David Lazer Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Computer and Information Sciences d.lazer@northeastern.edu 617.329.1010 Expertise COVID-19, Election 2020, governance, how the patterns of institutional relations yield functional or dysfunctional systems, midterm elections, Novavax, pandemic, Political science, public health, Resiliency, social networks, technology and its use in communication, Twitter and mood of the nation, Variants David Lazer in the Press Fake News Still Has a Home on Facebook “It’s a cat-and-mouse game,” said David Lazer, a professor at Northeastern University who has studied disinformation. “Wherever there’s a loophole in enforcement, it’s going to be a place that activity will go.” After Jan. 6, Twitter banned 70,000 right-wing accounts. Lies plummeted. While suspending Trump may have reduced misinformation by itself, the study’s findings hold up even if you remove his account from the equation, said co-author David Lazer, professor of political science and computer and information science at Northeastern University. Nature.com What we do — and don’t — know about how misinformation spreads online The role of social-media platforms in abetting the spread of misinformation is shown in a research article by David Lazer, a political and computer scientist at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and his colleagues. Politico Why Western democracy faces a nightmare made online “People’s segregation remains incredibly high,” said David Lazer, a professor at Northeastern University who analyzed political polarization on Facebook. Changing Meta’s algorithms did not help US political polarization, study finds Together, the findings suggest that Facebook users seek out content that aligns with their views and that the algorithms help by “making it easier for people to do what they’re inclined to do,” according to David Lazer, a Northeastern University professor who worked on all four papers. New study shows just how Facebook’s algorithm shapes conservative and liberal bubbles “It’s not a grand scientific observation,” said David Lazar of Northeastern University, a co-author of the study. “We’d need more data to see and we’d need more crises.” Deep dive into Meta’s algorithms shows that America’s political polarization has no easy fix Together, the findings suggest that Facebook users seek out content that aligns with their views and that the algorithms help by “making it easier for people to do what they’re inclined to do,” according to David Lazer, a Northeastern University professor who worked on all four papers. Here’s Why the Science Is Clear That Masks Work David Lazer, a political scientist at Northeastern University, calculated that before vaccines were available, U.S. states without mask mandates had 30 percent higher Covid death rates than those with mandates. The Associated Press FDA’s own reputation could be restraining its misinfo fight “Because the FDA puts that information on its website, it will actually crowd out the misinformation from the top 10 or 20 Google results,” said David Lazer, a political and computer scientist at Northeastern University. Nature.com Researchers scramble as Twitter plans to end free data access Furthermore, key information about a proposed new payment plan is missing, says David Lazer, a political scientist at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. David Lazer for Northeastern Global News How soon will pollsters have good data on a Harris-Trump matchup? How soon will pollsters have good data on a Harris-Trump matchup? As the election’s main players shift, many are eager to see Harris vs. Trump polls. But when will that data be available and accurate? With Joe Biden out of the race, Kamala Harris’ path forward ‘will not be easy,’ experts say With Joe Biden out of the race, Kamala Harris’ path forward ‘will not be easy,’ experts say With President Joe Biden exiting the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. Biden’s poor debate performance had almost no impact on voter preference, new report says Biden’s poor debate performance had almost no impact on voter preference, new report says A new report shows that despite Biden’s debate performance – poor as it may have been – voter preferences haven't been impacted. Banning Twitter users reduced misinformation and improved discourse after Jan. 6, Northeastern research suggests Banning Twitter users reduced misinformation and improved discourse after Jan. 6, Northeastern research suggests Researchers have found that deplatforming bad actors on social media can be used to police and reduce misinformation. More researchers needed to rid the internet of harmful material, UK communications boss says at Northeastern conference More researchers needed to rid the internet of harmful material, UK communications boss says at Northeastern conference Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes calls for “potential groundbreaking change” during the Internet and Society event in London. Google, Meta and Ofcom reps to discuss the internet’s impact on democracy during conference at Northeastern’s London campus Google, Meta and Ofcom reps to discuss the internet’s impact on democracy during conference at Northeastern’s London campus Google, Meta and Ofcom reps will meet on May 10 to discuss the the role of the internet in structuring democracy, society and markets. New book describes how Black Americans used the power of networks and allies to organize largest protests in nation’s history New book describes how Black Americans used the power of networks and allies to organize largest protests in nation’s history “Black Networks Matter” author David Lazer says networks contributed to scale and diversity of “unprecedented” Black Lives Matter protests. A generational divide on views of Israel … in both parties, according to new survey A generational divide on views of Israel … in both parties, according to new survey “I think one topline finding that resonates with prior survey findings and some prior research is that there are both partisan and generational differences in attitudes towards Israel and Palestine,” David Lazer says. ‘We owe it to each other.’ How to listen to opposing points of view in an age of political divide ‘We owe it to each other.’ How to listen to opposing points of view in an age of political divide David Lazer and other panelists in series on tackling difficult issues say it’s important to listen to others, not shut down political speech. Northeastern receives $17.5 million from CDC to launch infectious disease prediction center Northeastern receives $17.5 million from CDC to launch infectious disease prediction center Renowned network scientist Alessandro Vespignani will head a new innovation center that will prepare the United States for future epidemics.
Fake News Still Has a Home on Facebook “It’s a cat-and-mouse game,” said David Lazer, a professor at Northeastern University who has studied disinformation. “Wherever there’s a loophole in enforcement, it’s going to be a place that activity will go.”
After Jan. 6, Twitter banned 70,000 right-wing accounts. Lies plummeted. While suspending Trump may have reduced misinformation by itself, the study’s findings hold up even if you remove his account from the equation, said co-author David Lazer, professor of political science and computer and information science at Northeastern University.
Nature.com What we do — and don’t — know about how misinformation spreads online The role of social-media platforms in abetting the spread of misinformation is shown in a research article by David Lazer, a political and computer scientist at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and his colleagues.
Politico Why Western democracy faces a nightmare made online “People’s segregation remains incredibly high,” said David Lazer, a professor at Northeastern University who analyzed political polarization on Facebook.
Changing Meta’s algorithms did not help US political polarization, study finds Together, the findings suggest that Facebook users seek out content that aligns with their views and that the algorithms help by “making it easier for people to do what they’re inclined to do,” according to David Lazer, a Northeastern University professor who worked on all four papers.
New study shows just how Facebook’s algorithm shapes conservative and liberal bubbles “It’s not a grand scientific observation,” said David Lazar of Northeastern University, a co-author of the study. “We’d need more data to see and we’d need more crises.”
Deep dive into Meta’s algorithms shows that America’s political polarization has no easy fix Together, the findings suggest that Facebook users seek out content that aligns with their views and that the algorithms help by “making it easier for people to do what they’re inclined to do,” according to David Lazer, a Northeastern University professor who worked on all four papers.
Here’s Why the Science Is Clear That Masks Work David Lazer, a political scientist at Northeastern University, calculated that before vaccines were available, U.S. states without mask mandates had 30 percent higher Covid death rates than those with mandates.
The Associated Press FDA’s own reputation could be restraining its misinfo fight “Because the FDA puts that information on its website, it will actually crowd out the misinformation from the top 10 or 20 Google results,” said David Lazer, a political and computer scientist at Northeastern University.
Nature.com Researchers scramble as Twitter plans to end free data access Furthermore, key information about a proposed new payment plan is missing, says David Lazer, a political scientist at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.