Society Meets Social Media: Canaries at the Coal Face of the Internet

William H. DuttonQuello Professor of Media and Information Policy

Quello Center, Michigan State UniversityFollow @QuelloCenter

Presentation for Social Media & Society: 2015 International Conference, 27-29 July, Reyerson University, Toronto.

OutlineOpportunities: The Potential of Social Media

Problems: Threats to the Vitality of Social Media

Prospects: Rise of Policy and Regulatory Initiatives

Responses to these Threats

Reflections on the Agenda for Social Media Researchers

Social Media and the Internet Enable:

Social Connections, Greater Transparency,

Accountability, …

Empowerment of Networked

Institutions, and Networked Individuals

Example: Rise of a Fifth Estate [in three

slides]

The Idea of a Fifth Estate Press since the 18th Century – enabling the ‘Fourth Estate’

Internet in the 21st - enabling a Fifth Estate

Infrastructure for a critical mass of individuals to source their own information, and network with other individuals in ways that support distributed social accountability in business and industry, government, politics, science, and the media.

Users SourceSearch (Cues)

Network

1st Port of CallCentrality

Trust

Empowerment of Networked

Individuals

Underpinning Communicative Power of a 5th Estate*

* Themes and findings from the Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS) and complementary case studies.

Multiple Strategies of the Fifth Estate• Find through search or social media• Fact Checkers• Patient or citizen finds information about problems

Searching

• Individual creates information• Martha Payne’s NeverSecondsSourcing

• Distribute or leak information to networks• Whistle Blowers, WikiLeaks, OpenLeaks, Edward SnowdenDistributing-Leaking

• Self-selected collorative networks• Sermo, Patients Like MeNetworking

• Aggregate information, observations• Rate My Teacher, Bribery Websites, Environmental Sensors

Contributing to Collective Intelligence

What is the Problem?Arguably Many Pro-Social, Pro-Democratic Potentials of Social Media and the Internet, such as for a Fifth Estate

Apparently Unstoppable Progress of the Internet and related ICTs, such as Social Media

- Internet (85% in North America)*- Facebook Subscribers in North America (52%)*- Continuing Innovations in Social Media: Twitter,

LinkedIn, Tumblr, WhatsApp, WeChat, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, Snapchat, Periscope, Beme, …

- More innovations: iWatch, the first Selfie Election …

But ‘Hold On’ - *Source: http://www.internetworldstats.com/america.htm [24 July 2015]

Internet & SNS Are Being Reshaped

Use of the Internet &

SNS

Business Models

Technical Change

Users: Good &

Bad

Policy, Regulation,

Rulings

Moral Panics: Social Media & the Internet

Rise of Governance & Regulation

Clarion Call for Politicians to ‘Do Something’

Blind Regulators and the Internet (Indian Parable)

Lack of an Appropriate Regulatory Model

Image from: http://www.jainworld.com/literature/story25i1.gif

Appropriate Regulatory Models?(Proportionate to Offense)

Speech?

Press?

Post?

Data Custodian?

Telephony, Common Carrier?

Cable?

Broadcasting?

Shifting and Alternative Models, e.g.,

US

• First Amendment• Enhanced Computer

Services• Patriot Act & Data

Collection• Common Carrier: US

Network Neutrality, …

UK

• Communications Act 2003, not Regulating Net, BUT

• Snooper’s Charter Communication Data

• Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003

Section 127 (traced back to 1935)

Sending “by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character”

2012 Appeal Court: “a message which does not create fear or apprehension in those to whom it is communicated, or who may reasonably be expected to see it, falls outside this provision”

Later: 10 pages of ‘Guidelines on Prosecuting Cases Involving Communications Sent via Social Media’ by Crown Prosecution Service

Global Trends Driving Regulation

Internet & Social Media

Regulation

Significance of the Net

Digital Divides

Trust Bubble + Snowden

Moral Panics? (Social Media)

‘Left Out’ of Policy

National Policy &

Regulation

The Coming DecadeLast Decade’s Narrative: Technical Innovations

The Next Decade’s Narrative: Policy, Regulation & Governance

Risk: Undermining the Vitality of the Internet and Social Media, and their Democratic and

Societal Potential

What Can be Done?Analytical, Empirical Study, such as the Objects of Panics, Media Effects

Study of Gov’t & Industry Regulation, e.g., Real Names, Moderation

Develop More Appropriate Regulatory Model(s)

Education of Users & Regulators

Pro-active Use of Social Media: US Digital Outreach Team, VOA

Data Protection: US FTC’s Consumer Data Watchdog, European DP

Design (e.g., for privacy, anonymity, civility, accountability)

A Role for Social Media Researchers?

Stick to Our Knitting:Use Social Media

Study Social Media

Do and/or Critique Policy ResearchEngage Debates

Inform & EducateOutreach (Press,

SNS)

Society Meets Social Media: Canaries at the Coal Face of the Internet

William H. DuttonQuello Professor of Media and Information Policy

Quello Center, Michigan State UniversityFollow @QuelloCenter

Presentation for Social Media & Society: 2015 International Conference, 27-29 July, Reyerson University, Toronto.