#Hashtags are overrated

In the crowded world of online news, editors like myself are always looking for a way to make a story stand out. That’s wh... [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 26 November 2019 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair [Aviva Rutkin] A note from... Aviva Rutkin Data Editor In the crowded world of online news, editors like myself are always looking for a way to make a story stand out. That’s why, like so many others, we often use popular hashtags – such as #MeToo or #BlackLivesMatter – in our social media posts. Imagine my surprise when Eugenia Ha Rim Rho, a University of California, Irvine graduate student, told me that hashtags often have the opposite effect. In fact, they [actually make people trust the surrounding information less](. Also today: - [The Yazidis' struggle for survival]( - [The importance of striking a healthy device-life balance]( - [Treatments for diabetic foot ulcers]( Top story News outlets sometimes use hashtags to promote their stories. 13_Phunkod/Shutterstock.com [Political hashtags like #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter make people less likely to believe the news]( Eugenia Ha Rim Rho, University of California, Irvine When news stories include a catchy hashtag, readers perceived the news topic to be less socially important and more partisan. Arts + Culture - [Jimmy Hoffa disappeared – and then his legacy took on a life of its own]( David Scott Witwer, Pennsylvania State University Hoffa's ghost continues to haunt the labor movement. Science + Technology - [Contrary to recent reports, Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is not in danger of disappearing]( Philip Marcus, University of California, Berkeley Little bits of Jupiter's Great Red Spot seem to be flaking off. 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Politics + Society - [Syria military presence risks US credibility with world community]( David Banks, American University School of International Service In northern Syria, Trump has caused U.S. allies and rivals to view American commitments in a new, uncertain light. Other countries may now shift to depend less on the U.S., weakening national power. - [Mothers in prison aren’t likely to see their families this Thanksgiving – or any other day]( Jill McCorkel, Villanova University Nearly two-thirds of incarcerated mothers have never received a visit from their children. A scholar who studies women in prison explains the barriers that families face and how they might be removed. Economy + Business - [How to tell if your digital addiction is ruining your life]( Terri R. Kurtzberg, Rutgers University Newark While there are negative impacts, many of the risks of too much screen time are overblown. 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Today’s quote ["Putting down our phones completely seems neither realistic nor desirable; society has moved forward, phones in hand."]( [How to tell if your digital addiction is ruining your life]( Terri R. Kurtzberg Rutgers University Newark [Terri R. Kurtzberg] [Help fight misinformation and science denial. Support The Conversation.]( [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111