Social Media Research
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Press Statement
Knight Institute Files Amicus Brief in X Corp. v. Media Matters
Says forced disclosure of donor list raises First Amendment concerns and has chilling effects
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Press Statement
Federal Judge Says Challenge in Zuckerman v. Meta Cannot Go Forward Yet
Knight Institute looks forward to arguing, at a later date, that Section 230 protects user empowering tools
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Press Statement
Federal Judge Dismisses Elon Musk’s X Corp's Lawsuit Against Nonprofit Researchers
In a win for free speech, a California district court dismissed X Corp’s efforts to target the Center for Countering Digital Hate for highlighting the social network’s flaws
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Press Statement
Federal Court Dismisses Challenge to Texas TikTok Ban
Knight Institute, researchers say ruling poses a threat to academic freedom and impedes crucial research
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Press Statement
Knight Institute to Provide New Legal Support to Researchers Studying Online Platforms
New Initiative is Necessary Because of Threats From Platforms and Government, Institute Says
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Essays and Scholarship
Teachable Agents for End-User Empowerment in Personalized Feed Curation
Empowering users to shape their own social media feeds
By Kevin Feng , David McDonald & Amy Zhang -
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Press Statement
Knight Institute Asks Court to Rule Quickly on Researchers’ Challenge to Texas TikTok Ban
Declaration from leading security expert asserts that ban is misguided and counterproductive
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Essays and Scholarship
How to Prepare for the Deluge of Generative AI on Social Media
A grounded analysis of the challenges and opportunities
By Sayash Kapoor & Arvind Narayanan -
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Quick Take
Introducing Visualizing Virality
Illustrating and investigating virality and demotion on Twitter
By Arvind Narayanan -
Event
Optimizing for What? Algorithmic Amplification and Society
A two-day symposium exploring algorithmic amplification and distortion as well as potential interventions
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Essays and Scholarship
Understanding Social Media Recommendation Algorithms
Towards a better informed debate on the effects of social media
By Arvind Narayanan -
Institute Update
Knight Institute Symposium on “Algorithmic Amplification” to Feature Leading Scholars and Technologists
Public event to be held on April 28-29, 2023, at Columbia University and online
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Press Statement
Knight Institute Welcomes Formal Introduction of “Platform Transparency and Accountability Act”
Bill includes important protections to support independent research and journalism on digital platforms
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Deep Dive
TikTok’s Secret Sauce
TikTok’s algorithm is ordinary. Its real innovation is something else.
By Arvind Narayanan -
Deep Dive
How To Train Your TikTok
Simple ways to better navigate the platform’s ocean of video content
By Arvind Narayanan -
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Institute Update
Call for Participation: Optimizing for What? Algorithmic Amplification and Society
The Knight Institute invites submissions for its spring symposium, April 27-28, 2023, at Columbia University
By Arvind Narayanan & Katy Glenn Bass -
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Quick Take
Institute Litigation Director Calls for Research into the “New Physics” of Public Discourse
Arcane algorithms must be brought to light to grapple with little-understood impacts on elections, media, and society
By A. Adam Glenn -
Quick Take
On Panel, Institute Attorney Warns of Legal Obstacles to Public-Interest Research on Internet Platforms
Krishnan points to Knight Institute's “safe harbor” proposal and just-released policy paper
By A. Adam Glenn -
Essays and Scholarship
A Safe Harbor for Platform Research
Knight Institute policy paper proposes legal protection for certain research and newsgathering projects focused on platforms
By Alex Abdo , Ramya Krishnan , Stephanie Krent , Evan Welber Falcón & Andrew Keane Woods -
Event
Pursuing Platform Transparency in 2022: A January 19 Virtual Panel
Panelists will discuss a three-pronged approach to platform transparency
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Press Statement
Knight Institute Welcomes Introduction of Bipartisan “Platform Transparency and Accountability Act”
Discussion draft includes protections for journalists and researchers who study social media platforms
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Essays and Scholarship
A Standard for Universal Digital Ad Transparency
Proposal spells out criteria that trigger transparency requirement, with ad data to be collected by government agency
By Laura Edelson , Jason Chuang , Erika Franklin Fowler , Michael M. Franz & Travis Ridout -
Deep Dive
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Facebook?
Start with Congress enabling more research and journalism focused on social media platforms
By Ramya Krishnan & Alex Abdo -
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Quick Take
Institute Litigation Director Troubled Over Future of Research on Facebook
Knight Institute believes platform is trying to silence independent research into its ad-related practices
By A. Adam Glenn -
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Press Statement
Researchers, NYU, Knight Institute Condemn Facebook’s Effort to Squelch Independent Research about Misinformation
Say Facebook is moving to silence independent research into Facebook’s practices regarding political advertising, the spread of COVID 19 misinformation, and efforts to conceal the promotion of violence on January 6
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Deep Dive
Can We Conceive of a New Internet?
By A. Adam GlennThe Knight First Amendment Institute hosted a week-long symposium to explore ways to lessen the dominance of tech giants and find new alternatives to gather online.
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Press Statement
Knight Institute Comments on Supreme Court Decision in Van Buren v. United States
Says decision will help protect public-interest research and journalism, but more is needed
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Deep Dive
Crypto Logic Platforms and the Cautionary Tale of Steemit
What makes crypto social media unique?
By Ethan Zuckerman & Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci -
Press Statement
Researchers, Knight Institute Condemn Facebook Effort to Squelch Research on Disinformation
Say independent research into the platform is crucial
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Deep Dive
Beyond Facebook Logic: Help us map alternative social media!
Toward a civic-minded social media
By Ethan Zuckerman & Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci