In the wake of our decision at ODI to suspend all activity on X (formerly Twitter), this episode examines the polarisation and hate so prevalent in today’s social media landscape and what is driving it.

Since Elon Musk took ownership of X two years ago there has been a rise of hate speech, mis- and disinformation on the platform. The UK riots, which we dissected in a recent episode, are a case in point. This worrying trend – alongside the commercialisation of its validation functions – led many politicians and organisations to stop using X.

But are we just putting plasters on a much deeper issue? To what extent has this divide in society already existed?

This episode examines these questions, and asks what action is needed to build safer, fairer digital societies. Guests explore the potential of social media to tackle subconscious biases, and take a stand against misinformation and online hate.

We hear about the role policy-makers should play in tackling fake news and misinformation as well as social media platforms themselves, and what role AI could play in influencing these dynamics.

Guests

• Sara Pantuliano (host), Chief Executive, ODI
• Nanjala Nyabola, Kenyan author, political analyst and and activist
• Sandra Pepera, Chief Strategy and Governance Officer, ODI

Related resources

• ODI suspends activity on X (Statement, ODI)
  
  
• Riots, race and misinformation – has alarmist rhetoric on migration gone too far? (Think Change podcast, ODI)
  
  
• How to tackle mis/disinformation with a human centred approach (Insight, ODI)
  
  
• 10 things to know about misinformation and disinformation (Graphics/Briefing note, ODI)
  
  
• Has AI ushered in an existential crisis of trust in democracy? (Insight, ODI)
  
  
• Influencers and incumbency: digital disinformation and discontent in Nigeria's Presidential elections (Insight, ODI)
  
  
• Misinformation in Brazilian elections: can the judiciary stem the tide of political misinformation? (Insight, ODI)
  
  
• A war on many fronts: disinformation around the Russia-Ukraine war (Insight, ODI)
  
  
• How can AI become a force for social good? (Think Change podcast, ODI)
  
  
• Hidden in plain sight: how social media infrastructure shapes gender norms (Report, ODI/ALIGN)