Anatoliy Gruzd
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Anatoliy Gruzd
@gruzd.ca
440 followers 99 following 34 posts

Canada Research Chair, Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University & co-director & researcher at @socialmedialab.ca | Social Media and Network Scholar | My opinions are my own

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Communication & Media Studies 32%
Computer science 19%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 16h
Unfortunately, the social media industry is increasingly moving away from using human fact-checkers. Many are rolling out AI and Community Notes-type programs, which come with their own set of challenges. For example, 89% of Community Notes on X never see daylight. notetracker.socialmediadata.org
NoteTracker Dashboard
App for Discovering and Analyzing X Posts with Community Notes
notetracker.socialmediadata.org

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 16h
Soft moderation (e.g., fact-checking labels) significantly reduced the frequency of interactions w/false claims. Control group averaged 0.9 interactions, about 1.5 more than either intervention group (0.62 for the footnote warning label, 0.60 for the blur filter). socialmedialab.ca/2024/09/11/n...
[New Paper Alert] To Share or Not to Share: Randomized Controlled Study of Misinformation Warning Labels on Social Media - Social Media Lab
In recent years, content moderation on social media has become a flashpoint in global conversations about free speech, misinformation, and platform accountability. Once seen as essential for curbing h...
socialmedialab.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 3d
Algorithmic audits have become a fashionable remedy in academic and policy debates, but this overlooks a fundamental point: like domestic pets 🐕, every algorithm has an owner. Accountability lies not with the code, but with those who design, deploy, and profit from it.

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 3d
Like the gun debate in America, where money and identity override reason, the tech industry’s fixation on profit and polarization will make their stated goal of fostering healthy online conversation the Silicon Valley version of “thoughts and prayers.” #emptymantra

Reposted by Katharine Hayhoe, Anatoliy Gruzd, José Pina-Sánchez

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 3d
"Why American-style polarisation is spreading across the West"

Two words: algorithms and incentives. Mostly incentives. Until we modify or eliminate incentives, all we can do is watch as the fabric of society is pulled apart, strand by strand. www.ft.com/content/5060...

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 4d
In that paper, we showed how an online community legitimizes itself and minimizes allegations of anti-social, bullying behaviour by weaponizing and deploying a feminine gender identity in three overlapping and internally contradictory ways to: socialmedialab.ca/2024/03/12/c...
[New Paper Alert] Just being a bit bitchy: The gendered valences of online anti-social behaviour on Tattle Life - Social Media Lab
Billed as a “gossip forum” that harkens back to the mid-aughts heyday of Perez Hilton and Gawker, Tattle Life is a UK-based influencer gossip forum with a rabid fanbase. Contributors to the site, know...
socialmedialab.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 4d
This new study is a follow-up to a study we released last year, "Just being a bit bitchy: The gendered valences of online anti-social behaviour on Tattle Life". socialmedialab.ca/2024/03/12/c...
[New Paper Alert] Just being a bit bitchy: The gendered valences of online anti-social behaviour on Tattle Life - Social Media Lab
Billed as a “gossip forum” that harkens back to the mid-aughts heyday of Perez Hilton and Gawker, Tattle Life is a UK-based influencer gossip forum with a rabid fanbase. Contributors to the site, know...
socialmedialab.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 4d
PS... To be clear, we are not advocating for toxic speech online, what we are trying to do with this study to understand how toxic speech is used by people to construct and maintain in- and out-group boundaries in online communities.

