Will Oremus, a technology writer for the Washington Post, dives into the shifting landscape of social media post-election. He discusses the rise of Bluesky and how it’s gaining traction as users flee from X, formerly known as Twitter. Oremus examines the nostalgia for earlier social media experiences and the challenges Bluesky faces in scaling while maintaining user engagement. He also contrasts Bluesky with Threads, highlighting the competitive dynamics shaping online discourse today. Can Bluesky fill the void left by Twitter? Tune in for insights!

Tech futurists have been saying for decades that artificial intelligence will transform the way we live. In some ways, it already has: Think autocorrect, Siri, facial recognition. But ChatGPT and other generative A.I. models are also prone to getting things wrong—and whether the programs will improve with time is not altogether clear. So what purpose, exactly, does this iteration of A.I. actually serve, how is it likely to be adopted, and who stands to benefit (or suffer) from it? On episode 67 of The Politics of Everything, hosts Laura Marsh and Alex Pareene talk with Washington Post reporter Will Oremus about a troubling tale of A.I. fabulism; with science fiction author Ted Chiang about ramifications of an A.I-polluted internet; and with linguist Emily M. Bender about what large-language models can and cannot do—and whether we’re asking the right questions about this technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, discusses his clashes with authorities following his arrest in France, highlighting the tension between free speech and regulation. Will Oremus from The Washington Post analyzes this shift in internet regulation, contrasting Silicon Valley's ethos with emerging government controls. They delve into Telegram's role during conflicts in Russia and Ukraine, the platform's struggles with extremist content, and the broader implications for tech accountability and individual communication rights.

Will Oremus, a technology reporter for The Washington Post, dives into the chaos following Hurricane Helene. He highlights the rampant misinformation on social media about FEMA's disaster relief efforts, leading to confusion among storm victims. Oremus also discusses the alarming rise of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that emerged in the wake of the hurricane. He underscores the human cost of such disinformation, particularly in Pensacola, as local officials work tirelessly to combat false narratives and maintain community trust during crises.

Will Oremus, a technology writer at the Washington Post, dives into the shifting social media landscape after recent elections. He explores the rise of Bluesky as an alternative to the transformed X, examining its unique features and user dynamics. The conversation highlights the challenges facing new platforms, user migration towards engaging political discourse, and innovative moderation strategies. Oremus also sheds light on the competitive rivalry with Threads and the fragmentation of online communities based on political ideologies.

Will Oremus, a technology writer for the Washington Post, dives into the chaotic world of misinformation during hurricane seasons. He highlights how social media exacerbates the challenge of finding accurate information amid disasters. Oremus discusses the spread of false narratives concerning government aid and the influence of AI-generated content on public perception. He also explores how manipulated images can shape narratives and affect trust in disaster response efforts, raising concerns about public safety in an increasingly digital landscape.

Leah Nylen, an antitrust reporter for Bloomberg, shares her expert insights on the groundbreaking Google antitrust case, discussing potential ramifications for the tech industry. Will Oremus from The Washington Post examines the alarming rise of misinformation and antisemitic attacks on social media stemming from Hurricane Helene. They also unpack the recent hacking incident involving the Internet Archive, exposing 31 million user records, raising serious concerns about data security and transparency in the digital age.

Will Oremus, a tech news analysis writer for The Washington Post, dives into the soaring success of Meta's Threads app, which hit 200 million users in just months. He explores its integration with the decentralized Fediverse and what that means for user interaction across platforms. Oremus discusses Meta's surprising shift towards openness and interoperability, contrasting it with past practices. Finally, they tackle the future of social media, examining how regulatory pressures might shape the evolution of decentralized networks.

Tech reporter Will Oremus discusses the declining usefulness of social media as a source of news during natural disasters, focusing on the example of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. He explores the challenges of misinformation and hoaxes, as well as the changing responsibilities of big tech companies. The episode also highlights the potential benefits of the news industry distancing itself from social media platforms.

We’re taking a look back at one of the stranger stories about social media platforms and the role of the press in the last presidential election. In the weeks before the 2020 election, the New York Post published an “October Surprise”: a set of stories on the business and personal life of Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, based on emails contained on a mysterious laptop. A great deal was questionable about the Post’s reporting, including to what extent the emails in question were real and how the tabloid had obtained them in the first place. The mainstream press was far more circumspect in reporting out the story—and meanwhile, Twitter and Facebook sharply restricted circulation of the Post’s stories on their platforms. It’s a year and half later. And the Washington Post just published a lengthy report verifying the authenticity of some of the emails on the mysterious laptop—though a lot still remains unclear about the incident. In light of this news, how should we understand Facebook and Twitter’s actions in 2020? Washington Post technology reporter Will Oremus weighed in on this question in his own reflection for the paper. This week on Arbiters of Truth, our series on the online information ecosystem, Evelyn Douek and Quinta Jurecic asked him on the show to discuss the story. Did the social media platforms go too far in limiting access to the New York Post’s reporting? How did the mainstream press deal with the incident? What have we learned from the failures of how the press and social media responded to information operations around the 2016 election, and what can we learn from how they behaved differently in 2020?Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.