Jason Thacker's Blog, page 14

How social media has aided the disintegration of our public discourse

In the midst of a crisis, such as the attempted coup at the United States Capitol, we naturally long for answers. If you are anything like me, you likely doomscrolled most of the day and night, hoping to grasp what just took place and what it means for our future as a nation. In the moments following the mob violence and rioting, many turned to blame one side or another for the rising dissension and breakdown of our public discourse. Some blame big tech for not doing enough early on to quell the...

Understanding Twitter suspensions and the need for consistent policies

with Josh Wester

On Friday evening, Twitter officially suspended the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, from its platform for violating its stated community policies related to inciting violence and spreading false information. This suspension comes after the heinous attack on the United States Capitol on Wednesday, inspired by the president and his key supporters, following a rally on the National Mall. The protest, which culminated in both violence and rioting, was organized...

3 Ethical Issues in Technology to Watch for in 2021

2020 was a year that not only challenged the fortitude of our families but also the fabric of our nation. Last year we saw many complex ethical issues arise from our use of technology in society and as individuals. From the debates over the proper use of social media in society to the adoption of invasive technologies like facial recognition that pushed the bounds of our concepts of personal privacy, many of the ethical challenges exposed in 2020 will flow into 2021, as our society debates how t...

Social media’s expert culture

Throughout my childhood many saw me as a very confident young man. I was typically up front and vocal about things, confidently asserting my knowledge, skill, and abilities even if I did so with a subdued confidence. I grew up thinking I needed to prove myself in order to be loved, and that desire was often projected through my achievements. When I arrived on campus at seminary, I figured I would continue to achieve, and I was sure that I would succeed. But through the power of the local church ...

How do we navigate information overload?

I am often struck at how prophetic many older books on technology are in light of our modern debates over technology and the role of social media in our lives. It is far too easy to believe that many of the problems we face today are completely new and have no historical background or insight. As we have seen over the last weeks and months, there is a substantial debate over the influence of social media and how these information-driven tools impact our social discourse along with the rising tid...

Why you should read old books on technology

In our digital first world, it is far too easy to focus on the things right in front of us. Our social media feeds are designed to constantly barrage us with new information and updates. Online resources are often written in ways to boost engagement and interaction. As writer Alan Jacobs puts it, “navigating daily life in the internet age is a lot like doing battlefield triage.” Reality is that we are often overwhelmed with the sheer amount of information to process so we often default to shallo...

Explainer: What is Parler, and why does it matter?

In recent months, a new social media platform gained growing popularity in light of controversies over content moderation and fact-checking on traditional social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. Parler was launched in August of 2018 by John Matze, Jared Thomson, and Rebekah Mercer. While it still has a smaller user base than most social platforms at just over 2.8 millions people, the app saw a surge in downloads following the November 2020 presidential election and has become extremely...

What is our role in social media renewal?

Social media can sometimes bring out the best in humanity. But more often than not, it shows the glaring friction and breakdown of civil discourse in our communities. Social media has become the main place for each of us to get the news, share our thoughts (and our hot takes), signal our political allegiances, and connect with others in the midst of ongoing social distancing and gathering restrictions. 

Layered on top of our social interactions, companies and brands have often joined the...

Launching a book in a pandemic

Just over nine month ago right before the pandemic hit the United States, I launched my first book with Zondervan called The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity. I will never forget the release on the morning of March 3 and then finding out later that day that our area had its very first case of COVID-19. Because of my wifes chemotherapy treatment making her high risk for the virus, I decided to work from home for a week or two until things leveled out a bit. Little...

‘The Social Dilemma’ and the Bigger Dilemma

A few weeks ago after my wife and I put our boys to sleep, we pulled up the new Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. Featuring a number of noted authors, scholars, tech leaders, and activists, the film helps explain the growing influence of algorithmic technology, especially in social media. 

Led by Tristan Harris, former design ethicist and president of the Center for Humane Technology, The Social Dilemma explores how these technologies are specifically designed to serve up a perfectly...