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 4d
[New Paper Alert] Online toxic speech as positioning acts: Hate as discursive mechanisms for othering and belonging socialmedialab.ca/2025/11/03/n...
[New Paper Alert] Online toxic speech as positioning acts: Hate as discursive mechanisms for othering and belonging - Social Media Lab
Toxic speech is an endemic threat to civil discourse on social media; it’s marked by incivility, intolerance, and the intent to harm through threats, insults, and patronizing language. Further challen...
socialmedialab.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 5d
“In today’s complex communication landscape, expertise alone is no longer enough,” said @Gruzd.ca, Co-Director of @SocialMediaLab.ca “To make a real difference, rsrchrs must communicate in ways that build trust, foster engagement with a wide range of stakeholders." socialmedialab.ca/2025/10/02/n...
New KM Compass App From the Social Media Lab Helps Researchers Translate Knowledge Into Real-World Impact - Social Media Lab
TORONTO, ON – [October 02, 2025] — At a time when public trust in institutions is fragmented and misinformation spreads faster than evidence, researchers and experts face a critical challenge: how to ...
socialmedialab.ca

gruzd.ca
Anatoliy Gruzd @gruzd.ca · 5d
“KM Compass is more than a tool,” said @PhilipMai.com, Co-Director of the Social Media Lab. “It’s a recognition that we need new approaches to mobilizing knowledge and building trust with the public, and ensuring that research continues to play a meaningful role in shaping society.”

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 5d
"In the face of anti-science politics, silence is not without cost. More scientific leaders need to speak out about anti-science agendas and threats to academic freedom across the world." #ICYMI www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 7d
[New Paper Alert] Who’s Telling the Story of the Russia-Ukraine War on Telegram?

“Shaping Western Perceptions: The Role of English-language Verified Telegram Channels in Framing the Narratives Around the Russia-Ukraine War” by @gruzd.ca, Yisheng Li & @philipmai.com socialmedialab.ca/2025/10/27/n...
[New Paper Alert] Who's Telling the Story of the Russia-Ukraine War on Telegram? - Social Media Lab
What happens when one of the world’s biggest wars plays out on one of the least understood platforms? In the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Telegram quietly...
socialmedialab.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 7d
[New Paper Alert] Online toxic speech as positioning acts: Hate as discursive mechanisms for othering and belonging socialmedialab.ca/2025/11/03/n...
[New Paper Alert] Online toxic speech as positioning acts: Hate as discursive mechanisms for othering and belonging - Social Media Lab
Toxic speech is an endemic threat to civil discourse on social media; it’s marked by incivility, intolerance, and the intent to harm through threats, insults, and patronizing language. Further challen...
socialmedialab.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 7d
Welcome to KM (Knowledge Mobilization) Compass: Helping You Share What You Know, Where It Matters Most. km.socialmedialab.ca Our new app is designed to help researchers like you turn ideas into impact.socialmedialab.ca/2025/10/02/n...
New KM Compass App From the Social Media Lab Helps Researchers Translate Knowledge Into Real-World Impact - Social Media Lab
TORONTO, ON – [October 02, 2025] — At a time when public trust in institutions is fragmented and misinformation spreads faster than evidence, researchers and experts face a critical challenge: how to ...
socialmedialab.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 14d
The Civility Analyzer calculates toxicity scores (such as Toxicity, Insult, & Threat) & prosocial scores (like Compassion, Curiosity, and Respect) for each post.

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 14d
Advancing Social Media Rsrch & the Study of Online Civility: Our new Civility Analyzer helps researchers/journalists identify posts containing threats, insults, harassment, or profanity. It also detects prosocial communication, incl. support, cooperation & kindness. socialmedialab.ca/2025/06/17/c...

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 14d
[New Paper Alert] Who’s Telling the Story of the Russia-Ukraine War on Telegram?

“Shaping Western Perceptions: The Role of English-language Verified Telegram Channels in Framing the Narratives Around the Russia-Ukraine War” by @gruzd.ca, Yisheng Li & @philipmai.com socialmedialab.ca/2025/10/27/n...
[New Paper Alert] Who’s Telling the Story of the Russia-Ukraine War on Telegram? - Social Media Lab
What happens when one of the world’s biggest wars plays out on one of the least understood platforms? In the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Telegram quietly...
socialmedialab.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd, Beatriz Gallardo Paúls, Ann Pegoraro

