[OPLIN 4cast] OPLIN 4Cast #666: Social media tries (again) to clean up its act

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OPLIN 4Cast #666: Social media tries (again) to clean up its act
October 2nd, 2019

[image: Digital Media Information Medium News Concept] The rise of
Instagram Influencers and other social media stars does not really surprise
me. I grew up aware of people who were "famous for being famous," who kept
themselves in the public eye by appearing on magazine covers, gossip
columns, talk shows, and variety specials. But the social media machines
that drive their success are also the engines for bullying and abuse, and
research shows that social media platforms are negatively affecting our
well-being
<https://hbr.org/2017/04/a-new-more-rigorous-study-confirms-the-more-you-use-facebook-the-worse-you-feel>.
This summer, Instagram launched tests to hide posts "Like" counts, and
prompt commenters when their text is "mean-spirited." This week, other
platforms began testing these and other measures to improve the atmosphere.

   -
   - Instagram Head Adam Mosseri Discusses App's New Features Meant To
   Fight Bullying
   <https://www.npr.org/2019/09/23/763521121/instagram-head-adam-mosseri-discusses-apps-new-features-meant-to-fight-bullying>
   [*NPR*] "The idea with making like counts private is to try and
   depressurize the experience a bit. It can sometimes feel like a popularity
   contest."
   - Facebook will test hiding ‘Likes’ on its own site
   <https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/26/facebook-hides-like-counts-test-australia/>
   [*Engadget*] "With its latest test, the company's now hoping it help it
   create a healthier atmosphere all around, on its site and Instagram --
   although it does present a problem for social media influencers
   <https://www.engadget.com/2017/06/21/instagram-social-media-influencers/>,
   many of whom have built business models based entirely around Likes and the
   clout that comes with them."
   - Twitter launches its controversial ‘Hide Replies’ feature in the US
   and Japan
   <https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/19/twitter-launches-its-controversial-hide-replies-feature-in-the-u-s-and-japan/>
   [*TechCrunch*] "People who come into a conversation to cause drama, make
   inappropriate remarks or bully and abuse others won’t have their voices
   heard by the majority of the conversation’s participants. Only those who
   choose to view the hidden replies will see those posts."
   - Reddit has broadened its anti-harassment rules and banned a major
   incel forum
   <https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/30/20891920/reddit-harassment-bullying-threats-new-policy-change-rules-subreddits>
   [*The Verge*]"Today’s changes, according to the Reddit post, are meant
   to stop users from sticking to the letter of anti-harassment rules but
   breaking the spirit of them. As Reddit admits, that’s inevitably going to
   create ambiguity, so their effectiveness will depend on how well
   administrators address each difficult case."


*From the Ohio Web Library <http://ohioweblibrary.org>:*

   - Mehari, K. R., et al. “Cyberbullying Prevention: Insight and
   Recommendations from Youths, Parents, and Paediatricians
   <http://proxy.oplin.org:2054/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cmh&AN=130228884>
   .” *Child: Care, Health & Development*, vol. 44, no. 4, July 2018, pp.
   616–622.
   - Roberts, Molly. “An Instagram Influencer’s Obsessing Meltdown
   <http://proxy.oplin.org:2054/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cmh&AN=wapo.cbb34ef0-d661-11e9-9610-fb56c5522e1c>
   .” *Washington Post, The*, 2019 Spring 9AD.
   - “It’s a Dirty, Damaging Job Trying to Clean up the Internet
   <https://proxy.oplin.org:2111/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=7EH146985646&site=ehost-live>
   .” *Sunday Times, The*, Mar. 2019, p. 15.

------------------------------
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