Event

From community to consumerism: What is social media for?

This event hosted by UK think tank IPPR will explore how we can make social media social again.

​At its inception, social media brought us closer together. It enabled us to communicate with people on the other side of the world; to reunite with friends and loved ones with whom we may have lost contact; and to expand our horizons and communicate with others outside of our usual worlds. It created a sense of community and understanding. 

​Now, however, it increasingly divides us. The algorithms increasingly push rage bait and the rise of the influencer has meant that platforms have become more about consumerism than community. Social media is contributing to the polarisation that is plaguing our politics; keyboard warriors and the influx of bots have increasingly valued arguments and disagreement – at any cost – over fact-based debate and open-minded disagreement. 

​This event will explore how we can make social media social again.

Speakers

Kirsty McNeill MP – Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Scotland Office)

Ava Santina – Political Editor, PoliticsJOE

Giles Derrington – Senior Government Relations and Public Policy Manager, TikTok

Dr Sophia Ropek Hewson – Senior Research Fellow (democracy and politics),

Dr Parth Patel – Associate Director for Democracy & Politics, IPPR (Chair)