Twenty years after Facebook spread across college campuses, its effects on society remain heavily studied and poorly understood. Little consensus exists over whether it promotes or degrades mental health, heals divides or polarizes, alters electoral outcomes or foments extremism. Repeated failure to reach scientific consensus…
Barons is the story of eight titans of the food industry, their rise to power, and the consequences for workers, eaters, and democracy itself. Barons paints a stark portrait of corporate consolidation, but it also shows that a fair, healthy, and prosperous food industry is possible—if we take back power from the barons who have…
Relationships with artificial intelligence (AI) agents such as companion chatbots are on the rise. Concerns that these relationships may harm or replace real human relationships have been raised, but whether and how these social consequences occur remains unclear. Prior research suggests that people’s states of social need and…
Danny Cullenward is an economist and lawyer focused on the scientific integrity of climate policy. He is a Senior Fellow with the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, a member of the Independent Standards Board of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and the vice chair of California’s carbon market…
The algorithmic recommender systems that select, filter, and personalize experiences across online platforms and services play a significant role in shaping user experiences online. These systems largely determine what users see, read, and watch, fueling debates around their potential to amplify harmful content, foster societal…
