Why censorship is important in social media

Whenever we hear the word research, our mind instantly moves towards science and starts picturing machines, chemicals and scientists. But have you ever wondered what research in Humanities and the Social Sciences entails? In addition, we have all heard institutions use words like multi-disciplinary and research-focused, but what do these really mean? To better understand the importance of research in Humanities and Social Sciences, we caught up with Dr. Rajat Kathuria, Dean, School of Humanities & Social Sciences (SHSS) at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR. In this interview, Dr. Kathuria talks about the University’s unique undergraduate programs, what goes into the making of truly modern education, and why research is so critical to nation building. He also sheds light on what it takes to chart one's way to a successful career in the humanities, while also creating real world solutions and impacts that make the world a better place. Walk us through what makes the curriculum … [Read more...] about Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR, celebrates a culture of research in Humanities and Social Sciences

Influencer marketing, if done right, is highly rewarding in terms of consumer connect and brand building but it can cause severe damage to brands if it is not well planned and thought through in terms of influencer selection and promotions. (Representational image: George Pagan via Unsplash) Gaurav Taneja, a popular content creator and social media personality with over seven million followers on YouTube, recently tweeted that performing  a ‘havan’ can be an antidote to pollution. He went on to give the Bhopal gas leak as an example, which ruffled a lot of feathers online. Multiple users accused him of spreading misinformation and being irresponsible in putting out content that is unscientific. Unfazed by the criticism, Taneja put out a tweet saying he stood by what he had written. This is not a standalone incident. Taneja, who continues to enjoy a massive fan-following, has also received flak for posting alleged misogynistic content. Taneja is among hundreds of content … [Read more...] about Storyboard18 | Should brands dissociate with influencers who promote toxic content?

Elon Musk’s audacious bid appears to threaten the stranglehold that left-liberal politicians and intelligentsia have had over both American mainstream and social media for years now. (Illustration by Suneesh K.) It was probably inevitable that Elon Musk’s $44-billion bid to buy social media platform Twitter would turn intensely political. After all, ever since the 2016 US presidential election, the right wing and conservatives have been accusing the company of a leftist/Democratic Party bias. Musk, who calls himself a “free speech absolutist”, too has made it clear several times that he thinks Twitter’s censorship and intervention laws are skewed. Events have moved fast in the month since Musk made his offer of purchase, and he has been facing attacks coming from all directions. Within days of the Twitter board accepting Musk’s offer, the Joe Biden administration announced the creation of a “ Disinformation Governance Board ”. To many people, this did not seem to be a … [Read more...] about What’s US politics got to do with Elon Musk’s $44 billion Twitter offer?

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A new study published in The Journal of Psychology adds another data point to a disquieting trend in clinical psychology: teenage mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing factor. The researchers, led by María Dolores Sánchez-Hernandez of the University of Granada in Spain, found that teenagers’ moment-to-moment emotional state was directly linked to the number of likes they received on an Instagram post. Moreover, teenagers who tended to engage in social comparison were particularly affected by the number of likes they received on their posts, as were older teenagers (ages 15-18). “Peer support and acceptance is a major concern during middle and late adolescence,” says Sánchez-Hernandez. “Therefore, adolescents in this stage may engage to a greater extent in ‘social surveillance’ and approval-seeking based on the content posted on Instagram.” This study comes on the heels of recent … [Read more...] about Teenage Mental Health Grades Are Failing. What Should Be Done?

With the rise of more sportswomen, we will see more support from brands towards women in sports and the sports for women. (Representational image: David Suarez via Unsplash) Whether you’re an athlete yourself or a fan of sports, follow an individual team or a player, or just casually watch from time to time, sports will bring out your team spirit and provide inspiration or hope in untold ways. Sport brands have a very powerful role in their fans’ lives, which means that they need to think about how they operate their business, how they engage fans and what kind of messages they deliver to society. The concept of creating a shared value between sports teams, local communities and fan communities is stronger now than ever. Though it’s hard to know what’s coming, keep reading to see what’s trending in the world of sports marketing as I see it. 1. Experience it: Sports marketing is increasingly about giving customers the feeling that they are a part of something good, … [Read more...] about Storyboard18 x Just Sports | Trends to watch for in sports marketing for a modern marketer

