Dr. Isabelle Freiling Presents at Communication Institute Speaker Series
On Thursday, Feb. 6, Dr. Isabelle Freiling delivered an insightful talk on misinformation,
social media, and artificial intelligence as part of the Edna Anderson-Taylor Communication
Institute Speaker Series. During her talk, Dr. Freiling explored the dynamics of misinformation,
touching on its accuracy, creation, dissemination, and methods of intervention.She delved into the influence of social media algorithms, explaining how they shape
the content we see, potentially creating filter bubbles. Social media algorithms can unintentionally limit exposure
to different viewpoints, but the issue is more complex than it seems. Dr. Freiling
pointed out that social media researchers face a unique challenge—what she calls the
“black box.” Social media algorithms and the data they process are proprietary, making
it difficult for researchers to collect data on what each user sees and when they
see it unless it's provided by social media platforms.
This fascinating talk deepened our understanding of a topic we often encounter but
may not fully grasp. Be sure to watch for future Speaker Series events from the Communication
Institute to continue learning about a wide range of thought-provoking topics!