social media
Anxiety and algorithms: NC policymakers examine how to rein in social media’s sway
Here’s a quick quiz: Think back to Thanksgiving. Was your smartphone at the table? Did you scour Facebook or Instagram between courses? Did you post a selfie to mark the occasion? With social media occupying a bigger and bigger role in our lives, health experts are increasingly concerned about the role it has on adolescent […]
How U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson helped derail a fight against election lies
Back in July, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. A federal court had recently granted a temporary injunction, in Missouri v. Biden, finding that the Biden administration had violated the First Amendment by coercing social media companies to remove content, related both to elections and the COVID-19 vaccine, that […]
Weekend humor from Celia Rivenbark: How often do you think of the Roman Empire?
I asked Duh Hubby the other day how often he thinks of the Roman Empire, and he said, “I dunno. Never?” Which is exactly the response I predicted. But turns out he’s the exception. TikTok’s latest stunt isn’t dumb or deadly. All you have to do, ladies, is ask the man in your life that […]
Victim identified, suspect charged in fatal UNC-Chapel Hill shooting
UNC-Chapel Hill graduate student Tailei Qi, 34, has been charged with first degree murder in Monday’s on-campus shooting of Zijie Yan, 38, an associate professor in the university’s Department of Applied Physical Sciences. Yan, who was identified as the victim Tuesday, served as academic advisor to Qi. The two men co-authored research papers – one […]
Faculty member killed in campus shooting at UNC-Chapel Hill
A graduate student allegedly shot and killed a faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill Monday afternoon, according to university officials and police, locking down the campus for several hours. The suspect, Tailei Qi, a graduate student in applied physical sciences, was taken into custody Monday afternoon. Formal charges are pending, police said at a press conference […]
Weekend humor from Celia Rivenbark: Musk vs. Zuck
The on again/off again “cage match” between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk is the spectacle we’ve all not been waiting for. A “thrillah of vanillah” if you will. Who is honestly pining to see these two pasty-faced, glassy-eyed billionaires beat the livin’ crap out of each other? Wait. Now that I just wrote that it […]
Weekend humor from Celia Rivenbark: “Coastal grandmother” trend will sneak up on you
A close friend with a penchant for bold flowery dresses sniffed at my oatmeal linen pants, white linen big shirt and pale blue tank. “Coastal Grandma called and wants her clothes back,” she snarked. “Where’s your vintage flower basket brimming with fresh-cut limelight hydrangeas?” Hmmph. I wish I knew. My limelights didn’t come back after […]
Judge limits Biden administration contact with social media platforms in censorship case
A federal judge on Tuesday prohibited Biden administration officials from communicating with social media platforms about “protected speech,” a ruling emerging from litigation originally filed by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt. The ruling, by Judge Terry A. Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, granted a temporary injunction barring […]
One state already has voted to ban TikTok. For Congress, it’s going to be much tougher.
As TikTok has mushroomed to more than 150 million monthly U.S. users, so have warnings among both state legislators and members of Congress about its potential danger as a tool of the Chinese government. Dozens of states and the federal government this year banned public employees from downloading the popular app on their government devices. […]
U.S. House members battle over ‘weaponization’ of government in hearing on Missouri lawsuit
WASHINGTON – U.S. House Judiciary Committee Republicans decried what they described as a partisan “weaponization” of the federal government over issues of free speech during a highly contentious Thursday hearing surrounding a lawsuit filed by the Missouri attorney general’s office. Democratic committee members objected strongly to the hearing as spreading “false narratives” and lies […]