Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry
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Re: Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry
#2Original article: "Industry Influence in High-Profile Social Media Research" - https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
Abstract: "To what extent is social media research independent from industry influence? Leveraging openly available data, we show that half of the research published in top journals has disclosable ties to industry in the form of prior funding, collaboration, or employment. However, the majority of these ties go undisclosed in the published research. These trends do not arise from broad scientific engagement with industry, but rather from a select group of scientists who maintain long-lasting relationships with industry. Undisclosed ties to industry are common not just among authors, but among reviewers and academic editors during manuscript evaluation. Further, industry-tied research garners more attention within the academy, among policymakers, on social media, and in the news. Finally, we find evidence that industry ties are associated with a topical focus away from impacts of platform-scale features. Together, these findings suggest industry influence in social media research is extensive, impactful, and often opaque. Going forward there is a need to strengthen disclosure norms and implement policies to ensure the visibility of independent research, and the integrity of industry supported research. "
Re: Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry
#3A system built to yield to perfect lobbyism.
Re: Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry
#4I bet the same is true with AI and bitcoin social media posts and research.
Re: Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry
#5Would it be appropriate to use :surprised_pikachu_face:?
I meant, I no longer know who to trust. It feels like the only solution is to go live in a forest, and disconnect from everything.
Re: Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry
#6Same as it ever was. You see the same kind of thing is the food industry, pharmaceutical industry, tobacco industry, fossil fuel industry, etc. On the one hand it's almost inevitable. Who (outside of the government) is going to care enough about the results of stuff like this to fund it if not the industry affected? You also often need the industry's help if you're doing anything that involves large sample sizes or some kind of mass production.
On the other hand it puts a big fat question mark over any policy-affecting findings since there's an incentive not to piss off the donors/helpers.
Re: Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry
#7From history we know that research left unchecked and unrestricted can start leading to some really dark and horrible things. Right now I think it's a problem that social media companies can do research without answering to the same regulatory bodies that regular academics / researchers would. For example, they don't have to answer to independant ethics committees / reviews. They're free to experiement as they like on the entire population.
I never understood why this doesn't alarm more people on a deep level.
Heck you wouldn't get ethics approval for animal studies on half of what we know social media companies do, and for good reason. Why do we allow this?
Re: Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry
#8Would it be appropriate to use :surprised_pikachu_face:? I meant, I no longer know who to trust. It feels like the only solution is to go live in a forest, and disconnect from everything.
This has been my default expected reaction since Nov 2024. So I'd say so.
Also feel you wrt living in a forest and leaving this all behind.
Re: Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry
#9Same as it ever was. You see the same kind of thing is the food industry, pharmaceutical industry, tobacco industry, fossil fuel industry, etc. On the one hand it's almost inevitable. Who (outside of the government) is going to care enough about the results of stuff like this to fund it if not the industry affected? You also often need the industry's help if you're doing anything that involves large sample sizes or s…
The people in these industries are collectively responsible for millions of preventable deaths, and they, their families, and generations of their offspring are and will be living the best lives money can buy.
And yet one person kills a CEO, and they're a terrorist.
Re: Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry
#10Keep in mind that those qualified to do research in a field typically has worked in that industry.
Because that's where people with that expertise work.