Tessera
Folgen

iDPI at UMass Amherst

@idpiumass.bsky.social

The Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst imagines, studies, and builds public spaces and public goods on the Internet. https://publicinfrastructure.org

37 Posts809 Follower17 Folgt
iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · last yr.

Professor Alondra Nelson, Biden's former head of science and technology policy and one of the most brilliant sociologists today, joins Reimagining for what is one of our best ever episodes. AI, race and medicine, Trumps' research cuts, and so much more. publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/117-...

117. Alondra Nelson, Biden's Head of Science and Technology Policy, talks AI, Trump's research funding cuts, and how memes replaced Happy Days - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass A...

Alondra Nelson is arguably the most important sociologist of science in America. She isn’t just a brilliant researcher of how race and racism has shaped public health in America, nor just a thoughtful...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · last yr.

Between DOGE and surveillance creep, US citizens might not have a lot of trust in how governments use technology. This week, we're joined by Eric Gordon, who tells us about his new attempts to use technology to empower citizens and build trust in democracy. publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/116-...

116. How should governments use technology? To build trust, says Eric Gordon - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

Eric Gordon has spent his career as an social scientists trying to understand how city governments can use technology to better engage their citizens. But he’s learned that technology doesn’t matter i...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · last yr.

Dan Saltman's Redact tool lets you delete data from several social media platforms. So why are there so few other tools like it out there? This week on Reimagining, we talk about the legal, technical, and market obstacles for middleware. publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/113-...

113. Deleting Everything with Dan Saltman - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

Dan Saltman is the founder of Redact, one of the very few tools that lets you delete data across many of your social media accounts. So why are there so few projects that put users in control of their...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · last yr.

How does the Fediverse run? Who uses it? Why? How could *you* run your own Fediverse community? Erin Kissane (@kissane.bsky.social) dives deep into her massive study of governance in the Fediverse in part 2 of her interview on Reimagining the Internet. publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/112-...

112. Governing the Fediverse: Erin Kissane talks her groundbreaking study into how Mastodon is run (Part 2) - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

Part two of our interview with Erin Kissane is a deep dive into her work on the Fediverse. Why do people use it, how do they govern, and how can you, dear listener, get your own healthy Fediverse comm...

publicinfrastructure.org

Office Hours@officehourspodcast.bsky.social · last yr.

Super excited to have my research, "A Taxonomy of Middleware: How User Tools Can Improve Social Media," published on the @idpiumass.bsky.social (initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure) website! Check it out with the link below: publicinfrastructure.org/2025/04/23/a...

A Taxonomy of Middleware: How User Tools Can Improve Social Media - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

Social media platforms have proven to provide users with a space to connect that is non-existent in the physical world. However, users struggle with mental health concerns, disinformation, and more. S...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · last yr.

Meta in Myanmar: Erin Kissane (@kissane.bsky.social) talks on Reimagining about Facebook's ICC-worthy negligence when its platform was used to stoke civil war, ethnic cleansing, and other human rights violations.

111. How Facebook Stoked Civil War in Myanmar, with Erin Kissane - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

In part one of our interview with researcher, designer and, in her own words, “ancient Internet person” Erin Kissane, we look at what happens when a platform swallows a whole society’s media landscape...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · last yr.

Is there hope for democracy in a social media-driven world? @ntnsndr.in sees it every day. publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/110-...

110. Is there hope for democracy in a social media-driven world? Nathan Schneider sees it every day. - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

Nathan Schneider has spent roughly 15 years as a journalist and academic trying to understand democracy in the 21st century through Occupy Wall Street, cooperatives, the blockchain, and currently, fed...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · last yr.

What the hell is going on with social media and the First Amendment? And the TikTok ban? And the courts? And... well... the constitutional order? This week on Reimagining the Internet, the brilliant Evelyn Douek (@evelyndouek.bsky.social) helps us understand at least some of that really well.

109. Evelyn Douek, please tell us what is going on with the First Amendment and social media - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

The TikTok ban decision passed down by the Supreme Court late last year is a clear violation of First Amendment precedent, but President Trump’s refusal to enact it as law is a constitutional crisis i...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · last yr.

The BBC just published an excellent dive into Ryan's (@antisomniac.bsky.social), Kevin's (@ze.vin), and Ethan's (@ethanz.bsky.social) random sampling work on YouTube, with visualizations based on data pulled from from Kevin's fantastic TubeStats project. www.bbc.com/future/artic...

How a computer that 'drunk dials' videos is exposing YouTube's secrets

YouTube is about to turn 20. An unusual research method is unveiling statistics about the platform that Google would rather keep secret.

bbc.com

Ryan McGrady@antisomniac.bsky.social · last yr.

YouTube is almost 20 years old and more popular than ever, but there's still a ton we don't know about it. The BBC's @thomasgermain.bsky.social has a story about our work at @idpiumass.bsky.social to uncover some of those YouTube fundamentals. www.bbc.com/future/artic...

How a computer that 'drunk dials' videos is exposing YouTube's secrets

YouTube is about to turn 20. An unusual research method is unveiling statistics about the platform that Google doesn't want you to know.

bbc.com

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · 2y ago

For our fifth annual Reimagining the Internet Holiday Special, we're putting on our Santa hat and giving gifts! publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/108-...

