Techdirt

We weren't planning to do a series, but after our last two episodes with Alice Marwick and then Candice Odgers, things have lined up nicely for a trifecta of episodes about the current moral panic around kids and social media. This week, we're joined by Dr. Devorah Heitner, an expert on kids and technology and author of the recent book Growing Up In Public, as well as a Substack about mentoring kids in a connected world, to discuss what parents really need to know about kids, social media, and the internet.

Candace Odgers, a Professor at UC Irvine specializing in adolescent mental health and technology, discusses the complex relationship between kids and social media. She highlights the gap between research findings and public perception, advocating for a nuanced view of teen mental health. Odgers critiques the moral panic surrounding youth online behavior and emphasizes the need for careful dialogue. She argues against oversimplifying the impact of social media, calling for tailored approaches that consider individual usage patterns to support families in navigating digital challenges.

Alice Marwick joins to discuss child online safety legislation, addressing teen mental health, privacy concerns, and the complexities of regulating content. They explore technology addiction, the importance of parental involvement, and recommendations to enhance legislation for online safety and mental health access.

Engine Executive Director Kate Tummarello defends Section 230 for online communities, emphasizing its role in protecting users and platforms. Topics include the impact of Section 230 on free speech, liability, content moderation, and the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping legislative decisions.

Check out Ctrl-Alt-Speech, Mike Masnick's brand new podcast with Ben Whitelaw, creator of the Everything in Moderation newsletter. In this teaser excerpt from last week's episode, Mike and Ben discuss a fascinating story about how political deepfakes are being used in the Indian election - but not in the way you might expect. Listen to the whole episode covering all the week's biggest news in online speech - and get ready for this week's episode, releasing tomorrow - by visiting ctrlaltspeech.com or subscribing to Ctrl-Alt-Speech on your podcast platform of choice! Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ctrl…ch/id1734530193 Overcast: overcast.fm/itunes1734530193 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1N3tvLxUTCR7oTdUgUCQvc Amazon Music: music.amazon.com/podcasts/9384201…e51-218433a7e647 YouTube: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc…Hqqc3ZjufeEw2AS7Z More: www.ctrlaltspeech.com/

As decentralized social media experiments continue, we're getting more and more opportunities to really understand the impact of decentralized systems and how they are received by users. Amy Zhang, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Washington, has been studying and thinking about these issues a lot, and this week she joins us on the podcast to discuss a recent paper and, in general, how users are faring in the world of decentralized social media and content moderation. Research paper, "Do Users Want Platform Moderation or Individual Control?" - https://arxiv.org/pdf/2301.02208

Law professor Eric Goldman discusses how generative AI might be doomed due to regulatory obstacles. They explore parallels between internet and AI regulation, propose safe harbor approaches for AI creators, debate EU AI Act implications, and discuss societal perceptions. Emphasis on navigating regulatory challenges to avoid hindering innovation and competition in the AI industry.

Researchers Shelby Grossman and Riana Pfefferkorn discuss the challenges of NCMEC's CyberTipline, including legal complexities, technology hurdles, and difficulties in identifying CSAM. They address the need for efficient legislation and improvements in reporting quality to enhance online safety.

Mike, podcaster, discusses the potential TikTok ban in the US due to ByteDance's ownership. The podcast covers the legal ramifications, congressional debates, and TikTok's disruption in the tech industry. It also explores the need for a comprehensive data privacy bill and discusses India's TikTok ban.

Check out Ctrl-Alt-Speech, Mike Masnick's brand new podcast with Ben Whitelaw, creator of the Everything in Moderation newsletter. In this teaser excerpt from last week's episode, Mike and Ben discuss the startling epidemic of "sextortion" scammers targeting teens online. Listen to the whole episode covering all the week's biggest news in online speech - and get ready for this week's episode, releasing Friday - by visiting ctrlaltspeech.com or subscribing to Ctrl-Alt-Speech on your podcast platform of choice! Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ctrl…ch/id1734530193 Overcast: overcast.fm/itunes1734530193 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1N3tvLxUTCR7oTdUgUCQvc Amazon Music: music.amazon.com/podcasts/9384201…e51-218433a7e647 YouTube: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc…Hqqc3ZjufeEw2AS7Z More: www.ctrlaltspeech.com/