugh on social media with dumb videos or pictures.

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Are you creating interesting and engaging content which is missing the mark? Keeping consistent in interacting with your audience, but not getting the response you'd like? Already posting regularly across several platforms, whilst struggling for marked improvements in your social analytics?

Most brands that are successful in today's climate strive towards excellence on social media. So what can you do to pull away from the pack and gain the traction which your product or service deserves?

The following aims to outline a few of the many benefits of using humour on social media and looks to discuss how you can express the funny side of your personality in order to grow your audience and better your levels of customer interactivity.

Interactivity

Your thumb smashes the send button and it's done. How could you resist? You had opened your phone and read an insightful and hilarious comment on your favourite social platform. Who doesn't like to share something that made them smile? Passing it on to your friends and network in an attempt to spread the small moment of joy. I don't blame you, most of us would have done similar.
And that is the key.

Levels of interactivity including comments, follows and shares are only boosted with the addition of humour in your social marketing mix. Every time your post is interacted with in any way - it's reach is grown, with almost unlimited potential. Memes, written jokes and funny videos are some of the most popular pieces of content on the web in 2019.

A simple "ha-ha" or crying smiley emoji from a follower can go along way to increase your brand visibility and overall social interactivity.

Versatility

A post that attempts to bring humour to a social platform is an extremely versatile tool to add to your marketing arsenal. Humour can take many forms, from simple imagery, a limerick or pun. In the right context and with the right amount of thought, most any subject can be adapted to be seen in a light-hearted way.

Be wary of stepping too far into offence and extreme subjects and you will have a host of new possibilities when it comes to creating content for your page.

Humanity

Who wants to follow a sterile social page, filled with nothing but corporate cliché and constant advertising? Do you? No? Neither do your potential audience.

For better or worse (most likely worse) There is a reason that celebrity profiles gain so much traction on social. People feel like they can relate to these public figures who have allowed the world a view inside their life.

I'm not saying that you need to spill the metaphorical beans all over the internet in order to reach a wider market. But showing a sense of humour is a great way to highlight that you are a real person, not some corporate bot.

Relatability

Is it a coincidence that most of us would admit to relating most to our close friends and family members? No. Is it also just a fluke that you more than likely share similarities in what you find funny? No.

There is a huge connection between the two ideas. The same effect happens when communicating with your customer base. Smaller brands particularly benefit from being relatable on social media, connecting better than some bigger faceless profiles.

Visibility

Your current followers have a lot to take in on their social platforms. Humour is one way of grabbing their attention instantly with some quick wit or satirical image.

Our brains strongly react to something that can make us laugh, it's a simple and age-old effect that increases bonding and fondness of your brand.

We've all been to a party and met 30 new people in a short amount of time. The next day you've forgotten most of the faces and vaguely remember the names of a selected few. Odds are you remember the person who had the ears of the crowd as they regaled them and guided the conversation in interesting and hilarious ways. The same can be said for your brand or product on social media. Be memorable, be funny.

Humour is one area that is rarely found in a sincere form on the internet. However, posts regularly explode with popularity, reaching millions in a matter of hours, all through the use of an off the cuff comeback or re-contextualised photograph.

If you can harness the power of humour through your social media presence, you will only have strengthened your overall marketing mix.

About the author

Matt Dodkins is a graphic designer and social media manager by day; an unfunny comedy writer and video series producer by night. Find out more about Matt on our Team page or on LinkedIn.

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The benefits of humour on social media for business - Peppis Designworks

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How to harness the power of humour through your social media presence and strengthen your overall marketing mix. Express the funny side of your personality.

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Social Media can be a great way for other people to spread positive messages and inspire hope in those who are feeling lost or even hopeless in life. The video I have linked here is what has personally helped me in the past.

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Watch This Video When You’re Feeling Down

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Shows the ways you can make money on social media

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Creators are the heart and soul of social media platforms, providing an endless stream of interest-based entertainment.

As the number of creators on social media platforms has grown, so too has the competition between platforms to keep creators sticking around.

