Aug 25 Watch 3:14 The problem with only liking things we find relatable By PBS News Hour The social media culture of “likes” is contributing to our conformity, says novelist and creative writing teacher Charmaine Craig. Instead of trying to empathize with the unfamiliar, we “like” and find refuge only in the things that seem most relatable. Continue watching
Aug 07 Watch 8:05 Are smartphones making a generation unhappy? By PBS News Hour The promise of social media is instant human connection. But for many teens, greater use of social media mans a far greater sense of isolation, according to an increasing body of evidence. William Brangham speaks with Jean Twenge, author of… Continue watching
Aug 04 Watch 2:55 Why Google is like truth serum for our most personal thoughts By PBS News Hour Seth Stephens-Davidowitz spent five years studying Google search data that revealed people's darkest and weirdest thoughts. It actually made him feel better. It also changed what he thought he knew about how the world works. Stephens-Davidowitz offers his humble opinion… Continue watching
Jun 29 Watch 11:54 How do Trump’s Twitter taunts affect the presidency? By PBS News Hour President Trump's Twitter attack on MSNBC hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough -- whom he called "low I.Q. Crazy Mika" and "Psycho Joe" -- ignited a firestorm of sharp criticism, even from the president's Republican allies. John Yang reports and… Continue watching
Jun 27 Twitter Chat: Ask your questions about the Senate health care bill By Lora Strum Who wins and who loses if the Senate health care bill succeeds? Who’s backing it in Congress and just how likely is it to pass? Join us for a Twitter chat Thursday at 11 a.m. EDT. Continue reading
Jun 26 Study retracted: Everyone is too distracted to stop sharing fake news By Nsikan Akpan New research shows that everyone is prone to sharing fake news when dealing with a never-ending stream of updates. Continue reading
Jun 20 Watch 8:05 Schools are watching students’ social media, raising questions about free speech By PBS News Hour As universities have started paying close attention to the internet presence of prospective students, high schools have also begun cracking down, sometimes hiring outside companies to police social media posts for bullying or abusive language. But monitoring raises other problems,… Continue watching
Jun 12 Why this poet is posting meaningless verse on Instagram By Elizabeth Flock Thom Young, a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet, launched an experiment to show how easy it is to become a social media star. Continue reading
Jun 10 Watch 8:25 How online social movements translate to offline results By Sam Weber, Laura Fong In recent years, social media has played a key role in organizing and getting protesters into the streets in the U.S. and around the world. Though these tools can help rally people to action, a new book, "Twitter and Tear… Continue watching
Jun 06 Watch 7:31 How media literacy can help students discern fake news By PBS News Hour Recognizing bias in news stories is one form of media literacy. Spotting when the news is totally fabricated is something else entirely. How can teachers help students tell fact from media fiction? Educators and media literacy advocates in Washington state… Continue watching