Matt Motyl
@mattmotyl.bsky.social
Trust & safety expert, political psychologist, behavioral data scientist, recovering academic, pun and dog lover.
Reposted by Matt Motyl
❓What #data do #VLOPSEs collect? How are they structured + used? How can #researchers best utilize #dataaccess under Art. 40 of the #DSA?
👉 Our new report by @jeffallen.bsky.social @mattmotyl.bsky.social + S. Gurley provides valuable answers for academic + civil society researchers: loom.ly/gQa-FjQ
👉 Our new report by @jeffallen.bsky.social @mattmotyl.bsky.social + S. Gurley provides valuable answers for academic + civil society researchers: loom.ly/gQa-FjQ
August 26, 2025 at 4:32 PM
❓What #data do #VLOPSEs collect? How are they structured + used? How can #researchers best utilize #dataaccess under Art. 40 of the #DSA?
👉 Our new report by @jeffallen.bsky.social @mattmotyl.bsky.social + S. Gurley provides valuable answers for academic + civil society researchers: loom.ly/gQa-FjQ
👉 Our new report by @jeffallen.bsky.social @mattmotyl.bsky.social + S. Gurley provides valuable answers for academic + civil society researchers: loom.ly/gQa-FjQ
Reposted by Matt Motyl
Want to hear about how to build better feeds? Join @mattmotyl.bsky.social and I at 11:00 ET today!
🚨 TODAY! 🚨 Starting at 11am ET: Join us as we discuss how to design algorithms that put users' interests front and center – leading to more positive and less harmful online experiences.
Can't make it? Sign up at the link below and we'll send you the recording! 👀
📣 Register here: bit.ly/4bBbraR
Can't make it? Sign up at the link below and we'll send you the recording! 👀
📣 Register here: bit.ly/4bBbraR
Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First – Knight-Georgetown Institute
lnkd.in
March 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Want to hear about how to build better feeds? Join @mattmotyl.bsky.social and I at 11:00 ET today!
Want to know how we can make social media a better place with fewer annoying and/or harmful content? Check out this brand new report I had the honor of co-authoring with a bunch of fellow experts on social media recommendation systems at the Knight-Georgetown Institute!
🚨 NEW REPORT – Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First 🚨
As policymakers around the globe grapple with addressing concerns about algorithms, KGI’s new report offers guidance on improving the design of algorithmic systems that shape billions of users’ digital lives.
bit.ly/3QzxVzq
As policymakers around the globe grapple with addressing concerns about algorithms, KGI’s new report offers guidance on improving the design of algorithmic systems that shape billions of users’ digital lives.
bit.ly/3QzxVzq
Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First – Knight-Georgetown Institute
bit.ly
March 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Want to know how we can make social media a better place with fewer annoying and/or harmful content? Check out this brand new report I had the honor of co-authoring with a bunch of fellow experts on social media recommendation systems at the Knight-Georgetown Institute!
Following the latest wave of tech layoffs in recent weeks, more employees have shared their exceptional performance evaluations conducted in the weeks prior to being laid off on the alleged basis of poor performance. I share more on this in my latest YouTube video. youtu.be/iJPBsL4w-U0?...
How Tech Companies are Deceiving Us About Their Layoffs
YouTube video by Unmoderated Insights
youtu.be
February 24, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Following the latest wave of tech layoffs in recent weeks, more employees have shared their exceptional performance evaluations conducted in the weeks prior to being laid off on the alleged basis of poor performance. I share more on this in my latest YouTube video. youtu.be/iJPBsL4w-U0?...
Reposted by Matt Motyl
It was a small trial, but a new vaccine against pancreatic cancer shows promise. Now would be a good time to increase funding for cancer research instead of the opposite! www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
mRNA vaccines show promise against pancreatic cancer in early trial
Fewer than 13% of people live more than five years after diagnosis. In a small trial, half of the participants mounted a lasting immune response against their cancer cells.
www.nbcnews.com
February 24, 2025 at 10:26 PM
It was a small trial, but a new vaccine against pancreatic cancer shows promise. Now would be a good time to increase funding for cancer research instead of the opposite! www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
The tech layoffs continue, and the companies are trying to present them as performance-based. There's just one problem: they're not actually performance-based.
I wrote a piece summarizing some of the data on this and telling my story from back in 2022.
open.substack.com/pub/mattmoty...
I wrote a piece summarizing some of the data on this and telling my story from back in 2022.
open.substack.com/pub/mattmoty...
February 13, 2025 at 2:37 AM
The tech layoffs continue, and the companies are trying to present them as performance-based. There's just one problem: they're not actually performance-based.