While every major platform competes for influencer attention and corresponding ad dollars, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have become particularly popular for influencer marketing. The majority of ad dollars spent as part of this $6-billion-dollar industry are concentrated on these three platforms.

"Instagram's still seen as the prestige place for creators and brands to collaborate and create impact," said UCLA adjunct instructor of influencer marketing Lia Haberman, "but TikTok and YouTube aren't far behind, promising potential virality and increased engagement."

As a result, these platforms compete with each other - and other tech companies courting influencers - to offer creators the most lucrative monetization options. In order to keep creators happy, incentivized and producing free content, the companies have developed a range of monetization tools that are as conducive as possible to giving creators a sustainable path to profitability.

These five monetization options are some of the most popular ways that creators can make money on social platforms with new tools and features seemingly being added or refined every week. And as the competition for creators heats up, we can expect to see more innovation in the world of creator monetization as platforms seek new and better ways to help creators earn a living from their content.
1) Brand Deals
Brand deals are the number one way that creators make money on social media platforms, accounting for almost 70% of revenue according to a recent Goldman Sachs report.

Not only are creators, brands and agencies orchestrating these deals, the primary platforms also offer their own marketplace solutions to encourage connections and collaborations between brands and eligible creators. YouTube's BrandConnect, previously known as Famebit, pairs creators and brands for marketing campaigns. However, the video platform recently pivoted the program from a more hands-on approach where staffers would do personal outreach for preferred partners to a self-service model following tech layoffs.

Meanwhile, reviews of TikTok's Creator Marketplace and Instagram's Creator Marketplace have been mixed, with some creators complaining of low rates or brand deals that wind up worth less than advertised. Creators can negotiate almost triple their rate from working directly with brands versus through the platform marketplaces, according to a recent Creator Pay report from Hashtag Pay Me.

In general, the platforms are not staffed or set up to be successful directories. In fact, Snapchat is leaning heavily on agency partners to coordinate its new Collab Studio program. Influencer marketing agencies Whalar, Beeline by Brat TV, Influential, and Studio71 will work with Snapchat, Snap Stars (the platform's top creators) and brands to help produce sponsored Stories and bespoke ad creative. Meanwhile, there's a promising new TikTok program that could be a potentially lucrative solution, if it can scale beyond the approximately 400 creators currently involved. TikTok's Creative Challenge is a secret UGC (user-generated content) program, according to Haberman's marketing newsletter. The invite-only program is reportedly generating thousands of dollars for creators who produce UCG ads for brands.

TikTok has taken on the role of agency, lessening the friction for brands who need short-form creative but lack in-house resources, while creators are compensated for their production skills versus access to their audience. It's an interesting model but remains accessible to only a select few.

Brand deals are a large income source for creators.
Goldman Sachs

2) Creator Funds
Creator Funds became increasingly common on social media platforms during the pandemic, with TikTok being one of the first to introduce it. Other platforms quickly followed suite, such as Instagram's Reels Bonus program, Snapchat's Spotlight reward fund and Pinterest's Creator Fund for underrepresented creators.

The idea behind a creator fund is that the platform pays creators for the content they create, based on a variety of metrics such as views, likes, favorites and shares. However, one downside to this model is that as more creators join the platform, the pool of people sharing revenue gets bigger, and the payouts for individual creators can decrease. On top of that, economic pressures, creator dissatisfaction and shifting priorities have led many creator funds to be canceled or modified into other programs such as grants or accelerators.

About 73% of creators reported making no income at all from creator funds, according to a 2022 study by influencer-marketing agency Mavrck and eMarketer (now Insider Intelligence).

Indeed, TikTok received criticism for the low payouts of its initial Creator Fund, which had promised to pay out $1 billion over three years to eligible creators on the app. Creators reported making pennies for thousands of video views. The program was recently revamped with the introduction of TikTok's Creativity Program Beta. This new program, open to all eligible U.S. creators, requires high quality, original videos that are longer than one minute. Payment details of the fund have not yet been revealed but it is expected to be more lucrative than the original version.
3) Ad Revenue Sharing
Ad revenue sharing is a well-regarded monetization option and considered a predictable and sustainable way to make money on social media platforms, as long as the creator's content is consistently attracting views.

