NYU's CSMaPJan 31, 2024

5 tech CEOs testify before Congress today about kids online safety. Many bills have been introduced & the hearing is important. But to truly understand the scale of the problem requires rigorous, independent research, which isn't possible under the current data-sharing regime. 1/

https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/big-tech-and-the-online-child-sexual-exploitation-crisis

Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Show threadNYU's CSMaPJan 31, 2024

In fact, over the last several years social media companies have been making it even harder for researchers to study what's happening on their platforms.

Meta dismantled CrowdTangle
Twitter/X shut down its API
TikTok's API doesn't work well for research

2/

https://csmapnyu.org/news-views/news/the-problem-with-tiktok-s-new-researcher-api-is-not-tiktok

The Problem with TikTok’s New Researcher API is Not TikTok

While TikTok’s Researcher API is a promising step in the right direction, mandated data requirements are paramount for ensuring that these lines of research continue.

NYU’s Center for Social Media and Politics
Show threadNYU's CSMaPJan 31, 2024
Updated policies around social media and technology, like those being considered today, are critical to protect individuals from harm and ensure a healthy democracy. But their success hinges on the strength of the evidence that informs them. 3/
Show threadNYU's CSMaPJan 31, 2024
In today's hearing, we hope lawmakers push CEOs to share more data w/researchers. This will help us better understand the scale, character, & causes of various phenomena attributed to the rise of social media, from threats to kids to political polarization to misinformation. 4/
Show threadNYU's CSMaPJan 31, 2024

Several bills have been introduced to increase data access, most notably the bipartisan Platform Accountability and Transparency Act. Read more about about this issue from @j_a_tucker and Nate Persily at @brookingsinst. 5/5

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-to-fix-social-media-start-with-independent-research/

How to fix social media? Start with independent research.

Persily and Tucker discuss the importance of open source social media data to increase transparency and encourage independent research.

Brookings
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Sen. Chris Coons talking about Platform Accountability and Transparency Act just now: "If we're going to legislate responsibly about the management of content on your platforms, we're going to need better data."
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While questioning Shou Chew, Sen. Ted Cruz cited research suggesting TikTok suppresses content critical of China. This is a reminder of why data access is critical. @j_a_tucker recently talked w/ @nytimes on this study:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/business/tiktok-china.html

Topics Suppressed in China Are Underrepresented on TikTok, Study Says

The report, from the Network Contagion Research Institute at Rutgers University, could raise new concerns about whether Beijing influences the content on the popular video app.

The New York Times
Jan 31, 2024 at 5:05pmWeb
Show threadNYU's CSMaPJan 31, 2024
Mark Zuckerberg says the bulk of the scientific evidence doesn't support a link between youth mental health problems and social media use. This lit review from Jon Haidt, Jean Twenge, and Zach Rausch, explores the research:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w-HOfseF2wF9YIpXwUUtP65-olnkPyWcgF5BiAtBEy0/edit
Show threadNYU's CSMaPJan 31, 2024
Zuckerberg says research shows there's a correlation between social media use & teen mental health issues, but not causation. That's true. More data access would help us get at those causal questions.