Uploaded October 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
As Internet access has increased around the world, the seemingly unlimited capabilities of social media to connect people appear to have come with many costs. Powerful tools for sharing truth can also enable lies to spread unchecked, and online communities where people come together to establish common ground for constructive purposes can also host hate and sow division. As social media continues to dominate political, social, and cultural dialogue throughout the United States, to what extent have they become the new “public square” of American civil society? Is their record of self-regulation impressive? What are the societal impacts of a tool that can both bring about positive change and fuel chaos and violence?
Featured:
Faaya Adem, University of Minnesota.
France Aravena, University of St. Thomas.
Allison Brodin, Gustavus Adolphus College.
Recorded Sept. 19, 2023
As Internet access has increased around the world, the seemingly unlimited capabilities of social media to connect people appear to have come with many costs. Powerful tools for sharing truth can also enable lies to spread unchecked, and online communities where people come together to establish common ground for constructive purposes can also host hate and sow division. As social media continues to dominate political, social, and cultural dialogue throughout the United States, to what extent have they become the new “public square” of American civil society? Is their record of self-regulation impressive? What are the societal impacts of a tool that can both bring about positive change and fuel chaos and violence?
Featured:
Faaya Adem, University of Minnesota.
France Aravena, University of St. Thomas.
Allison Brodin, Gustavus Adolphus College.
Recorded Sept. 19, 2023
