Tag: social media

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Congress Could Require Algorithm-Free Versions Of Internet Platforms

Congress is considering legislation that would require internet platforms to allow an algorithm-free version of the platform.

With so much news about social media platforms (like Facebook) using algorithms to drive traffic where they want users to go, it’s not surprising that Congress would turn its legislative powers toward forcing those platforms to allow algorithm-free versions of tech platforms. Continue reading “Congress Could Require Algorithm-Free Versions Of Internet Platforms”

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Podcast: Catholics Defy Vatican, Skittles Loses Rainbow For Pride, More States Ban Gay Panic Defense

The Randy Report podcast

The Randy Report podcast delivers the week's top stories in a quick, convenient podcast - 'the 60 Minutes of gay news - only shorter' In this week’s headlines: • Catholic priests in Germany defy the Vatican and bless same-sex unions • GLAAD looks at social media safety for LGBTQ users • A 20-year-old gay man was beheaded by his own family in a brutal ‘honor killing’ in Iran • The gay panic defense is banned in two more states…and counting • Skittles defers to the true “rainbow” for Pride Month • New music from out singer/songwriter Milahroy ‘Daylight’ (Link to music video) All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

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Study: Social Media Platforms ‘Categorically Unsafe’ For LGBTQs

A young gay man on social media

A young gay man on social media
(photo: Eddy Billard/Unsplash)
GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, has announced the findings of its inaugural Social Media Safety Index (SMSI), a 50-page report on LGBTQ user safety across five major social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. The overall takeaway is that  all five platforms are “categorically unsafe” for LGBTQ people. From Axios:

GLAAD had planned to give each of the sites a grade as part of its inaugural social media index, but opted not to give individual grades this year after determining all the leading sites would receive a failing grade.

“They are categorically unsafe, across the board,” GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said. The findings follow a several month effort by GLAAD and a team of outside experts who looked at each of the sites, their policies and track record of enforcing those policies.

Ellis said that all of the sites hold themselves out as LGBTQ-friendly and nonetheless allow for LGBTQ people to be harassed on a daily basis as well as allowing harmful misinformation to spread unchecked.

Each of the social media platforms defended their efforts to protect LGBTQ people. Facebook/Instagram CMO Alex Schultz declared their deep belief in “the representation of and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community that GLAAD champions.” “Finding the right balance between giving voice and taking action on harmful content is hard,” added Schultz. “This is why we partner with experts, non-profits and other stakeholders – like GLAAD – to try to get it right.” YouTube issued a statement noting its ‘significant progress’ in removing “hateful and harassing content against the LGBTQ+ community that violates our policies, prominently surface content in search results and recommendations from authoritative sources and limit the spread of extreme content by our recommendations.” Twitter says it welcomes GLAAD’s initiative and the chance to “better understand the experiences and needs of the LGBTQ+ communities on our service.” And TikTok promised it is “committed to supporting and uplifting LGBTQ+ voices on and off the platform and we care deeply about fostering a welcoming and supportive experience for everyone.”

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Texas Senate Attempts To Stop Social Media From Blocking Users Based On Politics

Texas

A high school senior was expelled right before the school year for coming out as gay and proud In the early morning hours on Thursday, the Texas Senate approved legislation that would “prohibit social media companies with at least 100 million monthly users from blocking, banning, demonetizing or discriminating against a user based on their viewpoint or their location within Texas.” More from the Texas Tribune:

The measure, which would apply to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, among others, would also require the companies to disclose their content moderation policies, publish regular reports about the content they remove and create an appeals process for user content that has been taken down.

The Texas attorney general would be allowed to file suit against any company that violates a provision of the bill. If upheld in court, the attorney general could recoup “reasonable” attorney’s fees and investigative costs.

Hughes repeatedly referred to social media companies as “common carriers” (like cable or phone companies) even though they’ve never been classified as such. The issue moves to the state House where two identical bills have yet to move out of committees. It goes without saying that legal experts have raised doubts about the legality of the measure. What’s interesting to me is: the same people who say a baker doesn’t have to bake a cake for a same-sex couple now say Twitter or Facebook can’t boot someone for violating their terms of service by spreading misinformation on their platforms.

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QAnon Rep. Greene Scrubbing Years Of Social Media Posts

QAnon/GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (screen capture)
As more and more disturbing clips of freshman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene keep surfacing, several outlets are reporting Greene is quickly and quietly scrubbing her social media of her many inflammatory posts. From CNN:

Searches of Greene’s Facebook show the posts from 2018 and 2019 have been removed. Links saved by CNN’s KFile during a review of hundreds of posts and comments from Greene’s Facebook page are no longer available.

Greene is facing backlash for her conspiratorial social media posts after CNN reported she indicated support for executing prominent Democrats in Facebook comments and videos. The freshman congresswoman from Georgia also deleted videos she posted on Facebook Live where she said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is “guilty of treason” and that she will “suffer death or she’ll be in prison” for her “treason.”

