By making so much information so accessible, social media has drastically changed the way we consume information and form opinions in the modern era. The danger, however, is that social media creates an “echo chamber” that filters the information people receive so that it largely supports their existing opinions.
A recent study published in PNAS examines this phenomenon and finds that social-media users show marked focus in the types of news that interests them. These social-media participants tend to develop strong and well-defined communities around the news outlets they support, and they tend to make connections with like-minded people regardless of the geographic distance between them.
There’s ongoing debate in the art world about whether or not the great Renaissance painters may have used optical aids to help them trace the timeless masterpieces which now hang in galleries all around the world. But while that might be a controversial accusation for a renowned art master, the idea of drawing over a…
Privacy is what sets us apart from the animals. It’s also what sets many countries and citizens apart from dictatorships and despots. People often don’t think about their rights until they need them — whether it’s when they’re arrested at a protest or pulled over for a routine traffic stop. Source: Online security 101: Tips…
Source: [Image] The 4 Stages Of Learning – Keep practicing that skill or habit until it’s internalized. : GetMotivated I came across this graphic on Reddit, and thought it would be something I could share in the classroom. It goes along with the concept of failing and learning.
The wide availability of user-provided content in online social media facilitates the aggregation of people around common interests, worldviews, and narratives. However, the World Wide Web is a fruitful environment for the massive diffusion of unverified rumors. In this work, using a massive quantitative analysis of Facebook, we show that information related to distinct narratives––conspiracy…
There is so much mediocrity in the world, and mediocre things can, and are, popular. Why try harder? Every author secretly thinks their books are uniquely special, but the vast majority of books don’t sell. I haven’t been blogging regularly for eight months, and I still get urgent emails from authors, wondering why their sales…
Phishing attacks are increasing in number and evolving in variety (newer methods include spear phishing and CEO fraud), putting at risk millions of users worldwide – actually, everyone with an email account. Why are they so popular among fraudsters and why are they so successful? Source: 6 reasons why phishing is so popular and successful –…