Browse recent news stories from the University of Michigan, as well as from respected outlets around the nation, about the most popular social media platforms, tools and trends.

  1. UMSI Researcher Among The First to Study Facebook Privacy Data

    Researchers from U-M, OSU, Cornell, and Stony Brook will be granted access to privacy-protected Facebook data to study social media’s impact on democracy in the US.

  2. Against the Social-Media Mob

    Students examine the online phenomenon and what it means for U.S. democracy.

  3. How should social media platforms combat misinformation and hate speech?

    Social media companies are under increased scrutiny for their mishandling of hateful speech and fake news on their platforms.

  4. Congressional Lawmakers Criticize Social Media’s Role in the Spread of Hate Crimes

    A congressional hearing on online hate turned into a vivid demonstration of the problem Tuesday when a YouTube livestream of the proceedings was bombarded with racist and anti-Semitic comments from internet users.

  5. UK looks to crack down on social media companies which don’t stop harmful content

    Tech giants to face tougher action if they don’t act on harmful content in the UK

  6. Data Download: Inside Americans’ relationship with technology

    People say they’re hopeful about changes tech may bring, but unhappy with the impacts social media has had on politics.

  7. Re-creating Facebook on Instagram

    Class accounts are a way for incoming freshmen to make friends, find roommates, and suss out colleges before fall.

  8. What if Your Social Media Activity Affected Your Credit Score?

    A Form From the Future looks at how your digital self could affect your ability to get a mortgage.

  9. How fighting political disinformation could collide with the First Amendment

    Efforts to safeguard against election interference have ignited concerns over First Amendment protections and censorship and brought a new wave of criticism, often pitting citizens, top lawmakers and tech giants against one other.

  10. In An Increasingly Polarized America, Is It Possible To Be Civil On Social Media?

    All this month NPR is looking into civility in America. And if you’ve spent any time on social media, you know that it’s the opposite of a civil space. Regular conversations often turn into public, insult-laden brawls, filled with low-blows and vile threats.