Alumni Digest.

People · Alumni Digest original

How to fight disinformation

It’s nothing new, says historian of media, and we can learn from the past. Published in Alumni Digest as verified reporting from the University of British Columbia.

It’s nothing new, says historian of media, and we can learn from the past.

Alumni Digest editorial deskMay 22, 20252 min read
In the September issue
How to fight disinformation
It’s nothing new, says historian of media, and we can learn from the past. Following the Arab Spring uprisings of the early 2010s, there was a flood of optimism about social media’s potential to unleash democracy around the world. “If you want to liberate a society, just give them the Internet,” said activist and Google executive Wael Ghonim after Egypt’s Mubarak regime was toppled. Many believed that Facebook, Twitter, and other digital platforms would amplify marginalized voices and hold the powerful accountable. Photo: Reporting: Richard Littlemore. Source image retained for editorial review; rights clearance is still required before any broader reuse.

The context

Where the work begins

It’s nothing new, says historian of media, and we can learn from the past.

The takeaway

What follows

Further reporting continues across the university network.

Keep reading

Get the next story in your inbox.

One considered email when a new issue is ready. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Continue reading

You might also like

See all stories
Ideas · 2 min read

Where study meets the summer job

UBC co-op turns paid work terms into a bridge between coursework and BC’s innovation economy.

Read story Ideas · 2 min read

The science of a bad dynamic

A UBC Okanagan researcher offers evidence-based ways to notice and respond to harmful patterns.

Read story People · 2 min read

After the walk across the stage

A practical career map for the weeks after graduation.

Read story