YouTube is the leader in this space with its YouTube Partner Program. YPP allows creators to earn a percentage of the revenue generated by ads that play before, during or alongside their videos. The partner program offers a 55% share of revenue share on long-form videos, and was expanded to include Shorts in 2022. Short-form video creators earn 45% of allocated Shorts revenue based on their share of total views.

Not to be left behind, Meta recently announced it was developing a revenue share model for Reels on Facebook, though hadn't extended those payments to Instagram. "It's the closest version to YouTube's Partner Program we've seen from Meta," said Haberman, who was invited to a virtual demo of the ad revenue share program that would overlay ads on Reels videos or play between videos.

Meta knows it's fighting against the perception that Facebook is dead or only for old people, explained Haberman. Reps for the platform have claimed their daily active user data shows healthy signs of engagement. The Reels ad revenue program, which is currently invite-only, is rolling out this summer to more creators who have opted in to Facebook's Professional Mode status. Other eligibility requirements or payment structure for the program have not been revealed.

Not to be left behind, Meta recently announced it was developing a revenue share model for Reels creators on Instagram Facebook.

"It's the closest version to YouTube's Partner Program we've seen from Meta," said Haberman, who was invited to a virtual demo of the ad revenue share program that would overlay ads at the bottom of public Reels videos or post loop ads available only on Facebook.

Meta knows it's fighting against the perception that Facebook is dead or only for old people, explained Haberman. Reps for the platform have claimed their daily active user data shows healthy signs of engagement and this new monetization opportunity could reinforce their efforts.

The Facebook Reels program which launched earlier this year will open up to more creators this summer while Instagram's program is just getting started with a select group of creators and advertisers.

The big difference between Meta and YouTube's ad rev share structure is a payout model based on performance, not ad revenue. "Initially, payouts in the test will be determined by the number of plays. The better their reels perform, the more creators can earn. Over time we may begin to incorporate other signals into payouts," Meta announced in a release this spring.
4) Merchandise and Affiliates
While it accounts for less than ten percent of their overall revenue earned, creators can also make money by selling their own merchandise or hawking brand products and services through affiliate links. YouTube Shopping lets eligible creators promote products from their own stores in videos or livestreams and from other brands across YouTube in their videos, Shorts, and live streams.

TikTok offers two ways to make sales on the app, either via their affiliate program which pays creators a commission based on sales made in videos or during livestreams. Creators can also showcase and sell products directly on TikTok Shop through in-feed videos, LIVEs, and the product showcase tab. For its part, Instagram shut down its affiliate commerce program in August 2022 and removed the shopping tab from its homepage in September 2022, which may impact creators ability to generate revenue through product sales on that platform.

But there are any number of retailers looking to fill that void. Amazon recently rolled out a TikTok look-alike feed on its mobile app called Inspire. Creators enrolled in the Amazon Influencer Program can post to the in-app shopping feed, which features photos, videos and related product recommendations. Influencers earn commissions from customers' purchases.

Amazon customers can't upload videos to the feed themselves but can submit product reviews to be considered for Inspire.
5) Tipping and Subscriptions
Tips, gifts, and paid subscriptions are another way for creators to make money on social media platforms. Platforms such as Twitch, OnlyFans and Patreon are well-known for their tip and subscription models, a model the social platforms have attempted to duplicate.

TikTok has rolled out a variety of features, including Tips, Video Gifts and Live Gifting with viewers sending pre-purchased Coins, which creators receive and redeem in-app as Diamonds. The short-form video app is also introducing paid Series, which allows creators to put exclusive content behind a paywall which fans can purchase for access.

Instagram has its own internal currency called Stars, which can be used as Gifts given to the Reels of select US creators. Similarly, Instagram also allows fans to tip creators with Badges when they go live. And the company recently enabled creators to tie exclusive content to its paid Subscription feature.

YouTube has supported multiple ways for creators to make money over the years, from Super Chat and Super Stickers to Channel Memberships and Super Thanks, which all allow fans exclusive ways to interact and support creators' content on the platform.

