commbox Digital Platforms, Social Media

Digital platforms as socio-cultural artifacts: Developing digital methods for cultural research

Stefania Vicari, Daniel Kirby

Information, Communication & Society, volume 26, issue 9 (2023), pp. 1733-1755

"Social media platforms are increasingly looked at as means to investigate social phenomena like collective events, issues or causes. Digital methods – techniques exclusively focused on online data and shaped by the environment hosting these data – have become part and parcel of these investigat ... more

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Intégrité de l’information sur les plateformes numériques

Nations Unies (2023), 29 pp.

"[...] la présente note d’orientation expose les principes potentiels d’un code de conduite qui aidera à guider les États Membres, les plateformes numériques et les autres parties prenantes dans les efforts qu’ils déploient pour rendre l’espace numérique plus inclusif et plus sûr pour ... more

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Regulation of Digital Platforms for a Socially-Just Gig Economy in Kenya

Tom Kwanya, Kutoma J. Wakunuma

Berlin: Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) (2023), 99 pp.

Fairwork Brazil Ratings 2023: Still Pursuing Decent Work in the Platform Economy

Oxford; Berlin: Fairwork (2023), 47 pp.

Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms: Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Access to Information Through a Multi-Stakeholder Approach

Paris: UNESCO (2023), 58 pp.

"The Guidelines outline a set of duties, responsibilities and roles for States, digital platforms, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, media, academia, the technical community and other stakeholders to enable the environment where freedom of expression and information are in the core of ... more

The Key Player in Russia's Cybersphere: What the West Needs to Know About VK Company

Philipp Dietrich

Berlin: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik (DGAP) (2023), 20 pp.

Plataformização e rádio expandido: As redes coletivas de podcasts no contexto das plataformas

Luan José Vaz Chagas, Luana Viana, Antonio Carlos Silva

Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias de la Comunicación, volume 22, issue 44 (2023), pp. 54-66

"O artigo analisa os impactos da plataformização na criação de redes de divulgação coletiva de podcasts no Brasil, formadas por grupos tradicionalmente subalternizados como mulheres, comunidade LGBTQIAP+, população negra, entre outros. A partir de entrevistas, os dados demonstram que a luta ... more

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‘Push-and-pull’ for visibility: How do fans as users negotiate over algorithms with Chinese digital platforms?

Yiyan Zhang, Shengchun Huang, Tong Li

Information, Communication & Society, volume 26, issue 2 (2023), pp. 321-339

"In the algorithmic era, both users and the platform battle for visibility. Chinese fans are savvy users who explore the hidden algorithms behind platform functions. With the collectively developed algorithmic imaginary, digital fandom communities negotiate with the platform over algorithms to optim ... more

Fairwork Bosnia and Herzegovina Ratings 2023: Labour Standards in the Platform Economy

Oxford; Berlin: Fairwork (2023), 39 pp.

Google News Initiative’s Influence on Technological Media Innovation in Africa and the Middle East

Mathias Felipe de Lima Santos, Allen Munoriyarwa, Adeola Abdulateef Elega, Charis Papaevangelou

Media and Communication, volume 11, issue 2 (2023), 14 pp.

"The Google News Initiative (GNI) aims to collaborate closely with the news industry and financially support the creation of quality journalism in the digital age. It also aims to bring technological advancements and innovation into newsrooms for operations. Drawing on journalism innovation and resp ... more

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Fairwork Georgia Ratings 2023: Old Challenges and New Forms of Work in the Neoliberal Paradise

Oxford; Berlin: Fairwork (2023), 35 pp.

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Community Stewards and Social Cohesion in Digital Spaces

Search for Common Ground (2023), 27 pp.

"[...] There are 70 million individuals who are administrators of Facebook groups. Many more coordinate groups across other platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal, and others, which are often run on mobile devices - with a global user base of 5.34 billion unique mobile users. Group administrators and mo ... derators act as “community stewards.” They are individuals in charge of reviewing user-generated content to ensure users adhere to rules, regulations, and community standards of social media platforms. They hold tremendous influence over the experience of their users, but they often step into these roles without fully understanding the scope of responsibilities they are taking on. Many community stewards describe their role as a “labor of love,” representing a substantial opportunity to catalyze large-scale, positive social change across societies. Yet, they face many challenges. Stewards cite myriad challenges, risks, rewards, and opportunities they face in managing their online groups and pages. This report focuses on the role of community stewards in promoting healthier relationships in their online and digital groups in conflict-affected and fragile countries. There is growing evidence of the societal impacts stewards are driving through their platforms, such as mobilizing aid during crises, raising awareness on important issues, and fostering solutions to community challenges. Given their unique reach, influence, and trust, community stewards hold great potential to not only mobilize positive social change, but also to foster connection and belonging in a way that positively transforms relationships and disrupts the toxic polarization that divides societies and fuels violence. The potential of community stewards is clear; it is less clear how civil society, the private sector, governments, and others can best support and scale up this potential. Understanding the needs and incentives of community stewards to proactively use their roles for building healthier online (and offline) communities can help build on what works. Understanding the barriers and challenges they face in doing so, will serve as critical entry points for mobilizing the right support to stewards. This report looks to uncover the barriers and opportunities that stewards face in their efforts to build healthier and safer online communities in conflict-affected and fragile places." (Introduction) more

Fairwork South Africa Ratings 2023: Advocating for Safety and Dignity in the Platform Economy

Oxford; Berlin: Fairwork (2023), 39 pp.

Fairwork Indonesia Ratings 2023: Labour Standards in the Platform Economy

Oxford; Berlin: Fairwork (2023), 39 pp.

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Fairwork Ecuador Ratings 2023: Working Conditions in Unsafe Contexts

Oxford; Berlin: Fairwork (2023), 39 pp.

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Fairwork Peru Ratings 2023: Labour Standards in the Platform Economy

Oxford; Berlin: Fairwork (2023), 38 pp.

The politics of platformization: Amsterdam dialogues on platform theory

Gianmarco Cristofari

Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures (2023), 215 pp.

Die Stärkung von Kinderrechten durch den Digital Services Act (DSA): Wege zu Best-Practice-Ansätzen

Ingrid Stapf, Stefan Dreyer, Laura Schelenz et al.

Sicherheit für Kinder in der digitalen Welt (SIKID) (2023), 18 pp.

"Das vorliegende Papier soll die Umsetzung des neuen Digital Services Act (DSA) konstruktiv aus einer kinderrechtlichen Perspektive begleiten. Dabei wird gezeigt, welche Potenziale sich aus dem DSA ergeben, um Kinderrechte im Digitalen zu stärken. Im Fokus stehen Anbietermaßnahmen sowie auch Präv ... more