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Shannon Bond Shannon Bond is a correspondent at NPR, covering how misleading narratives and false claims circulate online and offline, and their impact on society and democracy.
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Shannon Bond

Monday

Technology

A look at the year social media companies had

From Facebook's troubled pivot to the metaverse to Twitter's management chaos to industry-wide layoffs, social media companies had a rocky 2022.

A look at the year social media companies had

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Sunday

Technology

Turmoil on social media sites is driving users to smaller, more private alternatives

2022 has been a tumultuous year in social media and the coming year holds more uncertainties as U.S. outlets scramble to match the popularity of apps like TikTok.

Turmoil on social media sites is driving users to smaller, more private alternatives

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Friday

From Twitter chaos to TikTok bans to the metaverse, social media had a rocky 2022

The TikTok logo is displayed outside a TikTok office on December 20, 2022 in Culver City, Calif. Congress passed legislation to ban the popular Chinese-owned social media app from most government devices. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images

Analysis

Technology

From Twitter chaos to TikTok bans to the metaverse, social media had a rocky 2022

From Facebook's troubled pivot to the metaverse to Twitter's management chaos to industry-wide layoffs, social media companies have had a rocky 2022

Friday

The Twitter Files, LGBTQ Legislation & The Definition Of Beer

The Twitter sign is seen at their headquarters on October 28, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Constanza HEVIA / AFP) (Photo by CONSTANZA HEVIA/AFP via Getty Images) CONSTANZA HEVIA/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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CONSTANZA HEVIA/AFP via Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

The Twitter Files, LGBTQ Legislation & The Definition Of Beer

In this week's roundup, we explore the political implications of Elon Musk's ownership of Twitter alongside the release of information regarding the company's moderation policies, discuss legislation concerning the LGBTQ community that took effect in 2022, and contemplate just what beer actually is.

The Twitter Files, LGBTQ Legislation & The Definition Of Beer

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Thursday

AI-generated fake faces have become a hallmark of online influence operations

Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. The parent company of Facebook says bad actors are increasingly using realistic faces generated with artificial intelligence to run social media influence operations. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

AI-generated fake faces have become a hallmark of online influence operations

As artificial intelligence becomes more widely available, bad actors are turning to computer-generated faces in their attempts to manipulate social media networks.

Wednesday

Elon Musk is using the Twitter Files to discredit foes and push conspiracy theories

Elon Musk while attending a conference in Norway earlier this year. The billionaire new owner of Twitter is releasing information about the company's high-profile moderation decisions. Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Untangling Disinformation

Elon Musk is using the Twitter Files to discredit foes and push conspiracy theories

The Twitter CEO's selective release of internal communications largely corroborate what is already known about the messy business of policing a large social network.

Elon Musk is using the Twitter Files to discredit foes and push conspiracy theories

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Tuesday

Technology

Musk reveals how Twitter has handled some high-profile decisions

Elon Musk is using his selective release of internal Twitter communications to advance his own partisan causes and conspiracy theories.

Musk reveals how Twitter has handled some high-profile decisions

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Tuesday

Facebook's own oversight board slams its special program for VIPs

Facebook parent Meta appears to be more concerned with avoiding "provoking" VIPs than balancing tricky questions of free speech and safety, its oversight board said. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Technology

Facebook's own oversight board slams its special program for VIPs

Oversight board says Facebook parent Meta appears to be more concerned with avoiding "provoking" VIPs and evading accusations of censorship than balancing tricky questions of free speech and safety.

Friday

Twitter's former safety chief warns Musk is moving fast and "breaking things"

Yoel Roth used to be Twitter's Head of Trust & Safety until he resigned in early November. He worries about the changes Elon Musk is making to the platform. David Odisho/Getty Images hide caption

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David Odisho/Getty Images

Analysis

Technology

Twitter's former safety chief warns Musk is moving fast and "breaking things"

Yoel Roth was a top executive at Twitter, until he resigned in early November. He says people need to "very thoughtfully and carefully weigh the costs and benefits of using Twitter."

Twitter's former safety chief warns Musk is moving fast and "breaking things"

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Wednesday

Twitter's chaos could make political violence worse outside of the U.S.

The outside of Twitter's headquarters in San Francisco last month. The upheaval at the influential social media company threatens to make political violence worse around the world, according to human rights activists. Constanza Hevia/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Constanza Hevia/AFP via Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

Twitter's chaos could make political violence worse outside of the U.S.

Under the chaotic changes unleashed by Elon Musk, Twitter users in the U.S. are confronting problems that have long plagued the social network in other parts of the world.

Twitter's chaos could make political violence worse outside of the U.S.

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Monday

Misinformation's Limited Impact On The Midterms

Clark County Election Department workers process polling place equipment and materials at an initial verification area at the Clark County Election Department after polls closed on November 08, 2022 in North Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Ethan Miller/Getty Images hide caption

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Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Misinformation's Limited Impact On The Midterms

Election observers were concerned misinformation would have an outsized impact on the 2022 elections, as it did in 2020. But, that ended up not being the case. Why?

Misinformation's Limited Impact On The Midterms

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Saturday

Friday

How likely is a complete Twitter meltdown?

The departures of thousands of Twitter workers is raising fears about the stability of the influential social media site under new owner Elon Musk. NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images hide caption

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NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Technology

How likely is a complete Twitter meltdown?

Twitter employees who've quit say risks are growing of service outages, glitches and even hacks on the influential social network.

How likely is a complete Twitter meltdown?

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Business

Twitter CEO Elon Musk gives staff an ultimatum, and many people are choosing to go

This was another wild week at Twitter after CEO Elon Musk gave staff an ultimatum to stay or go, and it seems many people are choosing the latter. What's the future of the social network?

Twitter CEO Elon Musk gives staff an ultimatum, and many people are choosing to go

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Thursday

Twitter employees quit in droves after Elon Musk's ultimatum passes

Twitter in San Francisco. The social media company has laid off thousands of workers and contractors, including many involved in determining whether material on the site broke the site's policies or violated U.S. or foreign laws. David Odisho/Getty Images hide caption

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Untangling Disinformation

Twitter employees quit in droves after Elon Musk's ultimatum passes

The billionaire gave employees of his newly-purchased company until Thursday evening to commit to "being extremely hardcore" and staying or take a severance package.

Twitter employees quit in droves after Elon Musk's ultimatum passes

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