Algorithms, bots and elections in Africa: how social media influences political choices

There are indications that social media algorithms and bots are slowly changing the dynamics of elections in Africa

Twitter’s design stokes hostility and controversy. Here’s why, and how it might change

Twitter needs to reconsider the algorithms and metrics (such as likes and retweets) that enable the company to profit from co-ordinated …

Climate communication: Why it is so important in today’s world

Climate communication can demystify climate change and create awareness in a language that can be understood, empathised with and acted upon

Facebook's wild and severe side effects

Facebook is undermining democracies and leading to shallow and degraded public discourse

Living inside social media eco chambers: Ideological conditioning through information bias

Combined with rampant misinformation that circulates through the internet, most users dive deep into an ideological pitfall: They end up building …

How tech rebooted economics and platforms broke the invisible hand

Growing evidence and new research explain the evolution of economic diversity and the need to rethink monopolies in the age of technology  

How Gandhi’s doggedness continues to inspire Indian cartoonists

At a time when mainstream Indian media is prostrating itself before the present regime, uncompromising cartoonists are doing their work with …

Bringing science to layman: Vigyan Prasar workshops tries to rekindle public interest in science

Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous organisation under the Department of Science and Technology, has been working to kindle interest in science …

As press freedom continues to struggle in Kenya, alternatives keep hope alive

As we mark World Press Freedom Day 2021, let us remember that 2020 was terrible for the press in many parts of the world.

Why social media health check must include Global South

There is plenty of evidence showing how social media use can affect youth mental health but studies often omit the developing countries of the …

How IT Threatens Democracy

Social media could be just the start of a slippery slope leading to an Orwellian world controlled by Big Data Brother

Want to delete your social media, but can’t bring yourself to do it? Here are some ways to take that step

A 2021 meta-analysis found a small positive association between depressive symptoms and social media use

Too many digital distractions are eroding our ability to read deeply. Here’s how we can become aware of what’s happening

Media multi-tasking is an adaptive response to an environment inundated with information, but it comes at a cognitive cost

Decoding Prime Minister Modi’s second win

There is convincing evidence to suggest that Mr. Modi benefits from the well-oiled troll machine of the BJP and the power of social media

Replacing news editors with AI is a worry for misinformation, bias and accountability

A newspaper in Germany is reportedly adopting artificial intelligence to replace certain editorial roles

The next invasion of insect pests will be discovered via social media

The proliferation of smart phones means many people have an encyclopedia of knowledge, a high-resolution digital camera and GPS in their pockets

You can be sued for your social media posts

Copyright issues related to social media posts are a concern as platforms are shutting down accounts without notice

Even an hour of screen time can affect mental health of 2-year-olds: study

Children and adolescents may have less curiosity, lower self-control & emotional stability, shows a study that surveyed more than 40,000 …

Nearly half of teen respondents in Delhi-NCR addicted to internet: Study

CRY research claims internet addiction increases with age; was greater among those with private rooms, access to personal mobile devices

Sendit, Yolo, NGL: Anonymous social apps are taking over once more, but they aren’t without risks

These can have harmful consequences for young people like cyberbullying, image-based abuse & even online grooming

Digging your own digital grave: How should you manage the data you leave behind?

It might be tempting to think of data after death as inconsequential — after all, we’ll no longer be around to worry about it

New intermediary guidelines: The good and the bad

Problem of intermediary regulation gets deserved attention in the new rules; bringing online curated content platforms within the ambit of …

In India, WhatsApp is a weapon of antisocial hatred

A new challenge has arisen in the form of social media – specifically WhatsApp. Hate speech, disinformation and scary rumors are already …

Development news, polarisation and social media in times of Lok Sabha polls

Polarisation of development news in social media makes its impact partisan and non-effective

Scrolling into stress: How climate fears hit youth

Our young people are getting a dose of social media-driven eco-anxiety over the environment. There are ways we can help them beat it.