tardigrada

Thanks to bestselling authors like Jonathan Haidt and Jean Twenge, the public has become increasingly aware of the rapid rise in mental health issues among younger people [...] Their warnings about the destructive impact of social media have had an effect, reflected not least in a wave of schools across Europe banning smartphones.

While it’s good to draw attention to the rising rates of depression and anxiety, there’s a risk of becoming fixated on simplistic explanations that reduce the issue to technical variables like “screen time”.

[...]

A hallmark of Twenge and Haidt’s arguments is their use of trend lines for various types of psychological distress, showing increases after 2012, which Haidt calls the start of the “great rewiring” when smartphones became widespread. This method has been criticised for overemphasising correlations that may say little about causality.

[...]

Numerous academics [...] have pointed to factors such as an increasing intolerance for uncertainty in modernity, a fixation – both individual and collective – on avoiding risk, intensifying feelings of meaninglessness in work and life more broadly and rising national inequality accompanied by growing status anxiety. However, it’s important to emphasise that social science has so far failed to provide definitive answers.

[...]

It seems unlikely that the political and social challenges we face wouldn’t influence our wellbeing. Reducing the issue to isolated variables [such as the use of smartphones], where the solution might appear to be to introduce a new policy (like banning smartphones) follows a technocratic logic that could turn good health into a matter for experts.

The risk with this approach is that society as a whole is excluded from the analysis. Another risk is that politics is drained of meaning. If political questions such as structural discrimination, economic precarity, exposure to violence and opioid use are not regarded as shaping our wellbeing, what motivation remains for taking action on these matters?

Archived version

[Original version is behind a paywall.]

Elon Musk [who promised to fire government employees en masse through DOGE, the new Department of Government Efficiency to be created by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump] has taken his animus to another level by cruelly singling out an individual federal employee named Ashley Thomas, who works a relatively obscure job at the US International Development Finance Corporation, to be harassed online.

[...]

Things kicked off when a popular right wing account ridiculed Thomas in a tweet, writing, "I don't think the US Taxpayer should pay for the employment of a 'Director of Climate Diversification (she/her).'"

Musk quoted the post with a dunk of his own, effectively inviting his hundreds of millions of followers to join in on harassing this random government worker.

"So many fake jobs," Musk wrote in the tweet, which now has over 200,000 likes.

Seemingly, the billionaire culture warrior saw the word "diversification" and thought "diversity," "DEI," or some other form of "wokeness" — his favorite punching bags — as did his many followers.

"You aren't getting rid of all the good jobs are you?" replied one of his courtiers. "I just applied for Chief Climate Gender Diversification Administrator."

[...]

Aside from the harassment and the abhorrent massacring of comedy on display here, this is a truly bizarre job to single out.

The work of climate diversification, a subset of economic diversification, does not involve sitting around at the office and inventing pronouns or whatever Musk is imagining, but to develop strategies to reduce the impact of climate change on various sectors of the economy, especially agriculture. If certain food crops end up failing, for example, diversifying what we grow ensures that we don't all literally starve. But Musk and his cronies clearly heard the job and thought it sounded like out-of-control wokeness.

[...]

At any rate, Musk clearly knows what he's doing here by making that tweet. And if he doesn't, he's an idiot.

In the past, Musk disparaged Twitter's former head of trust and safety Yoel Roth by more or less implying that he was pedophile, which his followers capitalized on by sending him death threats. So intense was the onslaught of hate that followed that Yoel felt forced to flee his home.

That, and this latest episode, are a testament to the power of even just one tossed-off post by Musk — who now tweets as if it's his job.

Archived version

Two high-profile mass killings and a car crash at a primary school in just over a week are raising questions about how well-equipped China is to deal with the stresses of a slowing economy and related mental-health issues.

Since November 11, the country has reeled from news of a driver reportedly angry at his divorce settlement killing 35 people by ramming his car into a crowd in Zhuhai; a former student on a stabbing rampage at a vocational college in Wuxi, killing eight; and a car ploughing into a crowd of school children and pedestrians in the city of Changde on Tuesday.

[...]

The events have led to a spike in worries about the overall health of society in China, where mass casualty attacks have occurred with alarming regularity throughout 2024. There have been nine so far this year, compared with six in total in the preceding decade.

[...]

As the economy slows, employment opportunities are more precarious and fewer people are being lifted by China’s long-running economic miracle. The repercussions on mental health from such economic pressures are growing, experts say.

[...]

Xiaojie Qin, a Beijing-based psychotherapist and director at mental health non-profit CandleX, says that a pervasive sense of societal unfairness and disparity can lead in extreme cases to violence against random bystanders.

“Some people who were left behind and socially and economically more marginalised can feel they are not being treated fairly, and some people who don’t have enough emotional regulation, they have outbursts, sometimes violent outbursts,” she said.

[...]

The widespread censorship of discussion around the attacks has also appeared to heighten concerns as more people question the veracity of information they are receiving from official sources, analysts said.