I wrote a piece summarizing some of the data on this and telling my story from back in 2022.
open.substack.com/pub/mattmoty...
I wrote a piece summarizing some of the data on this and telling my story from back in 2022.
open.substack.com/pub/mattmoty...
I interviewed the former head of youth safety at Meta, Twitter, and Google, @vaishnavi.bsky.social , on how to best promote online safety for youth. If you're curious, our conversation is here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6096...
Industry Leading Expert's Top Tips on Making Social Media Safer for Young People
YouTube video by Unmoderated Insights
www.youtube.com
February 5, 2025 at 11:28 PM
I interviewed the former head of youth safety at Meta, Twitter, and Google, @vaishnavi.bsky.social , on how to best promote online safety for youth. If you're curious, our conversation is here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6096...
I interviewed @kurtjgray.bsky.social on some of his fascinating research on using AI to understand morality and to moderate generative AI tool output. Oh, and surveying dead people, having sex with robots, and a bit on his latest popular book on outrage in politics www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhBr...
AI's surprising insights into human morality
YouTube video by Unmoderated Insights
www.youtube.com
January 27, 2025 at 1:18 AM
I interviewed @kurtjgray.bsky.social on some of his fascinating research on using AI to understand morality and to moderate generative AI tool output. Oh, and surveying dead people, having sex with robots, and a bit on his latest popular book on outrage in politics www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhBr...
One of my friends runs a political psychology YouTube channel and invited me to come on to discuss the role of social media in activism, and whether it amounts to more the slacktivism. Check it out here: youtu.be/y-3ErmkatX8?...
Social media is getting worse, but it is useful to activists (ft. @UnmoderatedInsights )
YouTube video by Political Psych with Abby
youtu.be
January 11, 2025 at 12:32 AM
One of my friends runs a political psychology YouTube channel and invited me to come on to discuss the role of social media in activism, and whether it amounts to more the slacktivism. Check it out here: youtu.be/y-3ErmkatX8?...
I interviewed clinical psychologist and professor Christopher Ferguson about his research on how social media affects the well-being and mental health of teenagers. I finally found time to edit out some of our particularly bad jokes to spare you all; see the good stuff here: youtu.be/_koKKVAF5_Q
Debunking Social Media Myths: A Deep Dive with Dr. Christopher Ferguson
YouTube video by Unmoderated Insights
youtu.be
November 20, 2024 at 4:26 AM
I interviewed clinical psychologist and professor Christopher Ferguson about his research on how social media affects the well-being and mental health of teenagers. I finally found time to edit out some of our particularly bad jokes to spare you all; see the good stuff here: youtu.be/_koKKVAF5_Q
Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger is reporting Russian actors made bomb threats at some polling locations. Investigation says threats non-credible. www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Get out and vote, folks.
Get out and vote, folks.
Georgia secretary of state blames polling place bomb threat on Russians
The bomb threat was one of several attacks in the key swing state of Georgia blamed on Russians.
www.usatoday.com
November 5, 2024 at 6:06 PM
Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger is reporting Russian actors made bomb threats at some polling locations. Investigation says threats non-credible. www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Get out and vote, folks.
Get out and vote, folks.
Some of my election & civic integrity tech, political science, and social psych friends and I will be livestreaming our own election and social media monitoring war room analogous to the war rooms we worked on at some of the world's biggest tech companies. Starts at 3p PT youtube.com/live/64dQ1er...
YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
youtube.com
November 5, 2024 at 6:04 PM
Some of my election & civic integrity tech, political science, and social psych friends and I will be livestreaming our own election and social media monitoring war room analogous to the war rooms we worked on at some of the world's biggest tech companies. Starts at 3p PT youtube.com/live/64dQ1er...
My Super Bowl has arrived. Will there be more or fewer tackles and fumbles today than during that other Super Bowl -- the one with lots of guys wearing tight pants and chasing after a misshapen ball?
November 5, 2024 at 5:59 PM
My Super Bowl has arrived. Will there be more or fewer tackles and fumbles today than during that other Super Bowl -- the one with lots of guys wearing tight pants and chasing after a misshapen ball?
Reposted by Matt Motyl
In part two of our series, Dr. @mattmotyl.bsky.social and I explore practical steps to address the challenges of social media’s impact on mental health. If you care about #digitalwellbeing, join the conversation and help support teens online!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGHa...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGHa...
October 11, 2024 at 5:14 PM
In part two of our series, Dr. @mattmotyl.bsky.social and I explore practical steps to address the challenges of social media’s impact on mental health. If you care about #digitalwellbeing, join the conversation and help support teens online!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGHa...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGHa...