108. Internet of Gifts: The 5th Annual Reimagining Holiday Special - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

Ho ho ho, five years of Reimagining the Internet holiday specials! For this year's edition we're spreading holiday cheer by showering our dear listeners with gifts. From good Wikipedia rabbit holes to...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · 2y ago

Ryan McGrady (@antisomniac.bsky.social) and now-lab-album Kevin Zheng (@ze.vin) attended the 10th International Conference on Computational Social Science last month to present on some of their YouTube research. Ryan recapped some of what they saw: publicinfrastructure.org/2024/09/23/i...

Recap: Interntional Conference on Computational Social Science - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

A few weeks ago, several hundred academics, students, and professionals gathered at the University of Pennsylvania for the 10th International Conference on Computational Social Science: two-and-a-half...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · 2y ago

How could a PBS of the Internet help create a more human web? Laurel Schwulst joins our final Good Web episode to talk about how fostering a more creative Internet enriches users and betters all of our lives online. publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/107-...

107. How could a PBS of the Internet cultivate a more human web? Laurel Schwulst on a lighter weight Internet (Good Web) - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

For the final episode of our Good Web series, artist, designer, and educator Laurel Schwulst joins Mike to talk through her proposal for a PBS of the Internet. She describes how a PBS-like body that i...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · 2y ago

A Good Web isn't just a nicer web, but one that's accessible to all who want to take part. This week on our Good Web series, Lola Odelola talks about accessibility fundamentals and the fascinating process the W3C uses to develop standards publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/106-...

106. What You Need to Know About Web Accessibility with Lola Odelola (Good Web) - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

Building a Good Web doesn't just mean making the current Internet a nicer place, but making an Internet that everyone can use. This week Lola Odelola (Lola's Lab, formerly of Bocoup) joins the Good We...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · 2y ago

Slow and steady: how became Are.na the Good Web for artists, designers, and researchers who love unusual connections publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/105-...

105. Slow and steady: how Are.na became the Good Web for artists, designers, and researchers who love unusual connections. - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

At 13 years old, Are.na boasts a healthy, creative community and stable finances while rejecting many of the hallmarks of popular social media platforms such as a focus on video, endless push notifica...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · 2y ago

MetaFilter turns 25 this year, as a shining beacon of the Good Web. Reluctant owner Jessamyn West (@librarian.bsky.social) sat down with Mike (in person!) to talk about how moderation, community governance, and a very old backend have kept it alive. publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/104-...

104. MetaFilter turns 25 this month, a shining beacon of the Good Web. Reluctant owner Jessamyn West tells us how rusty tech and vibrant community keeps it vital. - Initiative for Digital Public Infra...

Metafilter contains the seeds for everything from Twitter to Reddit to comments sections on blogs, and it's older than podcasts, the blog boom, Facebook, and well, basically everything online. Owner J...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · 2y ago

How did Front Porch Forum turn into a climate disastser response network overnight? Michael Wood-Lewis tells us it was built on years of making the site the best tool for Vermont neighbors possible. This week on Reimagining, the Good Web. publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/103-...

103. How did Vermont's favorite civic social network turn into a climate disaster response network overnight? Michael Wood-Lewis Tells Us About His Local Good Web - Initiative for Digital Public Infra...

Michael Wood-Lewis from Front Porch Forum joins us for this second (maybe third?) appearance to help us kick off our Good Web series, where we're highlighting the successful people building a better, ...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · 2y ago

Cory Doctorow coined the term "enshittification." This week on Reimagining, he tells us 4 viable ways to end it. publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/102-...

102. Cory Doctorow Coined "Enshittification." He Sees 4 Ways to End It. - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

To kick off our Good Web series, Cory Doctorow joined us for a deep dive into his enshittification theory, and how regulation, labor power, competition, and user self-help will make it a thing of the ...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · 2y ago

What's the biggest cybersecurity threat to survivors of intimate partner violence and youth? Diana Freed joins Reimagining to tell us about her groundbreaking research into how abusers use everyday technology, and what she's doing to help survivors publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/101-...

101. Reframing Digital Safety with Diana Freed: For Survivors and Youth, The Biggest Threats Come From Everyday Tech - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

CW/TW: Intimate partner violence, child exploitation Diana Freed has spent the past several years radically reframing the threat model in cybersecurity with groundbreaking research into how domestic a...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · 2y ago

100 episodes of Reimagining the Internet! We really had no idea we'd be doing it this long. For this special episode, Ethan and Mike got together in person to talk through their ideas about making an Internet that's actually nice for humans to use. publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/100-...

100. A Better Internet for Humans with Ethan Zuckerman and Mike Sugarman - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

For the 100th episode of Reimagining the Internet, Ethan and Mike sit down for a conversation about a human-scale Internet, the threat of an LLM ouroboros destroying our online commons, and Ethan's fa...

publicinfrastructure.org

iDPI at UMass Amherst@idpiumass.bsky.social · 2y ago

Catherine D'Ignazio (@kanarinka.bsky.social) wrote an incredible book on feminist data activism, so you know we had to interview her. "Counting Feminicde" is out now on @mitpress.bsky.social. publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/99-c...

99. Do You Want to Use Data to Fight for Justice? Catherine D'Ignazio Wrote the Book For You - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst

A fearsome feminist movemnet has sprung up in response to an epidemic of feminicide in South America, achieving change thanks in large part to an innovative data activism campaign. Cathering D'Ignazio...

publicinfrastructure.org