The biggest racist on Twitter – and the ordinary man whose face he stole
What do a series of vile and viral racist tweets tell us about how parody and politics have become entwined?
BySocial Media
Find here all of the New Statesman’s comment and analysis about social media and the digital age.
How to delete your old tweets and Facebook posts
Many celebrities have recently come under fire for old social media posts.
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The disquieting rise of “search and shame”
The psychology behind – and consequences of – unearthing people’s old tweets.
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Is Jamie Oliver right, are selfies really the sugar of social media?
Was the TV chef wrong to ban his teenage daughter from posting selfies?
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De-verified: Twitter’s crackdown just shows how broken trust is online
Stripping perceived endorsement of far-right figures is great, but highlights a bigger problem with tech platforms.
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I’m beginning to believe there’s a Russian conspiracy to churn out online conspiracy theories
To internet hoaxers, making left-wingers argue with each other is good sport. But to state-sponsored trolls, it’s a front in…
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Why Zoella’s £50 advent calendar is so controversial
If you’re struggling to do the maths on this one, you’re not alone.
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With 280 characters, here are the Twitter tropes that may bite the dust
A new form of language and communication has evolved on Twitter over the last 11 years. How will it be…
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You don’t need Brexit or Trump conspiracies to worry about Facebook
The digital worlds we live in are just as challenging to democracy as plotting bad guys.
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“I feel like I’ve been robbed”: inside HelloWorld, the YouTuber event that left parents furious
An event for YouTube fans was billed with the words “nothing like this has ever been done before”. Angry parents…
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“Dear David found me, I think”: the lure (and ethics) of Twitter ghost stories
Inspiring fans and causing anxiety attacks, horror stories are unfolding in real time online.
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“It’s quite a relief from Twitter”: the strangely gentle world of MP Instagram accounts
The photo-sharing app is a kinder place than other social media platforms – for now.
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Rose McGowan and Donald Trump: the curious case of what does and doesn’t constitute Twitter abuse
The actress is undergoing a 12-hour suspension from the site after swearing at Ben Affleck.
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Like hell: how one click became incriminating
On Twitter and Facebook, actions now speak louder than words.
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Happy face, sad face – are emojis the nearest thing to a universal language?
More people “speak” emoji than English.
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The internet dictionary: what does kys mean?
With its resemblance to “kiss”, it looks almost sweet – but it can cause genuine distress.
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The internet dictionary: what is a Milkshake Duck?
Milkshake ducking is now more common than ever.
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The Daily Mail marks Indian independence with an “enchanting tale“ of imperialist servitude
Muthu "the loyal Indian houseman" speaks no "Indian".
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Snapchat Snap Map: what happens when teenagers track each other’s exact locations?
“His girlfriend saw him on the map and accused him of cheating.”
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The Fake Kids of Instagram? Behind the backlash against the internet famous
Bloggers and vloggers are coming under fire for seeming inauthentic online.
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