Social Networks

Section 230 is part of the Communications Decency Act that allows tech companies to moderate content on their services. U.S. lawmakers want to change the law, but disagree on how.

By Abbey Stemler

Facebook dark mode changes your screen to a black background with white lettering, which your eyes will thank you for and your battery won't hate either.

By Jesslyn Shields

It's easy to take online comments out of context. Is it serious, or is it satire? That's where Poe's law (and a winking smiling emoji) comes into play.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Getting bored of your Twitter handle? You can change it in just a few quick steps.

By Cherise Threewitt

Membership on the social media app Parler exploded just after the Nov. 3 general election was called for President-elect Joe Biden. But why? And how does Parler work?

By John Donovan

Need ways to stay in touch with your family and friends while you're quarantined during the coronavirus pandemic? We've got several simple apps so you can reach out virtually.

By Wendy Bowman

Whether you love or hate Facebook, the Cambridge Analytica scandal exposed major flaws in the online platform. So where do we go from here?

By Diana Brown

Online dating apps are aiding social integration because people are interacting with others to whom they previously had no access.

By Alia Hoyt

Having a tough time breaking up with Facebook? Then at least be sure your private information is secure and protected.

By John Donovan

Twitter bots seem to be with us to stay, but how do they work? And are they all bad?

By Patrick J. Kiger

The popularity of neighborhood social networks keeps exploding. But building community comes with some unintended consequences.

By Dave Roos

Those little pics that people use to represent their feelings or avoid misunderstandings have been around since the 1990s but have been picking up steam in the 21st century. Why's that?

By Nathan Chandler

More than half of people who post comments on news articles haven't read the articles. Is the point of online article to inform, or to provide a forum for discussion?

By Patrick J. Kiger

Trying to get verified on Twitter? It's way more random than you think.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Do we portray a consistent self across different social media platforms? A new study examines the faces we share.

By Chris Opfer

President Trump is an avid tweeter, and not always the best speller (remember unpresidented?). Can he delete his tweets or are they now public property?

By John Perritano

Bummed out by the Internet and how much more fun everyone else seems to be having? Seeking out better times offline may ease your FOMO.

By Lauren Vogelbaum

The caustic tone of the 2016 presidential race is powerfully affecting ordinary social media users. Will that destroy a lot of social media relationships?

By Patrick J. Kiger

News organizations have been dropping their commenting sections for years, and NPR has recently joined them. But not everyone thinks ditching comments is the way to go.

By Kate Kershner

There's a lot of live-streaming going on lately. As a result, courts may soon be busy defining when it's appropriate to record or broadcast video.

By Jonathan Strickland

In an odd twist, retweeting could be negatively affecting your memory of the content, and causing comprehension declines even after your Twitter session is over.

By Kate Kershner

After the pepper-spray incident, UC Davis paid a company to repair its online image. But can anyone make negative search results disappear?

By Dave Roos

The hugely popular streaming platform wants you to know that it isn't just for gamers.

By Christian Sager

Some couples have a shared Facebook account, even though Facebook frowns on the practice. What does it say about their relationship?

By Alia Hoyt

Because sometimes sad, angry, haha, love and wow just don't properly describe your emotional state.

By Robert Lamb