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 21d
Are you doing research at the intersection of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and analytics? Be our colleague, apply for Loretta Rogers Research Chair in Cybersecurity Analytics: hr.cf.torontomu.ca/ams/faculty/... #AcademicSky #PhDCareer
Career Opportunities
hr.cf.torontomu.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Oct 2
If you're a scientist or researcher sharing your work online, here are some resources to help you manage the risks of being public. socialmedialab.ca/km-compass/

Pro Tip: Share them with your communications office and encourage them to form a rapid response team, with a plan of action in place.
KM Compass - A Knowledge Mobilization App - Social Media Lab
“Helping You Share What You Know, Where It Matters Most“ At a time when public trust in institutions is fragmented and misinformation spreads faster than evidence, researchers and experts face a criti...
socialmedialab.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd, Michelle Dion

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Oct 2
"New KM Compass App From the Social Media Lab Helps Researchers Translate Knowledge Into Real-World Impact" socialmedialab.ca/2025/10/02/n...
New KM Compass App From the Social Media Lab Helps Researchers Translate Knowledge Into Real-World Impact - Social Media Lab
TORONTO, ON – [October 02, 2025] — At a time when public trust in institutions is fragmented and misinformation spreads faster than evidence, researchers and experts face a critical challenge: how to ...
socialmedialab.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd, Salla-Maaria Laaksonen

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Sep 29
Q: Can soft moderation techniques (such as footnotes and blur screens) decrease engagement with misinformation on social media?

A: Yes, yes, they can.
socialmedialab.ca/2024/09/11/n...

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Sep 27
To put it another way, social media is good at showing what people are talking about (the trending direction of public attention or sentiment), but it doesn’t reliably convey how many people feel that way (intensity) or how strongly they feel it (speed/force of change).

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Sep 27
In some way, social media is like a weather vane in a storm: it spins quickly to show where the wind’s blowing, but you can’t tell how fierce the storm really is.

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd, Nathan P. Kalmoe

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Sep 27
The Cracker Barrel story should serve as a reminder that "What a journalist can discern from publicly available social media data is not exactly what is typically thought of as 'public opinion.'”

We & our colleagues outlined this problem back in 2018. policyoptions.irpp.org/2018/09/when...
When journalists report social media as public opinion
As digital data about people grows, journalists are increasingly turning to social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to find information. One trend in journalism, particularly in political ...
policyoptions.irpp.org

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd, Michael Zimmer, Timothy Graham

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Sep 27
"Cracker Barrel Outrage Was Almost Certainly Driven by Bots, Researchers Say" gizmodo.com/cracker-barr...
Cracker Barrel Outrage Was Almost Certainly Driven by Bots, Researchers Say
Doesn't that make more sense than lots of people caring about Cracker Barrel?
gizmodo.com

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Sep 25
Is Finland a model for Canada to counter disinformation? But how practical is the hope that Finland can be a beacon for other democracies? www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/0...
According to @lageneralista.ca from the Carnegie Endowment Information Environment Project, "Ecologically speaking, not very."
Is Finland a model for Canada to counter disinformation?
The reported absence of significant attacks will likely continue to fuel the belief in democratic policy circles that Finland is a shining example other countries should follow in the fight against di...
www.hilltimes.com

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Sep 25
"Facebook video of CN Tower on fire should have AI-generated content label, experts say. No fire happened and video is a deepfake, CN Tower says." www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
A video of the CN Tower on fire went viral on Facebook. The problem? It's fake | CBC News
A fake video of the CN Tower on fire went viral on Facebook this week and experts say it's another example of why social media platforms need to clearly mark AI-generated content.
www.cbc.ca

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd, Fabio Giglietto

Reposted by Anatoliy Gruzd

socialmedialab.ca
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Sep 24
The West have long been a target of the Kremlin’s disinformation campaigns. Since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia has used a variety of information warfare tactics to destabilize the Ukrainian government & undermine the legitimacy of democratic governments. socialmedialab.ca/2024/03/12/n...