Content moderation is like a band-aid on a deeper wound. Even though it gets valuable work done, it cannot resolve broader issues…especially on social media platforms. The University of South California’s Neely Center and Psychology of Technology Institute is actively seeking alternative approaches that can replace content moderation in dealing with content policy issues on different platforms. “Rather than optimising for engagement and then trying to remove bad experiences, we should optimise more precisely for good experiences,” Ravi Iyer wrote in one of the internal notes leaked from the Facebook Papers. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
