Blog Archives

A new ‘race science’ network is linked to a history of eugenics that never fully left academia

A new ‘race science’ network is linked to a history of eugenics that never fully left academia

The Guardian and anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate have revealed the existence of a new network of far-right intellectuals and activists in an undercover investigation. Called the Human Diversity Foundation (HDF), this group advocates scientific racism and eugenics. Although it presents itself as having a scientific purpose, some of its figureheads have political ambitions in Germany and elsewhere. Research shows […] … learn more→

What are the limits of free speech? We may have arrived at them

What are the limits of free speech? We may have arrived at them

Political operatives on the far right have long spoken about their ambition to shift the “Overton window”. The aim is to “mainstream” ideas long considered unthinkable, through gradual, step-by-step radicalisation and repetition – especially on hot-button issues such as immigration, sexuality, race and identity. If challenged, commentators respond by appealing to “free speech”, accusing their critics of […] … learn more→

How foreign operations are manipulating social media to influence your views

How foreign operations are manipulating social media to influence your views

Foreign influence campaigns, or information operations, have been widespread in the run-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Influence campaigns are large-scale efforts to shift public opinion, push false narratives or change behaviors among a target population. Russia, China, Iran, Israel and other nations have run these campaigns by exploiting social bots, influencers, media companies and generative AI. At the Indiana University Observatory on Social Media, my colleagues and […] … learn more→

Some online conspiracy-spreaders don’t even believe the lies they’re spewing

Some online conspiracy-spreaders don’t even believe the lies they’re spewing

There has been a lot of research on the types of people who believe conspiracy theories, and their reasons for doing so. But there’s a wrinkle: My colleagues and I have found that there are a number of people sharing conspiracies online who don’t believe their own content. They are opportunists. These people share conspiracy theories to […] … learn more→

Gen Z’s language might seem incomprehensible but slang has always sounded that way – just look at these five Victorian sayings

Gen Z’s language might seem incomprehensible but slang has always sounded that way – just look at these five Victorian sayings

All Gen Z slang might sound like “skibidi” to older generations, but every era has had its own confusing slang. For every “gyatt” today (originally a variation of “god damn”, now referring to a curvy woman) there was a “dog my cats” or “od’s fish” in the Victorian era (both also meant something like “god […] … learn more→

How to do a political analysis of a film?

How to do a political analysis of a film?

Committed or militant, cinema can be so in a thousand ways: by the choice of a subject, the production policy, the type of editing chosen, or even according to the team that wrote or directed it. But between the intentions that govern the making of a cinematographic object and the way it is received, there […] … learn more→

Big tech is painting itself as journalism’s saviour. We should tread carefully

Big tech is painting itself as journalism’s saviour. We should tread carefully

We’ve long been warned about the looming demise of traditional journalism in the face of digital disruption. But some tech giants, once the very disruptors themselves, have been positioning themselves as journalism’s saviours. Programs such as the Google News Initiative promise not only to keep journalism alive, but by enabling innovation, to also help it adapt and […] … learn more→

How to prevent verbal violence in digital space

How to prevent verbal violence in digital space

In this digital era where everything is connected, online verbal violence is becoming an increasingly disturbing threat. A WHO report revealed that one in six children will be victims of cyberbullying by 2024. A 2019 UNICEF survey in 30 countries showed that one-third of teenagers had experienced cyberbullying. In fact, one in ten teenagers were involved in physical conflict due to […] … learn more→

In the face of DEI backlash, belonging plays a key role to future success

In the face of DEI backlash, belonging plays a key role to future success

Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have become increasingly visible in U.S. workplaces, especially over the past five years. However, DEI has recently come under attack, with companies scaling back their DEI plans. As a professor of organizational psychology, I believe businesses should refine rather than abandon these efforts. Introducing a powerful concept, “belonging,” could hold the key. Although people mistakenly use […] … learn more→

Belief in alien visits to Earth is spiralling out of control – here’s why that’s so dangerous

Belief in alien visits to Earth is spiralling out of control – here’s why that’s so dangerous

The idea that aliens may have visited the Earth is becoming increasingly popular. Around a fifth of UK citizens believe Earth has been visited by extraterrestrials, and an estimated 7% believe that they have seen a UFO. The figures are even higher in the US – and rising. The number of people who believe UFO sightings offer likely […] … learn more→