“It can exacerbate societal fears and distrust of the government within China, particularly if seemingly random, large-scale violent incidents persist as they have this year,” said Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

[...]

"The lack of access to mental health services is one reason disaffected people resort to violence, but the lack of an independent legal system that protects individuals’ rights over the interests of the party or government results in a lack of trust and faith in the courts,” said Drew Thompson [a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore].

[...]

Archived version

Two high-profile mass killings and a car crash at a primary school in just over a week are raising questions about how well-equipped China is to deal with the stresses of a slowing economy and related mental-health issues.

Since November 11, the country has reeled from news of a driver reportedly angry at his divorce settlement killing 35 people by ramming his car into a crowd in Zhuhai; a former student on a stabbing rampage at a vocational college in Wuxi, killing eight; and a car ploughing into a crowd of school children and pedestrians in the city of Changde on Tuesday.

[...]

The events have led to a spike in worries about the overall health of society in China, where mass casualty attacks have occurred with alarming regularity throughout 2024. There have been nine so far this year, compared with six in total in the preceding decade.

[...]

As the economy slows, employment opportunities are more precarious and fewer people are being lifted by China’s long-running economic miracle. The repercussions on mental health from such economic pressures are growing, experts say.

[...]

Xiaojie Qin, a Beijing-based psychotherapist and director at mental health non-profit CandleX, says that a pervasive sense of societal unfairness and disparity can lead in extreme cases to violence against random bystanders.

“Some people who were left behind and socially and economically more marginalised can feel they are not being treated fairly, and some people who don’t have enough emotional regulation, they have outbursts, sometimes violent outbursts,” she said.

[...]

The widespread censorship of discussion around the attacks has also appeared to heighten concerns as more people question the veracity of information they are receiving from official sources, analysts said.

“It can exacerbate societal fears and distrust of the government within China, particularly if seemingly random, large-scale violent incidents persist as they have this year,” said Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

[...]

"The lack of access to mental health services is one reason disaffected people resort to violence, but the lack of an independent legal system that protects individuals’ rights over the interests of the party or government results in a lack of trust and faith in the courts,” said Drew Thompson [a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore].

[...]

Archived version

In the first half of 2024, Russia's federal statistics agency, Rosstat, reported 13.3 million people living in poverty across the country. Although this is an increase from 2023, it drastically underestimates the actual scale of poverty.

For years, the Russian government has manipulated statistics, with Rosstat revising its methods to meet presidential mandates aimed at lowering poverty rates.

However, evaluating current data by using the previous methodology reveals a much grimmer picture: by the end of 2023, the number of poor people in Russia was 1.5 times higher than officially acknowledged — ranging from 14.6 to 18 million (up to 12.5% of the population), according to The Insider. Many of those classified as “not poor” struggle to afford basic necessities like clothing and food. Poverty levels surged after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and despite enormous government spending, the situation has yet to return to pre-war levels.

Archived version

Journalist Ephrem Yalike took part in the relentless disinformation regime Russia employs in the Central African Republic. After narrowly escaping death while under interrogation by his case officer, he fled his country. For the first time, he tells the inside story of Russia’s campaign to influence public opinion: a secret network you can only leave at the risk of your life.

• Central African journalist Ephrem Yalike offers evidence revealing the underbelly of Russian disinformation campaigns in the Central African Republic, in which he himself took part.
• Africa Politology, a secret organization belonging to the “Prigozhin galaxy,” uses Central African journalists to manipulate public opinion in the country.
• Among those in charge of coordinating disinformation campaigns is Mikhaïl Mikhaïlovitch Prudnikov, a close associate of the Wagner Group who worked on behalf of Moscow in Sudan before influencing public opinion in the Central African Republic.

The Australian government’s proposed social media ban for under-16s has sparked widespread debate, affecting millions of young Australians, their families and educators. But will it actually work?

While the aim behind this ban is to protect children from online harm, it appears to be more of a kneejerk reaction to win votes.

In a world where technological advancement is accelerating and online communication is part of our everyday lives, teaching children about safe online use, rather than imposing bans, is a more effective way to protect them from harm while still allowing them to be technologically savvy.

[...]

The Finnish approach

Finland’s approach to digital literacy education is comprehensive and integrated. It aims to equip citizens of all ages with the skills to navigate the digital world effectively.

Finland’s education system embeds digital literacy as a fundamental component of its curriculum, integrating technology across all grade levels to prepare students for the digital age.

From preschool education, students are introduced to digital tools, safety and technology to learn responsible online behaviour. As Finnish academics Sirkku Lähdesmäki and Minna Maunula highlight:

creating a secure and empowering connection with media is a shared educational responsibility that necessitates the active participation of both schools and families.

Integrating digital literacy into the education system ensures skills are not taught in isolation, but embedded across the system.

