How hate and misinformation go viral: A case study of a Trump retweet

On Sunday night, President Donald Trump retweeted a video of a violent incident on a New York City subway platform. The video shows a Black man pushing a white woman into a train car and is captioned “Black Lives Matter / Antifa.” The problem? It is over a year old and has nothing to do with either Black Lives Matter or Antifa. It, in fact, shows the actions of a mentally ill man with no known ties to either group.

Carolyn Gombell Is Not a Real Person: #JusticeforCarolyn Is a Campaign Against Twitter Refusing to Delete Trump’s Tweets Accusing Joe Scarborough of Murdering Lori Klausutis

Fascinating use of social media. To be clear, this story about “Carolyn Gombell” is a fabrication, intended to spark Twitter to take action against people (such as Donald Trump) who use Twitter to publicize unfounded accusations. Will that matter to people who share it? It’s parody accounts, not journalists, who are retweeting this story as…

Former student: “I remember sometimes being annoyed with all of our blogging assignments, but…”

A third alum in the last few weeks has contacted me to thank me for challenging her while a student: When I look back on my time at SHU, I remember sometimes being annoyed with all of our blogging assignments, but yet again, this is proof that the skills you taught us so a few years ago…

RT @PhilKomarny: A floppy disc… In #context htt…

RT @PhilKomarny: A floppy disc… In #context http://t.co/5HjNls404X Similar:Parallel Structure vs. Faulty ParallelismI just touched up a handout on Parallel …HumanitiesTweet: Came around the corner and saw my kids huddled on…Came around the corner and saw my kids h…TweetsJury Duty UpdateI’m a happy, responsible, and no-longer-…GovernmentFormer student: "I remember sometimes being annoyed with all of…

@MichaelSimsBook @mkonnikova “When a blogger uses…

@MichaelSimsBook @mkonnikova “When a blogger uses hyperbole while recommending an article on viral media, you won’t believe what happens!” Similar:It's been nice knowing you, iPad3 It’s been nice knowing you, iPad3, but…TweetsOverheard at Quora: "Why after all these years is Moodle still so ugly?"Moodle is a free course-management tool …AcademiaMy Minecraft-obsessed tween made this blocky…

RT @emshort: Big juicy set of links on how/where t…

RT @emshort: Big juicy set of links on how/where to publish IF: intfiction.org/forum/viewtopi… (Feel free to add more information to the thread!) Similar:And the girl has succeeded in getting me to wear t…And the girl has succeeded in getting me…TweetsCarolyn Gombell Is Not a Real Person: #JusticeforCarolyn Is a Campaign Against Twitter Ref…Fascinating use of…

RT @SetonianOnline: Reeves Library to become the n…

RT @SetonianOnline: Reeves Library to become the new Technology Learning Commons. Does this mean the end of the library? Find out here: bit.ly/1dXEsI7 Similar:Proto iPads and Paper Coexist in Classic Star TrekRewatching the classic Trek episode “The…Cyberculture10 Rules of Internet – Anil DashA very useful, concise summary of web-en…BusinessI asked my geekling whether she was…

RT @JanetSymmons: Academic blogging will shape how…

RT @JanetSymmons: Academic blogging will shape how intellectualism develops: ow.ly/spcWR #blog #academia #uni #university Similar:RT @PhilKomarny: A floppy disc… In #context htt…RT @PhilKomarny: A floppy disc… In #co…TweetsHello, there, mini.Hello, there, mini. Let’s restore you fr…TweetsShe doesn't have keys or a phone or an ID. Why does my tween need a purse?To stash her Lemonheads…

Finished reading my 11yo “The Castle of Llyr,” the…

Finished reading my 11yo “The Castle of Llyr,” the 3rd in the high-fantasy series that inspired 80s Disney “Black Cauldron.” Very engaging. Similar:My Minecraft-obsessed tween made this blocky foam pig at art camp. Next up: Stage Right summer musical th…AestheticsDesert Bus: The Worst Video Game Ever CreatedPenn and Teller are involved with this s…BooksWhat kids…

English Professor Suddenly Realizes Students Will…

English Professor Suddenly Realizes Students Will Believe Literally Anything She Says onion.com/1dA4WPR via @TheOnion Similar:10 Rules of Internet – Anil DashA very useful, concise summary of web-en…BusinessAnd the girl has succeeded in getting me to wear t…And the girl has succeeded in getting me…TweetsMy Minecraft-obsessed tween made this blocky foam pig at art camp. Next…

