Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

A different take on social media and democracy

A person looking at social media app icons on a phone
Matt Cardy/Getty Images

This episode of the “Democracy Works” podcast featured an engaging interview with V, the creator behind Under the Desk News on TikTok. V discussed the evolution of their social media presence, emphasizing the role of social media as a modern day "third place" for community, replacing traditional physical spaces for socializing. They highlighted the importance of online spaces, particularly for marginalized groups, providing a sense of belonging and connection.

The conversation delved into the impact of social media on loneliness, with V asserting that it serves as a remedy to the lack of physical third places. They argued that social media, despite its criticisms, plays a crucial role in fostering community, especially for individuals who might feel isolated in their local environments.


V debunked the notion that social media is the cause of loneliness, attributing it instead to the lack of stability and comfort in real-life interactions. Drawing on personal experiences and examples, they highlighted how social media platforms like TikTok create spaces for representation and connection, especially for those in less accepting or diverse environments.

The discussion also touched on the changing dynamics of news consumption among Generation Z. V challenged stereotypes, emphasizing that young people are actively engaged in civic matters, particularly issues like gun activism, racial equality, women's rights and climate change. They stressed the importance of respecting and understanding Gen Z's perspectives rather than dismissing them based on misconceptions.

Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

Towards the end, V talked about the future of news media and its integration with social platforms. They highlighted the challenges and opportunities for traditional media to adapt to new formats like TikTok and YouTube shorts. V's insights shed light on the evolving landscape of news dissemination and the need for a collaborative approach between traditional media and social media creators.

The episode concluded with a discussion about democracy, focusing on how Gen Z perceives it. V challenged the idea that young people are disinterested in democracy, asserting that they care deeply but are disillusioned with the current political system. They emphasized the importance of understanding and addressing the concerns of younger generations to foster meaningful civic engagement.

In the latter part, V introduced their new podcast, "American Fever Dream," which aims to spotlight down-ballot candidates making impactful changes at the state and local levels. The podcast seeks to provide a comfortable space for reflection on democracy, politics, and pop culture, incorporating humor and analysis.

Read More

The Biggest Obstacle to Safer Roads Isn't Technology, It's Politics

A 3D generated image of modern vehicles with AI assistance.

Getty Images, gremlin

The Biggest Obstacle to Safer Roads Isn't Technology, It's Politics

Let’s be honest: does driving feel safe anymore? Ask anyone navigating the daily commute, especially in notoriously chaotic places like Miami, and you’ll likely hear a frustrated, perhaps even expletive-laden, "No!" That gut feeling isn't paranoia; it's backed by grim statistics. Over 200 people died on Travis County roads in 2023, according to Vision Zero ATX. Nationally, tens of thousands perish in preventable crashes. It's a relentless public health crisis we've somehow numbed ourselves to, with a staggering cost measured in shattered families and lost potential.

But imagine a different reality, one where that daily fear evaporates. What if I told you that the technology to dramatically reduce this carnage isn't science fiction but sitting right under our noses? Autonomous vehicles (AVs), or self-driving cars, are here and rapidly improving. Leveraging breakthroughs in AI, these vehicles are increasingly outperforming human drivers, proving to be significantly less likely to cause accidents, especially those resulting in injury. Studies suggest that replacing human drivers with AVs could drastically cut road fatalities. Even achieving just 10% AV penetration on our roads might improve traffic safety by as much as 50%, with those gains likely to grow exponentially as the technology becomes more sophisticated and widespread.

Keep ReadingShow less
Warning: Trump’s Tariffs Pose Obstacles for AI Development

Humans are using laptops and computers to interact with AI, helping them create, code, train AI, or analyze big data with fast, cutting-edge technology.

Getty Images/Wanan Yossingkum

Warning: Trump’s Tariffs Pose Obstacles for AI Development

Huiyan Li

WASHINGTON – During a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on April 9, Democratic representatives repeatedly raised concerns that President Trump’s new tariffs and attempts to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act would harm U.S. competitiveness in artificial intelligence (AI).

Keep ReadingShow less
Docuseries Highlights Need for Legal Protections for Kid Influencers

child holding smartphone

Getty Images/Keiko Iwabuchi

Docuseries Highlights Need for Legal Protections for Kid Influencers

A new Netflix docuseries explores the unseen complexities and dark possibilities of child influencing in our modern internet age, raising urgent questions and highlighting the critical need for legal protections for kid influencers once their internet presence turns into work—a full-time job that, at times, financially supports their families.

Released last week, “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing” shares how Youtube star Piper Rockelle—who began posting videos at eight years old and garnered 12 million subscribers and about 1.87 billion views—and her “Squad” of fellow pre-teen social media influencers worked and lived in a toxic environment under Rockelle's "momager", Tiffany Smith, and Smith's boyfriend, Hunter Hill.

Keep ReadingShow less
An AI Spark Worth Spreading

People working with AI technology.

Getty Images, Maskot

An AI Spark Worth Spreading

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, policymakers face a delicate balancing act: fostering innovation while addressing legitimate concerns about AI's potential impacts. Representative Michael Keaton’s proposed HB 1833, also known as the Spark Act, represents a refreshing approach to this challenge—one that Washington legislators would be right to pass and other states would be wise to consider.

As the AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, I find the Spark Act particularly promising. By establishing a grant program through the Department of Commerce to promote innovative uses of AI, Washington's legislators have a chance to act on a fundamental truth: technological diffusion is essential to a dynamic economy, widespread access to opportunity, and the inspiration of future innovation.

Keep ReadingShow less