society meets social media at reyerson-2015
TRANSCRIPT
Society Meets Social Media: Canaries at the Coal Face of the Internet
William H. DuttonQuello Professor of Media and Information Policy
Quello Center, Michigan State UniversityFollow @QuelloCenter
Presentation for Social Media & Society: 2015 International Conference, 27-29 July, Reyerson University, Toronto.
OutlineOpportunities: The Potential of Social Media
Problems: Threats to the Vitality of Social Media
Prospects: Rise of Policy and Regulatory Initiatives
Responses to these Threats
Reflections on the Agenda for Social Media Researchers
Social Media and the Internet Enable:
Social Connections, Greater Transparency,
Accountability, …
Empowerment of Networked
Institutions, and Networked Individuals
Example: Rise of a Fifth Estate [in three
slides]
The Idea of a Fifth Estate Press since the 18th Century – enabling the ‘Fourth Estate’
Internet in the 21st - enabling a Fifth Estate
Infrastructure for a critical mass of individuals to source their own information, and network with other individuals in ways that support distributed social accountability in business and industry, government, politics, science, and the media.
Users SourceSearch (Cues)
Network
1st Port of CallCentrality
Trust
Empowerment of Networked
Individuals
Underpinning Communicative Power of a 5th Estate*
* Themes and findings from the Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS) and complementary case studies.
Multiple Strategies of the Fifth Estate• Find through search or social media• Fact Checkers• Patient or citizen finds information about problems
Searching
• Individual creates information• Martha Payne’s NeverSecondsSourcing
• Distribute or leak information to networks• Whistle Blowers, WikiLeaks, OpenLeaks, Edward SnowdenDistributing-Leaking
• Self-selected collorative networks• Sermo, Patients Like MeNetworking
• Aggregate information, observations• Rate My Teacher, Bribery Websites, Environmental Sensors
Contributing to Collective Intelligence
What is the Problem?Arguably Many Pro-Social, Pro-Democratic Potentials of Social Media and the Internet, such as for a Fifth Estate
Apparently Unstoppable Progress of the Internet and related ICTs, such as Social Media
- Internet (85% in North America)*- Facebook Subscribers in North America (52%)*- Continuing Innovations in Social Media: Twitter,
LinkedIn, Tumblr, WhatsApp, WeChat, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, Snapchat, Periscope, Beme, …
- More innovations: iWatch, the first Selfie Election …
But ‘Hold On’ - *Source: http://www.internetworldstats.com/america.htm [24 July 2015]
Internet & SNS Are Being Reshaped
Use of the Internet &
SNS
Business Models
Technical Change
Users: Good &
Bad
Policy, Regulation,
Rulings
Rise of Governance & Regulation
Clarion Call for Politicians to ‘Do Something’
Blind Regulators and the Internet (Indian Parable)
Lack of an Appropriate Regulatory Model
Image from: http://www.jainworld.com/literature/story25i1.gif
Appropriate Regulatory Models?(Proportionate to Offense)
Speech?
Press?
Post?
Data Custodian?
Telephony, Common Carrier?
Cable?
Broadcasting?
Shifting and Alternative Models, e.g.,
US
• First Amendment• Enhanced Computer
Services• Patriot Act & Data
Collection• Common Carrier: US
Network Neutrality, …
UK
• Communications Act 2003, not Regulating Net, BUT
• Snooper’s Charter Communication Data
• Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003
Section 127 (traced back to 1935)
Sending “by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character”
2012 Appeal Court: “a message which does not create fear or apprehension in those to whom it is communicated, or who may reasonably be expected to see it, falls outside this provision”
Later: 10 pages of ‘Guidelines on Prosecuting Cases Involving Communications Sent via Social Media’ by Crown Prosecution Service
Global Trends Driving Regulation
Internet & Social Media
Regulation
Significance of the Net
Digital Divides
Trust Bubble + Snowden
Moral Panics? (Social Media)
‘Left Out’ of Policy
National Policy &
Regulation
The Coming DecadeLast Decade’s Narrative: Technical Innovations
The Next Decade’s Narrative: Policy, Regulation & Governance
Risk: Undermining the Vitality of the Internet and Social Media, and their Democratic and
Societal Potential
What Can be Done?Analytical, Empirical Study, such as the Objects of Panics, Media Effects
Study of Gov’t & Industry Regulation, e.g., Real Names, Moderation
Develop More Appropriate Regulatory Model(s)
Education of Users & Regulators
Pro-active Use of Social Media: US Digital Outreach Team, VOA
Data Protection: US FTC’s Consumer Data Watchdog, European DP
Design (e.g., for privacy, anonymity, civility, accountability)
A Role for Social Media Researchers?
Stick to Our Knitting:Use Social Media
Study Social Media
Do and/or Critique Policy ResearchEngage Debates
Inform & EducateOutreach (Press,
SNS)
Society Meets Social Media: Canaries at the Coal Face of the Internet
William H. DuttonQuello Professor of Media and Information Policy
Quello Center, Michigan State UniversityFollow @QuelloCenter
Presentation for Social Media & Society: 2015 International Conference, 27-29 July, Reyerson University, Toronto.