But creators need to build up a loyal following in order for these options to be successful. The model also relies on the creator acting as fundraiser, interrupting regularly scheduled programming to ask for tips or gifts, which could explain why it accounts for just three percent of revenue earned by creators.
Creator Eligibility Requirements
While the barrier to becoming a creator - especially a professional creator - has never been lower, it's important to note that revenue opportunities on social media platforms are not available to everyone.

Many of the official platform programs require that creators meet certain eligibility requirements, whether it's being 18 years old, having a certain number of followers and/or video views and often they must be US-based. These programs tend to benefit creators with established brands and larger audiences. It takes resources to be able to meet the eligibility requirements expected by the platforms, which can exclude many smaller or up-and-coming creators.

The platform that ensures a way for all types of content creators to participate in their programs is likely to be the winner in the long run. A platform that can actually help creators build sustainable businesses will have a competitive advantage over those who don't.

To be eligible for TikTok's creator programs, creators must have 10,000 followers and 100,000 authentic views on their videos in the last 30 days.

To be eligible for Instagram's creator programs, many of the requirements are shrouded in mystery. For example, access to Badges and Subscriptions is on an invite-only basis.

To join YouTube's Partner Program, creators must have 1,000 subscribers and 10 million eligible public Shorts views in the last 90 days or 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 valid public watch hours on long-form videos.

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5 Ways Creators Can Make Money On Social Platforms

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Creators are the heart and soul of social media platforms, providing an endless stream of interest-based entertainment. As the number of creators on social media platforms has grown, so too has the competition between platforms to keep creators sticking around.

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Instagram Reels - Share & Create Short Videos

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Create and share entertaining videos through Instagram Reels which offers text options, filters, and audio tools that can bolster your creative ideas. Videos are up to 30 seconds long and you can create multiple videos that allow you to express yourself.

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With all these apps and editing softwares you can easily use images and shapes to personalise your online diary to help curate a bigger sense of idendity

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5 Benefits Of Your Online Identity

We all know just how easy it is to set up a social media account, whether that's Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat - most of us has set up at least one before.

I ddarllen yr erthygl hon yn Gymraeg, clicia yma Guest Blog by Caitlin Jones

When used properly, and with good intentions, there are wonderful benefits to embracing your online identity. Here I'll take a look at 5 of them.

1. Representation

Knowing what your intentions are when using social media is the first step to figuring out how to represent yourself. Does your identity need to represent your social life or your professional persona?

There are so many ways for people to find you online these days. Friends, family, potential employers can all see what you've been up to, so the way you represent yourself can be very important. Imagine that you've applied for a professional job and your potential employer goes on the Internet to find out more about you. If they find lots of photos of you partying and negative comments, then would this have an effect on their decision to employ you or not? But if they found that you were using your online presence to network, share information related to your work etc., then this could have a positive effect on their decision to employ you.

When representing yourself online think how you can use your social profiles as tools to create opportunities in the real world.

2. Expression

To express yourself is widely encouraged on social media and there are various platforms and options out there to choose how you'd like to do this. You may choose to express yourself through videos on YouTube, conversations on Twitter or pictures on Instagram - there are loads more to choose from too.

For people that have been victims in real life, like being bullied, expressing yourself online can be a safer environment to do this, as there can be a lot of encouragement given online. But with the encouragement comes judgement as well, thinking specifically about TROLLS. But there are things you can do to protect yourself from hate before it even reaches you. I put together these ' Self Defence Online: Top Tips ' that I hope will help.

3. Hobbies

It's 2020 and it's easier than ever to take your hobbies to the next level. No matter what you're into whether its knitting or spitting bars you can make something more of yourself if you integrate your hobbies with your online identity.

Perhaps you have made something you'd like to sell or feel you have something positive to share with others, building your profiles around your hobbies can increase reach and sales.

Perhaps you haven't found a hobby to suit you? Here's where you can use your online identity to find one. Every website you interact with has its own idea of your identity because each one you visit sees you and your characteristics differently. So, put simply, the more you interact with things of interest, the more suggestions websites will give you of things which may appeal to you.

