Internet and Social Media (49)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 41 min
- The New York Times
- 2021
In this podcast episode, Ellen Pao, an early whistleblower on gender bias and racial discrimination in the tech industy, tells the story of her experience suing the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins for gender discrimination. The episode then moves into a discussion of how Silicon Valley, and the tech industry more broadly, is dominated by white men who do not try to deeply understand or move toward racial or gender equity; instead, they focus on PR moves. Specifically, she reveals that social media companies and CEOs can be particularly performative when it comes to addressing racial or gender inequality, focusing on case studies rather than breeding a new, more fair culture.
- The New York Times
- 2021
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- 41 min
- The New York Times
- 2021
Sexism and Racism in Silicon Valley
In this podcast episode, Ellen Pao, an early whistleblower on gender bias and racial discrimination in the tech industy, tells the story of her experience suing the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins for gender discrimination. The episode then moves into a discussion of how Silicon Valley, and the tech industry more broadly, is dominated by white men who do not try to deeply understand or move toward racial or gender equity; instead, they focus on PR moves. Specifically, she reveals that social media companies and CEOs can be particularly performative when it comes to addressing racial or gender inequality, focusing on case studies rather than breeding a new, more fair culture.
How did Silicon Valley and the technology industry come to be dominated by white men? How can this be addressed, and how can the culture change? How can social networks in particular be re-imagined to open up doors to more diverse leadership and workplace cultures?
Sway: Silicon Valley's Thin Skins and Giant Egos-
- 5 min
- Inc
Clubhouse, a new, exclusive social network app which appeared during the coronavirus pandemic, has some frightening data collection practices which are outlined in detail in this article. Essentially, while the company was not monetized at the time of this article, it collects data not only on users on the platform, but also any contacts of that user.
- Inc
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- 5 min
- Inc
Clubhouse Is Recording Your Conversations. That’s Not Even Its Worst Privacy Problem
Clubhouse, a new, exclusive social network app which appeared during the coronavirus pandemic, has some frightening data collection practices which are outlined in detail in this article. Essentially, while the company was not monetized at the time of this article, it collects data not only on users on the platform, but also any contacts of that user.
What are the consequences of social networks having detailed data on the personal networks of its users? What are the dangers of collecting data by putting many different social networking platforms into conversation with one another? How do draws such as exclusivity pull attention away from irresponsible data mining practices?
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- 5 min
- Gizmodo
- 2021
Thorough investigation led to the conclusion that bots played a role in the economic disruption of GameStop stocks in early 2021. Essentially, the automated accounts aided in the diffusion of materials promoting the purchase and maintenance of GameStop stocks as a ploy to act as a check on wealthy hedge fund managers who bet that the stock would crash. The wholistic effect of these bots in this specific campaign, and thus a measure of how bots may generally be used to cause economic disruption in online markets through interaction with humans, remains hard to read.
- Gizmodo
- 2021
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- 5 min
- Gizmodo
- 2021
Bots Reportedly Helped Fuel GameStonks Hype on Facebook, Twitter, and Other Platforms
Thorough investigation led to the conclusion that bots played a role in the economic disruption of GameStop stocks in early 2021. Essentially, the automated accounts aided in the diffusion of materials promoting the purchase and maintenance of GameStop stocks as a ploy to act as a check on wealthy hedge fund managers who bet that the stock would crash. The wholistic effect of these bots in this specific campaign, and thus a measure of how bots may generally be used to cause economic disruption in online markets through interaction with humans, remains hard to read.
Do you consider this case study, and the use of the bots, to be “activism”? How can this case study be summarized into a general principle for how bots may manipulate the economy? How do digital technologies help both wealth and non-wealthy people serve their own interests?
- Wired
- 2021
Youtube algorithm’s struggle to distinguish chess-related terms from hate speech and abuse has revealed shortcomings in artificial intelligence’s ability to moderate online hate speech. The incident reflects the need to develop digital technologies capable of processing natural languages with a sufficient degree of social sensitivity.
- Wired
- 2021
- Wired
- 2021
Why a YouTube Chat About Chess Got Flagged for Hate Speech
Youtube algorithm’s struggle to distinguish chess-related terms from hate speech and abuse has revealed shortcomings in artificial intelligence’s ability to moderate online hate speech. The incident reflects the need to develop digital technologies capable of processing natural languages with a sufficient degree of social sensitivity.
Where do you draw the line between freedom of speech and online community conduct and regulations? What are some problems you think AI will experience in moderating hate speech like slurs?
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- 60 min
- Association for Computing Machinary
- 2023
A qualitative study was conducted with 10 participants who use griefbots to cope with loss after the death of a loved one. Interviews were about an hour long each, and the results are compiled in a readable table.
- Association for Computing Machinary
- 2023
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- 60 min
- Association for Computing Machinary
- 2023
The “Conversation” about Loss: Understanding How Chatbot Technology was Used in Supporting People in Grief.
A qualitative study was conducted with 10 participants who use griefbots to cope with loss after the death of a loved one. Interviews were about an hour long each, and the results are compiled in a readable table.
- What other questions could the researchers have asked the users?
- Do you think this service is something you might use? What information would you want in a griefbot about a loved one?
- What are the ways in which a bad actor could use this service in harmful ways?
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- 35 min
- Submitted to AIES '25
Critically examines emerging technologies that enable digital immortality—the preservation and simulated interaction with the dead through AI-generated chatbots, deepfakes, or virtual avatars using personal data. The paper argues that these technologies represent a form of techno-solutionism, providing artificial remedies for the complex human experience of grief. The authors warn that digital immortality platforms—marketed by startups like HereAfter AI, Eter9, and others—pose psychological, ethical, legal, and environmental risks, especially to vulnerable grieving individuals.
- Submitted to AIES '25
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- 35 min
- Submitted to AIES '25
Wanted Dead or Alive
Critically examines emerging technologies that enable digital immortality—the preservation and simulated interaction with the dead through AI-generated chatbots, deepfakes, or virtual avatars using personal data. The paper argues that these technologies represent a form of techno-solutionism, providing artificial remedies for the complex human experience of grief. The authors warn that digital immortality platforms—marketed by startups like HereAfter AI, Eter9, and others—pose psychological, ethical, legal, and environmental risks, especially to vulnerable grieving individuals.
- What is digital immortality, and how does it differ from other concepts like transhumanism or consciousness uploading?
- Why do the authors argue that digital immortality platforms are a form of social media? Do you agree with this classification?
- How does the paper define and critique “techno-solutionism”?