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Inside the bizarre world of internet trolls and propagandists - Andrew Marantz

Lesson created by Lauren McAlpine using TED-Ed's lesson creatorVideo from TED YouTube channel

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Journalist Andrew Marantz spent three years embedded in the world of internet trolls and social media propagandists, seeking out the people who are propelling fringe talking points into the heart of conversation online. Go down the rabbit hole of online propaganda and misinformation— and learn we can start to make the internet less toxic.

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Avatar for Lauren McAlpine
Lesson creator

What responsibility do social media platforms have in moderating hate speech or misinformation?


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Avatar for kenzie bradshaw
Lesson completed

Social media platforms have a responsibility to moderate hate speech and misinformation to


Avatar for Annie Bargan
Lesson completed

It's argued that social media platforms have a great responsibility in moderating agenda or threatening speech. They are regarded as providers of platforms where other people are able to share their ideas, express their feelings about several issues. Even though social media platforms cannot establish whether any information is valid or not, they ought to promote a far more helpful and creative content which is likely to motivate others to do useful things, contributing world or society. Their best bet is to spot whether the content have high engagement or not and what exactly it causes: emotions, rationalism or something else. Thereafter they should determine if this content is valid, is there any hateful subtitles and decide whether it should be blocked or not.


Avatar for Mallory Johnson
Lesson completed

I feel social media platforms should monitor things their users say or upload, usually accounts that promote hate will just have a post taken down or a warning for violating community guidelines. There aren't really any serious consequences for online trolls if social media platforms took a bigger stance against hate speech or misinformation then social media wouldn't be such a toxic environment.


Avatar for Manuela Koch
Lesson completed

Social media platforms should alter their goals instead of maximum engagement, which triggers hate speeches, they should try maximum validity


Avatar for Carol Allen
Lesson in progress

I think this is a great topic given what's been done by social media platforms following the riots of 6 January 2021. Now Social platforms are shutting down accounts. Right? Wrong?
I equate it to yelling fire in a movie theater. Others say it's unconstitutional due to the first amendment. I'd be curious as to arguments on both sides given this topic. I'd like to know the speaker's thoughts on this.


Avatar for Raya Lantin
Lesson in progress

Social media platforms need to alter their algorithims such that their networks are no longer optimizing for maximal engagement because this is what can cause misinformation and hate speech to spread. Misinformation and hate speech, when worded correctly, can arouse emotional responses in people that cause them to believe what is being said.


Avatar for Mohammed Talib Khan
Lesson completed

Make human decency and good behavior cool again!!


Avatar for Steve Frank
Lesson in progress

in response to minseo kim Show comment

Does that mean not being influenced by the world outside? No references, even to great thinkers?


Avatar for minseo kim
Lesson completed

It's great to be independent-minded, we all should be independent-minded,
but just be smart about it. when actually, that is the very beginning of any meaningful conversation.All the interesting stuff happens after that point.