You can also like and share posts from people who are not well represented online, or who are doing something to tackle representation gaps. Sometimes people worry what others will think if they like or share something a bit different, but there are lots of people doing great things online who we can all help to feel included and celebrated.

4. Community

So, you've found what interests you and now you'd like to meet some likeminded people. There are thousands of online communities and groups who interact daily, finding one another based off the content posted to their profiles.

This can be the perfect opportunity for you to start conversations, share knowledge on specific topics and broaden your horizons on things of interest to you.

Online communities can often be brought to life as many arrange meet ups and networking events-make sure you attend these in public venues ONLY and let others know your whereabouts.

It's also a great tool in terms of growing your accounts as you can all interact and share content.

5. Brand

Some people like to represent themselves online as exactly who they believe they are, or aspire to be. Some use their online identity to represent the things they like, find funny or think is cool.

An online identity can offer social benefits to people with physical and sensory disabilities especially. The flexibility of online media gives them control over whether they choose to tell people about their impairments or not, it may not be possible for them to be able to do this in real life interactions.

Your online identity is not the same as your real-world identity because the characteristics you represent online differ from the characteristics you represent in the physical world. You can choose to be the best version of yourself online, or it might give you the freedom to be the most honest and relatable version of yourself.

It's about the freedom. There are no limits and no rules.

In a world where negatives are often dwelled on, let's remember the benefits of an online identity. While there are no rules, good intentions should always be on the frontline, and when used to its advantages your online identity can bring many opportunities.

Let's work together for a better Internet.

If you're worried about anything, whether that's to do with being online or anything else in life, you can always speak to our Meic advisors who are here to help between 8am and midnight, 7 days a week.

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5 Benefits Of Your Online Identity - Home - Meic

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We all know just how easy it is to set up a social media account - but who do you want to be online? Is it time to figure out your online identity?

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pros - able to talk to friends and connect with them

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pros - able to talk to friends and connect with them

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You can make friends anywhere in social media like in Instagram or discord and you are able chat to them.

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Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, with millions of people around the world using social media platforms to connect with friends, family, and colleagues. In recent years, social media has also become an important tool for businesses and organizations, offering new opportunities for online communication, customer engagement, and digital marketing.

Social networking platforms allow users to share photos, videos, and updates with their followers, while also connecting with others in their social network. Social media platforms also offer a range of tools for businesses and organizations to connect with their audience and engage with customers in new ways.

Digital marketing has been transformed by the rise of social media, with businesses now able to reach out to their target audience through targeted advertising and social media campaigns. Social media allows businesses to build relationships with their customers and create engaging content that can help to drive brand awareness and loyalty.

Social media platforms have also given rise to online communities, where users can connect with others who share similar interests, hobbies, or experiences. These online communities offer a way for people to connect and engage with others from around the world, regardless of geographical location.

Despite the many benefits of social media, it's important to recognize that there are also potential risks and downsides. Social media can be addictive, and it's important to balance online activity with other aspects of life. There are also concerns about online privacy and security, as well as the potential for cyberbullying and harassment.

In conclusion, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, offering new opportunities for online communication, digital marketing, and social networking. While there are potential risks and downsides to social media, the benefits of these platforms are clear, and they offer new ways for individuals and businesses to connect and engage in the digital age.

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The power of social media: Connecting and engaging in the digital age

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Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, with millions of people around the world using social media platforms to connect with friends, family, and colleagues. In...

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PROS:
- Interacting with nearly anyone around the world is easier than ever.
- Receiving advice for personal issues. (mental, medical, work, etc.)
- A variety of careers are available over social media.
- Can be used to save lives and help in cases of emergency.
- People may find better use for their talents and hobbies online rather than in real life, things like commissioning are much more easily done over social media rather than in real life.
CONS:
- Too much time spent behind a screen can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression.
- Can result in sleep patterns being disturbed due to overuse of social media.
- Misinformation can be easily spread with social media.
- Cyberbullying has been a serious issue ever since social media began and is still a prevalent issue in today's word.
- People tend to be much different over social media compared to how they may be in real life. Due to there being no repercussions to your actions when talking behind a screen, people take this opportunity to become a completely different person over social media.