Read the full report at CNN.

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Misinformation Dropped Dramatically After Trump Banned From Twitter

Misinformation dropped dramatically after Twitter suspended Donald Trump's account

Misinformation dropped dramatically after Twitter suspended Donald Trump's account Color me shocked, but a new report shows misinformation on social media dropped dramatically after Donald Trump was banned from Twitter. From the Washington Post:

Online misinformation about election fraud plunged 73 percent after several social media sites suspended President Trump and key allies last week, research firm Zignal Labs has found, underscoring the power of tech companies to limit the falsehoods poisoning public debate when they act aggressively.

The new research by the San Francisco-based analytics firm reported that conversations about election fraud dropped from 2.5 million mentions to 688,000 mentions across several social media sites in the week after Trump was banned from Twitter.

Election disinformation had for months been a major subject of online misinformation, beginning even before the Nov. 3 election and pushed heavily by Trump and his allies.

The drop in misinformation was seen across numerous platforms after Trump was kicked off social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Spotify and more. And it wasn’t just removing Trump that made the difference. Twitter also removed more than 70,000 accounts affiliated with the conspiracy movement known as QAnon, which played a large role in raising temperatures that led to the Capitol invasion on January 6. Read the full article at The Washington Post.

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Failed GOP Candidate George Santos: Fiancé Was Fired For Attending Trump NYE Soiree

George Santos and his fiancé at Mar-a-Lago

George Santos and his fiancé at Mar-a-Lago
George Santos and his fiancé at Mar-a-Lago
George Santos, a failed gay GOP congressional candidate who lost his New York state race in November, says that his fiancé, a pharmacist, lost his job after the couple attended Donald Trump’s $1,000-per-head COVID-unsafe New Year’s Eve bash at Mar-a-Lago. Santos shared pics of himself and his fiancé at the soiree on his social media accounts but somehow blames the New York Times for the firing of his fiancé because the newspaper included a link to his Instagram posts from the party. Related: George Santos Was Married To A Woman While Living With Boyfriend? The Times had written the piece in regard to the flouting of Palm Beach County health guidelines during the pandemic. In the photos, Santos and his boo can be seen in formal attire and meeting folks from Trump’s orbit like Rudy Giuliani. George Santos meeting Rudy Giuliani Social media post shared by George Santos In a Facebook post, he claimed that the couple was forced to “leave our home this evening with our 4 dogs” due to the Times having reported on the party. Santos claimed that his fiancé, “a pharmacist who worked 12h/7 days shifts for 9 months was fired!” after the Times article. He added, “The violence against us is real,” although what violence he had faced was not clear.
Facebook post
(via Facebook)
Twitter was neither impressed nor sympathetic to the failed GOP candidate in his plight. Perhaps if he hadn’t shared the photos in the first place, no one would have seen them…?  

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RuPaul Found A Great Reason To Return To Social Media

RuPaul takes to the SNL stage as host

RuPaul takes to the SNL stage as host
RuPaul is back on social media (screen capture via SNL)
Back in July, RuPaul quietly and inexplicably erased all posts from his Instagram and Twitter accounts. He even temporarily deactivated his Twitter. Was it the coronavirus pandemic? Social unrest across the country after the killing of George Floyd? It’s not like Ru went into hiding. We’ve seen the drag star hosting his show and making a virtual appearance during the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards to accept his 5th trophy for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program At the time, no one seemed to know what or why the Supermodel of the World retreated from social media. But now we know what brought him back to the Gram of Insta and Twitterverse. Wednesday night, Mama Ru reactivated Twitter to post a photo of international pop star Dame Olivia Newton-John along with the caption, “Olivia Newton-John has started a new foundation to find kinder ways to treat, prevent & cure all cancers, with a strong focus on plant medicine. Follow & support @onjfoundation #beyondcancer @therealonj#onjfoundation onjfoundation.org.” RuPaul also shared the message on Instagram.

The messages came just a day after Olivia announced the launch of the Olivia Newton-John Foundation which will “fund the discovery of kinder therapies and advocate for more effective ways to prevent, treat and cure all cancers.” Olivia, who shared in recent years her breast cancer from 1992 had reoccurred, has said in interviews she’s interested in helping explore the science behind more plant-based medicine. As fans of both stars know, Ru and Olivia have been friends for a long time. Last fall, RuPaul attended Olivia’s charity auction at Julien’s where the Grease star put her famous black leather jacket and pants from the movie’s finale on the bidding block and garnered over $500,000 for charity.
Dame Olivia Newton-John and RuPaul at Julien’s Auctions
Dame Olivia Newton-John and RuPaul at the Flamingo Las Vegas (photo: Denise Truscello)
Ru also traveled to attend the “Physical” singer’s opening night of her Las Vegas residency. And of course, ONJ has been a guest on The RuPaul Show, the web series RuPaul Drives…, and a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning of RuPaul’s return to social media.