Toward a Better Internet
Could a civic-minded digital media emerge as a counterweight to the current platform-dominated internet, where algorithms help spread mis- and disinformation, echo chambers cabin our online interactions, and tech giants dominate over a wide range of economic and expressive activities?
This blog channel explores the possibility of building a better internet, one that facilitates public discourse, respects individual privacy, and fosters democratic processes.
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Deep Dive: Toward a Better Internet
Forum Logic: Topical, with a side of toxicity
Looking back at topic-based social networks may offer one way forward for social media
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
Deep Dive: Toward a Better Internet
Gift Logic: Labors of love flourish online under fandom’s social norms
Fan culture’s cycle of gifting, receiving, and reciprocating helps create and maintain social solidarity
By Casey Fiesler -
Deep Dive: Toward a Better Internet
Russian Social Media Logic: Between the East and the West
Contradiction is the defining feature of the Runet
By Gregory Asmolov -
Deep Dive: Toward a Better Internet
Q&A Logic: Questions, answers, and everything in-between
Could social roles help us build healthier communities online?
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
Deep Dive: Toward a Better Internet
Creator Logic: It's like Uber but for culture
The original gig economy returns online
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
Deep Dive: Toward a Better Internet
The Great Shopping Mall: The market nationalist logic of Chinese social media
The West tends to focus on security, but entertainment and commerce are the key goals here
By An Xiao Mina & Xiaowei Wang -
Deep Dive: Toward a Better Internet
Top 100: The most popular social media platforms and what they can teach us
Moving past U.S. and Facebook centrism
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
Deep Dive: Toward a Better Internet
Deplatforming Our Way to the Alt-Tech Ecosystem
What happens when you exile users and communities?
By Ethan Zuckerman & Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci -
Deep Dive: Toward a Better Internet
Local Logic: It's not always a beautiful day in the neighborhood
The advantages and disadvantages of local platforms and their potential to support healthy communities on- and offline
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman
Advocacy
Press Statement
Knight Institute Responds to Oversight Board's Decision Upholding Suspension of Trump's Facebook Account
Ruling is “thoughtful and persuasive ”; Facebook should implement board’s recommendations quickly, Knight Institute says
Learn MoreResearch
Essays and Scholarship
Is the Administrative State Ready for Big Data?
Exploring the accountability challenges in environmental and public health regulation
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Analysis
A First Amendment Agenda for the New Administration
How the Biden administration can reaffirm the freedoms of speech, association, and petition in its first 100 days
Learn MoreLitigation
Lawsuit
Edgar v. Haines
A lawsuit challenging the government's system of "prepublication review"
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