RT @heatherfro: The number of my nonacademic frien…

RT @heatherfro: The number of my nonacademic friends who think #mla14 is a conference about MLA formatting is amazing. Nonacademic friends, you’re the best Similar:RT @DDeClaudio: Who do you think controls the news…RT @DDeClaudio: Who do you think control…TweetsShe doesn't have keys or a phone or an ID. Why does my tween need a purse?To…

RT @chronicle: Humanities programs are teaching st…

RT @chronicle: Humanities programs are teaching students to deconstruct technologies, not just texts: chroni.cl/1dpCosi Similar:Carolyn Gombell Is Not a Real Person: #JusticeforCarolyn Is a Campaign Against Twitter Ref…Fascinating use of social media. To be c…Current_EventsProto iPads and Paper Coexist in Classic Star TrekRewatching the classic Trek episode “The…CybercultureFormer student: "I remember sometimes being annoyed with…

RT @arnzen: “The Ethics of Fiction Writing” by Ron…

RT @arnzen: “The Ethics of Fiction Writing” by Ron Hansen scu.edu/ethics/publica… @DennisJerz @ewazoo23 @NicolePeeler Similar:Juror's CreedWhile researching my obligations for #ju…CultureTweet: For an anatomy project, my #geekling made a Vulcan…For an anatomy project, my #geekling mad…Tweets10 Rules of Internet – Anil DashA very useful, concise summary of web-en…BusinessTweet: Came around the corner and saw my…

RT @elongreen: This, from 1922, is the greatest he…

RT @elongreen: This, from 1922, is the greatest headline in the history of @nytimes, or any other paper. http://t.co/7rUTiXSBXd Similar:I'm no longer surprised, but still want to document.This is really noteworthy. Today the Pre…Current_EventsClassroom collaboration marketplaceWhile I am uncomfortable with the whole …BusinessJuror's CreedWhile researching my obligations for #ju…CultureParallel structure in writing: Use it!These comic…

RT @Historiator: “@dancohen: Finally upgraded to O…

RT @Historiator: “@dancohen: Finally upgraded to OS X 10.9. It feels like a Borges story about OS X 10.8.” @MikeArnzen @DennisJerz Similar:Loved seeing A Comedy of Errors @setonhillLoved seeing A Comedy of Errors @setonhi…TweetsYes, I do feel rather awesome right now.Lost brand-new earbuds. Reached in pocke…PersonalTweet: Came around the corner and saw my kids huddled…

RT @Rhymestyle: First leaked photo from the set of…

RT @Rhymestyle: First leaked photo from the set of Star Wars Episode VII http://t.co/xji8x9J5zL Similar:RT @JordanFor: One of the counters from the Civil…RT @JordanFor: One of the counters from …TweetsMaybe I'll just delete these QUARTER OF A MILLION spam comments.Not kidding — 254,460 spam comments in …CybercultureParallel structure in writing: Use it!These comic panels cover…

RT @Historiator: Nicely balanced, real-time post m…

RT @Historiator: Nicely balanced, real-time post mortem on last night’s Twitter event. @DennisJerz @PhilKomarny @magawelek http://t.co/IwQ0… Similar:Former student: "I remember sometimes being annoyed with all of our blogging assignments, …A third alum in the last few weeks has c…AcademiaTweet: Came around the corner and saw my kids huddled on…Came around the corner and saw my kids h…TweetsTweet:…

RT @PhilKomarny: @Historiator @DennisJerz @magawel…

RT @PhilKomarny: @Historiator @DennisJerz @magawelek Glad that it ended with some donations to @AidforAfrica justinesacco.com Similar:Classroom collaboration marketplaceWhile I am uncomfortable with the whole …BusinessIn Defense Of Metaphors In Science WritingWe live in an elegant universe. The c…CultureOverheard at Quora: "Why after all these years is Moodle still so ugly?"Moodle is a free course-management tool…

I made a cheerful maze game in Scratch. It’s cheer…

I made a cheerful maze game in Scratch. It’s cheerful unless you touch something read AND DIE. scratch.mit.edu/projects/14908… made w/ Scratch Similar:Tweet: For an anatomy project, my #geekling made a Vulcan…For an anatomy project, my #geekling mad…TweetsMaybe I'll just delete these QUARTER OF A MILLION spam comments.Not kidding — 254,460 spam comments in …CybercultureParallel Structure…