Frances Haugen told an audience of Brown students, faculty and staff that algorithms governing social media are the root of technology’s challenges — and that social media can be a positive force to keep people connected.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Society will wrestle with and ultimately solve the complex issues brought about by social media platforms such as Facebook, just as it did after the advent of other new forms of communication in history, from the printing press to the television screen.
That’s what Frances Haugen told an audience at Brown University’s Granoff Center for the Creative Arts on Wednesday, April 27.
And Haugen should know — better known as the Facebook whistleblower, she worked as a product manager at the tech giant before filing a series of complaints claiming that the company misled the public on how it handles issues including climate change, misinformation, hate speech and the platform’s effect on mental health.
Since going public and leaving Facebook, Haugen has testified in front of the U.S. Congress and global government bodies, and has engaged with lawmakers internationally on how to best address the negative effects of social media platforms.
Her appearance at Brown, titled “Reforming Social Media from the Inside,” served as the inaugural event of the William R. Rhodes ’57 Lecture Series on the Ethics of Capitalism. She touched on many issues, including censorship and the danger of algorithms, and gave the audience an insider’s...
A state announcement comes amid a congressional inquiry into Medicaid fraud but state officials said the cases are not related to federal pressure This premium article is for members. If you are on...