Can crowdsourcing fix social media?

+ who are the major players in the Middle East? US Edition - Today's top story: Let the community work it out: Throwback to early internet days could fix social media's crisis of legitimacy [View in browser]( US Edition | 24 October 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Congress is paralyzed – is it a constitutional crisis?]( - [The backlash against an oil company CEO chosen to lead COP28]( - [How ‘La Catrina’ became the iconic symbol of Day of the Dead]( Lead story The dumpster fire that is the state of content moderation on X, formerly Twitter, is well documented. But even when social media platforms do a better job of weeding out hate speech and other harmful content, a key question remains: If social media platforms are today’s public spaces, how is it that a handful of big tech companies get to decide what speech and behavior is acceptable? The question is far from academic. The fate of nations hinges on the intersection of politics, misinformation, social media platforms and the billionaires who own them. UMass Amherst digital media scholars Ethan Zuckerman and Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci put the lens of history on the problem and [see a potential solution]( from the early days of the internet, before content moderation was a job description. [ [Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with interesting perspectives from experts around the world](. ] Eric Smalley Science + Technology Editor Content moderators like these workers make decisions about online communities based on company dictates. Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Washington Post via Getty Images [Let the community work it out: Throwback to early internet days could fix social media’s crisis of legitimacy]( Ethan Zuckerman, UMass Amherst; Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci, UMass Amherst In the days of online bulletin board systems, community members decided what was acceptable. Reviving that approach to content moderation offers Big Tech a path to legitimacy as public spaces. Politics + Society - [GOP’s House paralysis is a crisis in a time of crises]( Stefanie Lindquist, Arizona State University The absence of a speaker of the House − a single individual but the linchpin in Congress − could produce a dangerous crisis in America’s constitutional democracy. - [The Israel-Hamas war deepens the struggle between US and Iran for influence in the Middle East]( John Ciorciari, University of Michigan Iran’s long-term strategy includes eradicating Israel and driving a wedge between Israel and its regional neighbors. So far, the war seems to be accomplishing that goal. International - [Even if Israel can completely eliminate Hamas, does it have a long-term plan for Gaza?]( Ian Parmeter, Australian National University Here are six possible options for what a post-war Gaza might look like – and why none will seemingly work. Environment + Energy - [Backlash to the oil CEO leading the UN climate summit overlooks his ambitious agenda for COP28 – and concerns of the Global South]( Ä°brahim Özdemir, Clark University An analysis of past UN conference presidencies suggests the 2023 summit’s agenda would do more to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. - [The Rio Grande isn’t just a border – it’s a river in crisis]( Vianey Rueda, University of Michigan; Drew Gronewold, University of Michigan When the Rio Grande figures in US news reports, it’s usually in relation to stories about immigration, drug trafficking or trade. But the river is also an important water source – and it’s shrinking. Ethics + Religion - [Hot-button topics may get public attention at the Vatican synod, but a more fundamental issue for the Catholic Church is at the heart of debate]( Richard Wood, University of Southern California Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality is attempting to move the church toward a more dialogue-based model of authority, a scholar of Catholicism explains. - [How ‘La Catrina’ became the iconic symbol of Day of the Dead]( Mathew Sandoval, Arizona State University An obscure Mexican engraver named José Guadalupe Posada created the satirical skull in the early 1900s and sold it for a penny. But after he died, it took on a life of its own. Science + Technology - [Space rocks and asteroid dust are pricey, but these aren’t the most expensive materials used in science]( Chris Impey, University of Arizona Some space rocks you can get for free – if you know how to identify them. Rarer materials cost more, and the asteroid sample NASA just brought back has a high price tag. 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