Internet shutdowns are an increasingly common form of repression, with India being responsible for nearly half of global shutdown events. Ordered by local and state authorities, many of these shutdowns aim to restore public order and quell protests and riots. So far, however, there is no causal evidence that this measure is effective in achieving its stated goal. Social media has been shown to...
Combating Fake News in Health: An online Survey
The rapid and far-reaching dissemination of misinformation on social media
is a threat to global health. As a consequence, several media platforms
have recently established tools to combat its spread like fact-checks or warning
signs of misinformation. In this research project, we assess the effectiveness
of two tools (pre- and debunking)...
Social identities determine who we consider as 'us' and who as 'them'. Diverse nation states are confronted with an ongoing challenge to unite communities behind a shared national identity trumping local, ethnic, or religious identities. Information technologies spread narratives that can influence the weights of these different identities. This paper examines the consequences of the arrival...
