You might think that trolling on the internet is done by a small, vocal minority of sociopaths. But what if all trolls aren’t born trolls? What if they are ordinary people like you and me?
Ben Carson laughs, Jan. 12, 2017.
AP Photo/Zach Gibson
In Africa, the idea of a post-truth era - which by implication fundamentally presupposes the existence of an era in which ‘truth’ was self-evident - is folly.
The idea of white victimhood played an important part in Donald Trump’s rise. The South African brand of white supremacy has made a tangible contribution to this narrative of victimhood.
Foxtel’s high-priced oligopolistic control over Australian pay TV has again clashed with the demands of sport fans and the increasingly sophisticated capture and relay technologies available to them.
You might think you’re anonymous when you’re browsing the web. But a new study shows that browsing history can often be tied to your real-world identity.
Donald Trump’s reinvention of the royal fiat as rule-by-tweet, or ‘twiat’, is anti-democratic and needs to be resisted.
Twitter
Nick Couldry, London School of Economics and Political Science
Donald Trump is reinventing the royal fiat by novel means: the rule-by-tweet, or ‘twiat’. This move is not an extension of popular democracy, but its enemy, and it needs to be resisted.
Jelena Dzakula, London School of Economics and Political Science
Social networks built on blockchain technology, such as Steemit, promise a far more democratic experience.
Kenyan student doctors perform a drill during a strike to demand fulfilment of a 2013 agreement between doctors’ union and the government.
Reuters/Thomas Mukoya
Kenya faces a rising number of major incidents and disasters. Any delays in treating patients could result in increased morbidity and mortality rates.
Pro-Donald Trump bots worked to sway public opinion in the US election by secretly taking over pro-Hillary Clinton hashtags and spreading fake news stories.
Reuters/Lucas Jackson
Bots have not just been used in the US, but also in Australia, the UK, Germany, Syria and China. To what extent – and how – are they affecting political discourse?
Donald Trump at his election night rally in New York, November 9, 2016.
Reuters/Carlo Allegri
In the age of social media and online self-promotion, being the subject of a moral panic can not only be a source of pride, but also an inducement to offend.
Unrestricted access to information is vital to a vibrant democracy.But if this information is inaccurate, biased or falsified, the fundamental freedom of informed choice is denied.