Digital literacy in Finland extends beyond formal schooling. Public libraries and community centres offer programs to improve skills among adults, ensuring that digital literacy is a lifelong pursuit. As they say, digital competencies are civic skills.

[...]

In addition, the education system was reformed to emphasise critical thinking. This taught students to identify bots, understand image and video manipulations, and recognise half-truths and false profiles. The approach has been practical, with Finland ranking first out of 35 countries in a digital media literacy index measuring resilience six times in a row.

The Australian government’s proposed social media ban for under-16s has sparked widespread debate, affecting millions of young Australians, their families and educators. But will it actually work?

While the aim behind this ban is to protect children from online harm, it appears to be more of a kneejerk reaction to win votes.

In a world where technological advancement is accelerating and online communication is part of our everyday lives, teaching children about safe online use, rather than imposing bans, is a more effective way to protect them from harm while still allowing them to be technologically savvy.

[...]

The Finnish approach

Finland’s approach to digital literacy education is comprehensive and integrated. It aims to equip citizens of all ages with the skills to navigate the digital world effectively.

Finland’s education system embeds digital literacy as a fundamental component of its curriculum, integrating technology across all grade levels to prepare students for the digital age.

From preschool education, students are introduced to digital tools, safety and technology to learn responsible online behaviour. As Finnish academics Sirkku Lähdesmäki and Minna Maunula highlight:

creating a secure and empowering connection with media is a shared educational responsibility that necessitates the active participation of both schools and families.

Integrating digital literacy into the education system ensures skills are not taught in isolation, but embedded across the system.

Digital literacy in Finland extends beyond formal schooling. Public libraries and community centres offer programs to improve skills among adults, ensuring that digital literacy is a lifelong pursuit. As they say, digital competencies are civic skills.

[...]

In addition, the education system was reformed to emphasise critical thinking. This taught students to identify bots, understand image and video manipulations, and recognise half-truths and false profiles. The approach has been practical, with Finland ranking first out of 35 countries in a digital media literacy index measuring resilience six times in a row.

Archived version

[...] While the widespread AI-driven “apocalypse” predicted by some experts was not actualized, there was still a significant amount of misinformation. The Biden robocall was the most notable deepfake example in this election cycle. But as Tim Harper, senior policy analyst and project lead for the Center for Democracy and Technology, explained, there were several instances of AI’s misuse. These included fake websites generated by foreign governments and deepfakes spreading misinformation about candidates.

In addition to that kind of misinformation, Harper emphasized a major concern was how AI tools could be used to target folks at more of a micro level than has previously been seen, which he said did occur during this election cycle. Examples include AI-generated texts to Wisconsin students that were deemed intimidating, and incidents of non-English misinformation campaigns targeting Spanish speaking voters, intended to create confusion. AI’s role in this election, Harper said, has impacted public trust and the perception of truth.

A positive trend seen this year, according to Jennifer Huddleston [senior fellow in technology policy at the Cato Institute], was that the existing information ecosystem helped combat AI-powered misinformation. For example, with the Biden robocall, there was a quick response, allowing voters to be more informed and discerning about what to believe.

Huddleston said she believes it is too soon to predict precisely how this technology will evolve and how AI’s public perception and adoption may look. But she said using education as a policy tool can help improve understanding of AI risks and reduce misinformation.

Internet literacy is still developing, Harper said; he expects to see a similarly slow increase in AI literacy and adoption: “I think public education around these sorts of threats is really important.”

[...]

Congratulations. Reading this far into the story is a feat not many will accomplish, especially if shared on Facebook, according to a team led by Penn State researchers.

In an analysis of more than 35 million public posts containing links that were shared extensively on the social media platform between 2017 and 2020, the researchers found that around 75% of the shares were made without the posters clicking the link first. Of these, political content from both ends of the spectrum was shared without clicking more often than politically neutral content.

The findings, which the researchers said suggest that social media users tend to merely read headlines and blurbs rather than fully engage with core content, were published today (Nov. 19) in Nature Human Behavior. While the data were limited to Facebook, the researchers said the findings could likely map to other social media platforms and help explain why misinformation can spread so quickly online.

"It was a big surprise to find out that more than 75% of the time, the links shared on Facebook were shared without the user clicking through first," said corresponding author S. Shyam Sundar, Evan Pugh University Professor and the James P. Jimirro Professor of Media Effects at Penn State.

On Tuesday [5 November], nonpartisan watchdog American Oversight filed a motion for preliminary injunction in its ongoing lawsuit for the release of interview records from the federal investigation of attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz. The requested records, known as “302s,” are FBI summaries of witness interviews conducted during the reported investigation into Gaetz for serious criminal allegations, including sex trafficking of a minor.

This action is sponsored by: Civic Shout, Common Cause, DemCast USA, Democracy for America Advocacy Fund, Food & Water Watch, National Campaign for Justice, Progress America, TakeItBack.Org, The Juggernaut Project, The Workers Circle, and Voter Action Project.