Breaking the Feed

We continue to explore the role of social media in elections and discuss concerns surrounding Elon Musk. We look at some of controversial actions and claims made by Musk, and consider the power he wields in deciding how content is distributed, as a sort of introduction to Tucker Carlson's interview with Vladimir Putin. Free speech, social media, and challenging those in power is discussed, along w...

We discuss the Tucker Carlson interview with Vladimir Putin and explore the implications for free expression and social media. The interview covered a range of topics, including Russia, Ukraine, narratives, and AI. We share our own impressions of the interview, consider the danger of edited narratives, and consider the target audience. The discussion also touches on the appeal of Tucker Carlson, t...

This episode explores the role of social media in US politics, the distinction between government and platform restrictions, the lack of clear rules and enforcement on social media platforms, the responsibility of social media companies, the influence of private citizens on social media platforms, the need for guardrails and regulation, and the importance of free speech and expression in the conte...

Social media has changed the way candidates campaign, especially in the United States. What does this have to do with free speech? Everything and nothing, depending on who you ask. We continue to consider the Citizens United case and what came after with a close look at the practical consequences of social media and campaign finance, especially in terms of PACs and Super PACs. There are no easy an...

We explore the unique approach to campaign finance in the United States, focusing on the Citizens United case. This case, decided in 2010, changed the rules surrounding political spending and opened up new possibilities for campaign messaging. The impact of the case is far-reaching, particularly in the age of social media. The episode also delves into the competing theories on free speech and the...

This episode explores several hate speech cases in the US and Europe, highlighting the differences in how these cases are handled. The cases, which are treated as hypotheticals, include burning a cross with intent to intimidate, offensive social media posts, Westboro Baptist Church protests, distribution of homophobic leaflets in Sweden, and Holocaust denial in Germany. The courts in each country...

We discuss the House hearing on the handling of antisemitism at universities and the role of free speech in social media. We explore different perspectives on the hearing and the complexity of protecting speech while also addressing hate speech. The conversation delves into the history of political parties and their stance on free speech, as well as the importance of context in free speech cases,...

This episode of Breaking the Feed explores the topic of hate speech and different approaches to regulating it. We set out the complexity of international treaties and the reasons for the differences in approaches between the United States and Europe. We start to delve into the fair application of hate speech rules and the policies of universities in handling hate speech. The conclusion highlights...

This episode we explore the Western framework for protecting freedom of expression and its ability to address new challenges such as abuse, harassment, mis/disinformation, and mental health threats. The conversation highlights the differences between the European and American approaches to hate speech regulation (and emphasises the importance of context and nuance in both systems) and delves into...

This episode explores the global framework for protecting the freedom of expression and the challenges in establishing any universal agreement. We discuss the impact of social media and bots on the spread of false information and the difficulty in determining credibility and highlight the intensifying battle for narrative control. Key Takeaways Establishing a universal agreement to protect freedom...

*The content of this episode is rated 18+* We discuss the Senate hearings on child exploitation on social media shed light on the urgent need for action and accountability. Senators described the crisis of online sexual exploitation as a national crisis, sharing alarming statistics on child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and financial sextortion. The CEOs of major social media platforms, including D...

This episode we discuss the history and complexities of freedom of expression and free speech. We trace the origins of these concepts from the Enlightenment period to the Bill of Rights in England and the First Amendment in the United States. We begin to explore the differences between the European and American approaches to free expression and explore the nuances of the laws and regulations surro...

This episode we explore the global history of freedom of expression, starting with the Cyrus Cylinder and early concepts of human rights. We discuss the different conceptions of freedom of expression across cultures and the importance of understanding these diverse perspectives. The episode also delves into the Western history of freedom of expression, focusing on ancient Greece and the Athenian A...

This episode explores the core issues around the freedom of expression and free speech. Hosts discuss the complexity and different interpretations of these concepts, as well as the changing perception of free speech over time. They differentiate between freedom of expression and free speech, highlighting the broader protection of expression in various forms. The concept of the digital public squar...

This episode introduces and explores the core issues around social media and the freedom of expression. It discusses why we should care about freedom of expression and its connection to social media and examines the impact of social media on freedom of expression, including the role of governments and social media platforms, and addresses the challenge of balancing online harms and freedom of expr...

We wrap up our series on the social media landscape and discusses the new opportunities and challenges that arise from the latest changes in social media. We explore the evolution of social media, changes in search algorithms, challenges with search engine optimization, the rise of AI in social media, concerns with AI chatbots, opportunities in content moderation, the potential of new social media...

What are network effects and why do they matter to social media networks? We explore the value network effects are responsible for in tech (the number might surprise you) and why many consider it a make or break for new social media networks.

In this two part episode we look at what we think we can expect in social. To start, we talk about the difficulties challenger social networks face and what this means for how things are likely to evolve.

We think we're likely to see some changes from some of the larger social media platforms, more copycat and niche social options emerge, and eventually, one or more challenge brands that offer something genuinely different. We'll discuss why and for the first time touch on the role AI Is likely to play.

Building on the closer look at functionality in the previous episode, we discuss what's actually on the platform and whether Truth Social is just another niche social media offering or merits special consideration.

We take a closer look at one of the newer niche socials: Truth Social.

What are niche social apps, why have they become so popular, and what does it mean for us? Niche social apps take one specific element, whether that's one subject (gaming or traveling), one audience (by age, socioeconomic status, or viewpoint), or one function or feature (share one photo per day or messaging only) and attempt to grow an audience that way. We discuss the advantages and disadvantage...

What is a "copycat social" and what does it mean for how we think about social media? We explore what makes a copycat social a copycat social and set up for our series on so-called New Twitters.

Does the world need, or want, a new Twitter? We start our series thinking about what makes Twitter, Twitter (or at least, what made Twitter, Twitter), and a look at Threads, Counter Social, and Discord. We'll explore how these New Twitter(X) offerings stack up, how they work, what we liked, any concerns we have, and whether we think there's a viable alternative or alternatives.

This episode we continue to explore "New Twitter" offerings with a look at Mastodon, Cohost, Tribel, and Truth.