'The Good Girls: An Ordinary Killing' by Sonia Faleiro (right) was on the RSL Ondaatje Prize 2022 longlist and the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association’s ALCS Gold Dagger for Nonfiction 2022 longlist. (Image collage courtesy eShe magazine) They were 16 and 14 years old. Two individuals, but one for the villagers in Katra Sadatganj: Padma-Lalli (names changed). Midnight of 26 May 2014, they disappeared, and the next morning their bodies were found hanging from a mango grove. The horrific photograph that revealed Padma and Lalli hanging from the tree was circulated on social media. It elicited the same panic that had engulfed the country when it witnessed the rape and murder of a 23-year-old medical student in Delhi two years ago. For the opinionated, Katra Sadatganj was an open-and-shut case. Sensationalism and misreporting followed. In this haze, London-based investigative journalist Sonia Faleiro decided to visit the village for something that she was already working on, but … [Read more...] about “The will to stop crimes against women is simply missing”: Sonia Faleiro

A recent FICCI report says that the Indian sports segment grew 62 percent in 2021, exceeding pre COVID-19 levels, and television garnered 84 percent of media spends on sports. (Image: Salman Hossain via Unsplash) Sports is giving Bollywood a run for its money when it comes to endorsements and sponsorships. Arun Pandey, CMD, Rhiti Sports Management (P) Ltd, in the Digital Acceleration 2.0 report by Duff & Phelps says the emergence of D2C brands is leading to marketers looking at associations with celebrity brands for targeted outreach of their products. And it is not just about Bollywood anymore. He says cricketers, sportspersons and other social media influencers are being roped in as brand ambassadors where the strategy is to associate with the endorser who can ensure better and higher engagement with the product’s potential consumers. Live sports pushing the envelope for the genre “Linear TV and Live sports as a category is on an all-time high with emerging … [Read more...] about Storyboard18 | Is sports pushing Bollywood out of the marketing spotlight?

Billionaire brothers John and Patrick Collison built Stripe into one of the world’s most-hyped, highest valued — and profitable! — startups, worth some $95 billion. Now they must stave off going from disruptor to disrupted. I t’s just before five o’clock, and Stripe Cofounder John Collison is preparing to address his hundreds of Ireland-based employees on the top floor of his headquarters in Dublin’s “Silicon Docks” District. Such regular Friday town halls, which are also simulcast to New York, San Francisco, Singapore and anywhere else its 7,000 employees want to tune in from over Zoom, are an almost sacred tradition at Stripe, the payments company that Collison cofounded with big brother Patrick in 2010. With Patrick away getting married, it’s up to John, 31 and with a dusting of gray hair now topping his boyish face, to field questions. It could get contentious: There’s a social media “kerfuffle” playing out over Twitter this week: Stripe has been accused in a … [Read more...] about The Collison Brothers Built Stripe Into A $95 Billion Unicorn With Eye-Popping Financials. Inside Their Plan To Stay On Top

Emotions are energy in motion. Without them, we wouldn’t feel compelled to act, create, or move an inch. This is why they are so vital, not just in our personal lives, but also in the workplace. A company’s formal organizational structure is always invisibly overlaid with an informal network of relationships fueled by emotions. advertisement advertisement Studies show us that emotions impact how we perform, lead, make decisions, innovate, and commit to our organizations. Recent research from Wharton management professor Michael Parke indicates that expressing emotions in the workplace among teams results in their enhanced ability to solve problems and generate ideas. Toxic positivity is forcing us to fake it And yet, showing emotions at work, especially the more complicated ones, still seems inconceivable for many managers. Some fear losing face or authority, while others think they’ll be perceived as soft or weak. For many of us, … [Read more...] about Why we need ’emotional diversity’ at work right now

Author Ruskin Bond at Ivy Cottage. Talking to Ruskin Bond, there is the same sense of light-heartedness that is characteristic of his stories. The bestselling author, who celebrates his birthday today (May 19), has another book out – Song of the Forest . The title story has never been published before and the other tales have also been written in recent times. In an interview, Bond reflects on his writings and process. Edited excerpts: Your first story 'A Room on the Roof' was published in 1956. How has the process of writing evolved for you? I had to write two or three drafts before my first story was accepted and published. I have never worked so hard in my life again as far as writing goes! (laughs) Nothing much has changed except that I write by hand now. I used to type when I was younger. But now, I get a stiff neck and shoulders. Also, I’m happy with a ball point pen and a writing pad. I can write almost anywhere - on a sofa or a bed or under a tree. Under a … [Read more...] about Ruskin Bond: ‘I’ve turned 88 – which looks like two jalebis, my favourite Indian sweet’