David Lazer Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Computer and Information Sciences d.lazer@northeastern.edu 617.329.1010 Expertise COVID-19, Election 2020, governance, how the patterns of institutional relations yield functional or dysfunctional systems, midterm elections, network science, Novavax, pandemic, Political science, public health, Resiliency, social networks, technology and its use in communication, Twitter and mood of the nation, Variants David Lazer in the Press Business Insider No duh: Heavy social media use and irritability are correlated, new study says Heavy social media use correlates to higher irritability, according to a study from Northeastern. Fake News Still Has a Home on Facebook “It’s a cat-and-mouse game,” said David Lazer, a professor at Northeastern University who has studied disinformation. “Wherever there’s a loophole in enforcement, it’s going to be a place that activity will go.” After Jan. 6, Twitter banned 70,000 right-wing accounts. Lies plummeted. While suspending Trump may have reduced misinformation by itself, the study’s findings hold up even if you remove his account from the equation, said co-author David Lazer, professor of political science and computer and information science at Northeastern University. Nature.com What we do — and don’t — know about how misinformation spreads online The role of social-media platforms in abetting the spread of misinformation is shown in a research article by David Lazer, a political and computer scientist at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and his colleagues. Politico Why Western democracy faces a nightmare made online “People’s segregation remains incredibly high,” said David Lazer, a professor at Northeastern University who analyzed political polarization on Facebook. Changing Meta’s algorithms did not help US political polarization, study finds Together, the findings suggest that Facebook users seek out content that aligns with their views and that the algorithms help by “making it easier for people to do what they’re inclined to do,” according to David Lazer, a Northeastern University professor who worked on all four papers. New study shows just how Facebook’s algorithm shapes conservative and liberal bubbles “It’s not a grand scientific observation,” said David Lazar of Northeastern University, a co-author of the study. “We’d need more data to see and we’d need more crises.” Deep dive into Meta’s algorithms shows that America’s political polarization has no easy fix Together, the findings suggest that Facebook users seek out content that aligns with their views and that the algorithms help by “making it easier for people to do what they’re inclined to do,” according to David Lazer, a Northeastern University professor who worked on all four papers. Here’s Why the Science Is Clear That Masks Work David Lazer, a political scientist at Northeastern University, calculated that before vaccines were available, U.S. states without mask mandates had 30 percent higher Covid death rates than those with mandates. The Associated Press FDA’s own reputation could be restraining its misinfo fight “Because the FDA puts that information on its website, it will actually crowd out the misinformation from the top 10 or 20 Google results,” said David Lazer, a political and computer scientist at Northeastern University. David Lazer for Northeastern Global News Taking a break from Facebook and Instagram can boost emotional well-being, research finds Taking a break from Facebook and Instagram can boost emotional well-being, research finds Northeastern’s David Lazer participated in a study showing that temporary Facebook or Instagram deactivation can improve mental health. Students, faculty recognized for scholarship, research and innovation at Academic Honors Convocation Students, faculty recognized for scholarship, research and innovation at Academic Honors Convocation Northeastern’s highest achievers across its 13 global campuses were celebrated at the 15th annual Academic Honors Convocation. Is social media making you more irritable? New research takes a granular look at users’ moods Is social media making you more irritable? New research takes a granular look at users’ moods A recent study found that social media use is correlated with higher rates of irritability among a broad swath of U.S. adults. TikTok shows dominance among young Americans amid looming US ban, new Northeastern research reveals TikTok shows dominance among young Americans amid looming US ban, new Northeastern research reveals The research and online user demographics tool are the result of data gathered by the Civic Health and Institutions Project (CHIP50). Systemic solutions urged to counter spread of science misinformation in new report co-authored by Northeastern professor Systemic solutions urged to counter spread of science misinformation in new report co-authored by Northeastern professor Science misinformation skews decisions, weakens trust and harms health, according to a National Academies report. Misinformation spread differently than most content on Facebook during the 2020 election, Northeastern research finds Misinformation spread differently than most content on Facebook during the 2020 election, Northeastern research finds New research reveals how misinformation about the 2020 election spread differently than most content on Facebook. How did Trump win the election? New interactive tool takes deep dive into voter demographics How did Trump win the election? New interactive tool takes deep dive into voter demographics A new interactive tool developed by a Northeastern professor showcases demographic shifts among the electorate from 2020 to 2024. When and how is the call made to declare a winner on election night? When and how is the call made to declare a winner on election night? Already twice this century, networks have made calls that led to a contested election result, experts noted. Jewish Americans back Harris over Trump by 2-to-1 margin, new research shows Jewish Americans back Harris over Trump by 2-to-1 margin, new research shows A Northeastern survey reveals that as the 2024 election nears, Jewish Americans seem to be throwing their support behind Kamala Harris. With less than 30 days before Election Day, what are Harris’ and Trump’s paths to victory? With less than 30 days before Election Day, what are Harris’ and Trump’s paths to victory? “When you’re getting down to such tiny margins, it’s really a flip of the coin,” says political scientist David Lazer.
Business Insider No duh: Heavy social media use and irritability are correlated, new study says Heavy social media use correlates to higher irritability, according to a study from Northeastern.
Fake News Still Has a Home on Facebook “It’s a cat-and-mouse game,” said David Lazer, a professor at Northeastern University who has studied disinformation. “Wherever there’s a loophole in enforcement, it’s going to be a place that activity will go.”
After Jan. 6, Twitter banned 70,000 right-wing accounts. Lies plummeted. While suspending Trump may have reduced misinformation by itself, the study’s findings hold up even if you remove his account from the equation, said co-author David Lazer, professor of political science and computer and information science at Northeastern University.
Nature.com What we do — and don’t — know about how misinformation spreads online The role of social-media platforms in abetting the spread of misinformation is shown in a research article by David Lazer, a political and computer scientist at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and his colleagues.
Politico Why Western democracy faces a nightmare made online “People’s segregation remains incredibly high,” said David Lazer, a professor at Northeastern University who analyzed political polarization on Facebook.
Changing Meta’s algorithms did not help US political polarization, study finds Together, the findings suggest that Facebook users seek out content that aligns with their views and that the algorithms help by “making it easier for people to do what they’re inclined to do,” according to David Lazer, a Northeastern University professor who worked on all four papers.
New study shows just how Facebook’s algorithm shapes conservative and liberal bubbles “It’s not a grand scientific observation,” said David Lazar of Northeastern University, a co-author of the study. “We’d need more data to see and we’d need more crises.”
Deep dive into Meta’s algorithms shows that America’s political polarization has no easy fix Together, the findings suggest that Facebook users seek out content that aligns with their views and that the algorithms help by “making it easier for people to do what they’re inclined to do,” according to David Lazer, a Northeastern University professor who worked on all four papers.
Here’s Why the Science Is Clear That Masks Work David Lazer, a political scientist at Northeastern University, calculated that before vaccines were available, U.S. states without mask mandates had 30 percent higher Covid death rates than those with mandates.
The Associated Press FDA’s own reputation could be restraining its misinfo fight “Because the FDA puts that information on its website, it will actually crowd out the misinformation from the top 10 or 20 Google results,” said David Lazer, a political and computer scientist at Northeastern University.