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Arkansas social media age verification law struck down by federal court

BY: - August 31, 2023

A federal judge on Thursday blocked Arkansas’ new social media age verification law aimed at protecting children online hours before it was set to take effect. The law — a priority of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders — would’ve been the first of its kind implemented in the U.S., requiring new users on large social networks […]

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs SB396, to create the Social Media Safety Act, on April 12, 2023, with bill sponsors, Rep. Jon Eubanks (left), R-Paris, and Sen. Tyler Dees, R-Siloam Springs. (Photo by Randall Lee/Governor's Office)

New Arkansas social media age verification law could complicate student-athletes’ publicity efforts

BY: - April 12, 2023

Austyn Dendy, a junior student-athlete at Pine Bluff High School, has college offers from numerous universities, including Tulane, the University of Nevada Las Vegas and the University of Mississippi.  Recruiters discovered Dendy and other outstanding Arkansas athletes like him through his high school coaches’ networks but also on social media.  Dendy, who participates in football, […]

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Twitter’s decision to stop enforcing COVID-19 misinformation policy is irresponsible, dangerous

BY: - December 6, 2022

Twitter recently made the irresponsible decision to stop enforcing its policy against COVID-19 misinformation. This decision is especially disappointing in light of Twitter’s formerly laudable efforts to protect its users from health misinformation. In a 2021 report, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy cited Twitter as an example of a social media platform that had made […]

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On Oct. 19, 2022, an official with the Miami-Dade County Elections Department conducts a comprehensive examination of the voting equipment that will be used in the Nov. 8th general election. Elections, from campaigning to voting systems, are under great scrutiny this year. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Experts grade readiness of four big social media platforms to handle election misinformation

BY: , and - October 20, 2022

The 2016 U.S. election was a wake-up call about the dangers of political misinformation on social media. With two more election cycles rife with misinformation under their belts, social media companies have experience identifying and countering misinformation. However, the nature of the threat misinformation poses to society continues to shift in form and targets. The […]

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Americans think they know a lot about politics; too often they’re wrong

BY: - September 6, 2022

Ian Anson, University of Maryland, Baltimore County As statewide primaries continue through the summer, many Americans are beginning to think about which candidates they will support in the 2022 general election. This decision-making process is fraught with difficulties, especially for inexperienced voters. Voters must navigate angry, emotion-laden conversations about politics when trying to sort out […]