social media
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Report: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Helped Police Track Minorities in Ferguson and Baltimore
A social media surveillance program used by police to track and monitor protests in Ferguson, Mo., and Baltimore relied heavily on data it obtained from social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, according to a report released by the ACLU on Tuesday. Geofeedia is a Chicago-based company that developed a social-media-monitoring product that it marketed to…
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Pa. Officer Loses 2 Jobs After Snapchat Post: I'm the Law Today N–ga
A Pennsylvania police officer has lost two jobs after an image showing her in full uniform with a controversial caption hit social media, WTAE reports. “I’m the law today [n—ga],” read the caption under the picture of Melissa Adamson. Adamson was fired from the McKeesport, Pa., Police Department. McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko posted a statement on…
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University of ND Investigating Yet Another Racist Photo Incident
Things are looking bad at the University of North Dakota. The school is investigating its second racially charged photo in just about as many days, Valley News Live reports. The photo in question, which was posted to social media, shows four white people wearing black facial masks with the caption “Black Lives Matter,” the site notes.…
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On Social Media and Real Life Virtual Friendships
Friendship is important. That’s really an understatement. In 2016, friends aren’t necessarily confined to the workplace, school or IRL situations. Social media has become a very viable platform to create new and fulfilling bonds between new people from distant places to whom we wouldn’t, otherwise, have access. The feelings of wanting to belong or be loved…
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Atlanta Episode 4: "The Streisand Effect" Recap
“Me and my mans make baby sneakers… for adults!” Everybody has a hustle just like everybody has a price. This is especially true in our digital age where everything is a commodity. Where genuine emotion and thought are distilled down to fifteen second YouTube clips and Harambe t shirts. This week, Paperboi learns a lesson…
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7 Arguments I Wish People Would Stop Using to Defend Their Favorite Celebrities
I spend a great deal of my day trying to figure out what to write about for my next story. Luckily for me, there’s rarely a day that passes without a hot-button issue being debated on one of my many social media timelines. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve spent a great deal of…
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Gabby Douglas and the Damning of Black Women
In her two Olympic appearances, Gabby Douglas has ignited much discussion, both for her accomplishments and for what others perceive as her less-than qualities. On the very shallow end, we have the comments made about her edges—which, when you have a certain texture of natural hair, no matter how much you brush them or gel them…
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Spoilers (and Spoiler Alerts) In The Age of Social Media
Spoiler Alert. There are spoilers in this post about spoilers. Be aware. That’s all I got for you. So Tommy killed Holly. About damn time. I can’t lie, I’ve been waiting for Holly to die since season one of Power, and as annoyed as I’ve been that she’s made it this long, I’ll take it.…
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#WeWontBeSilent: The Root Creates New Social Media Movement
Like many of you, I was depleted by news of multiple police-involved shootings during the week of July 4. On July 5, Alton Sterling was shot in Baton Rouge, La., and by July 6, social media was ablaze with his name. I Googled him to find out what was happening, already knowing that this hashtag…
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Tips for Self-Care: When Police Brutality Has You Questioning Humanity and Social Media Is Enough
The most recent events of police misconduct and the shooting deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile are horrifying and deplorable. The temptation to join in the fray with others on your social media timelines who are justifiably angry is strong. These responses are often very necessary. Remaining silent in the face of continued injustice…
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