Why Ofcom needs clear powers to audit Big Tech’s algorithms
Inspection of algorithms in social media is an essential, but also frequently overlooked, part of the Online Safety Bill.
BySocial Media
Find here all of the New Statesman’s comment and analysis about social media and the digital age.
Christopher Hitchens couldn’t survive in today’s world
A decade on from Hitchens’ death, digital life discourages the free thinking and nonconformity that made him so compelling.
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Why the language we use to talk about the refugee crisis matters
In the media there is something distinctly racist about the double standards with which we apply the word “migrant”.
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We make no progress on racism or anything else by trawling through Azeem Rafiq’s past
There is something toxic about our attitude of one-strike-and-you’re-out, creating a culture that is determined to categorise everyone into villain…
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What the Online Safety Bill means for social media
Can the government’s new laws make the internet safer while also defending free speech?
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I know first-hand how destructive social media can be. But we can’t ban horrible posts
Twitter gave me nightmares and made existing mental illnesses worse. But I don’t think we can ban “legal but harmful”…
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The rise of the landlord influencer
Welcome to #PropertyTok: where landlords are making money on viral posts as well as rental homes.
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The pandemic has made social media unusable
Social media invites constant scrutiny and insists on impossible standards no one could ever be expected to meet. Posting online…
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Robert Del Naja: why we need a Massive Attack on climate misinformation
Artists are joining with campaigners to demand an end to greenwashing.
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Can MPs ever be truly safe after Jo Cox and David Amess?
MPs have been reflecting on their own safety after the murder of David Amess at his constituency surgery on 15…
The internet was built for connection – how did it go so wrong?
The World Wide Web celebrates its 30th birthday this year. Its users are less empowered than ever.
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The dark side of Strava: What happens when users lose control
“When I use Strava I’m doing it for my time, not because I enjoy it.”
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Inside the rise of influencer publishing
Many bestsellers of the last few years originated outside “traditional” publishing houses. But are influencers good for books?
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The trouble with Instagram infographics as political discourse
Infographics are often shallow explorations of issues that need careful critical attention.
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Why I hate Twitter – and why I can’t quit
Rather than promoting creativity, social media is fostering a new age of conformity.
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How dating apps are reshaping our desires for the worse
Apps formalise arbitrary preferences and even discrimination against “unattractive” demographics.
By Why social media boycotts never work
The Premier League, English Football League and Women’s Super League will boycott social media this weekend. But when has online silence ever…
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A new lawsuit against TikTok continues the backlash against Big Tech’s plans for children
The hugely popular social network is one of several tech firms facing legal scrutiny for monetising children's internet usage.
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How gossip forum Tattle Life became the most toxic place on the internet
On Tattle Life, influencers and celebrities exist for one purpose: to have the details of their personal lives doxxed and…
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Memes and meaning: Why our online habits are more than just distractions
We turn to memes to help make sense of our chaotic existence, taking comfort in the shared experience of internet…
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