Reposted by Matt Motyl
Curious about how social media impacts mental health? Dr. @mattmotyl.bsky.social and I dive into the research and noise in part 1 of our series. Join us unpacking this critical and misunderstood topic for those in the #digitalwellbeing space.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=klas...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=klas...
The Surprising Effects of Social Media on Mental Health and Teens with Professor Andrew Przybylski
YouTube video by Unmoderated Insights
www.youtube.com
October 10, 2024 at 10:56 AM
Curious about how social media impacts mental health? Dr. @mattmotyl.bsky.social and I dive into the research and noise in part 1 of our series. Join us unpacking this critical and misunderstood topic for those in the #digitalwellbeing space.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=klas...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=klas...
After the second assassination attempt on Trump along with stories of people like @noupside.bsky.social being targeted by ideological extremists, I put together this brief video on political polarization, social media, and the rising acceptability of political violence. youtu.be/REpGv3POEwo?...
Understanding the Alarming Rise of Political Violence
YouTube video by Unmoderated Insights
youtu.be
September 23, 2024 at 7:01 PM
After the second assassination attempt on Trump along with stories of people like @noupside.bsky.social being targeted by ideological extremists, I put together this brief video on political polarization, social media, and the rising acceptability of political violence. youtu.be/REpGv3POEwo?...
Is generative AI really hijacking democracy? In this video, I review the sensational fears some have expressed about the impact of GenAI on elections, and examine the role its played in the 50+ elections that have already happened in 2024. youtu.be/3IW4qBmj7g0
The Surprising Truth About AI's Impact on Elections
YouTube video by Unmoderated Insights
youtu.be
September 3, 2024 at 11:44 PM
Is generative AI really hijacking democracy? In this video, I review the sensational fears some have expressed about the impact of GenAI on elections, and examine the role its played in the 50+ elections that have already happened in 2024. youtu.be/3IW4qBmj7g0
Is all the sensationalizing of the potentially catastrophic harms of impressive genAI tools distracting us from addressing the real threats to elections?
I offer my take in my latest piece (with Spencer Gurley) at Tech Policy Press today. www.techpolicy.press/dont-let-gen...
I offer my take in my latest piece (with Spencer Gurley) at Tech Policy Press today. www.techpolicy.press/dont-let-gen...
Don’t Let Generative AI Distract Us from the Real Election Risks in Tech | TechPolicy.Press
AI tools primarily facilitate old harms on existing platforms that have yet to address known vulnerabilities, write Matt Motyl and Spencer Gurley.
www.techpolicy.press
August 16, 2024 at 8:56 PM
Is all the sensationalizing of the potentially catastrophic harms of impressive genAI tools distracting us from addressing the real threats to elections?
I offer my take in my latest piece (with Spencer Gurley) at Tech Policy Press today. www.techpolicy.press/dont-let-gen...
I offer my take in my latest piece (with Spencer Gurley) at Tech Policy Press today. www.techpolicy.press/dont-let-gen...
Reposted by Matt Motyl
Good read from Del from the perspective of T&S as preventative healthcare. Got a long road ahead to get all these systems in place here, but incrementally the goal is continuous improvement.
Looking to increase the impact of your Trust & Safety work? Here’s my prescription: delbius.com/trust-and-sa....
Feel free to @ me if you’d like to discuss the treatment plan further!
Feel free to @ me if you’d like to discuss the treatment plan further!
Trust & Safety as Preventative Healthcare - delbius.com
Looking to increase the impact of your Trust & Safety work? Here’s my prescription.
delbius.com
August 14, 2024 at 5:48 PM
Good read from Del from the perspective of T&S as preventative healthcare. Got a long road ahead to get all these systems in place here, but incrementally the goal is continuous improvement.
I created a data visualization of the tech layoffs broken out by month and company. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Id...
Tech Layoff Timeline by Company from January 2022 to August 2024
YouTube video by Unmoderated Insights
www.youtube.com
August 14, 2024 at 10:30 PM
I created a data visualization of the tech layoffs broken out by month and company. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Id...
What are the most politically polarized countries in the world? How has this changed since 1900? youtu.be/nkocAXiqanE
Most Politically Polarized Countries 1900 to 2024
This bar chart race shows political polarization of 203 countries from 1900 to 2024. Chapters:0:00 - 19000:28 - World War 11:06 - World War 21:44 - Berlin Wa...
youtu.be
August 5, 2024 at 5:01 PM
What are the most politically polarized countries in the world? How has this changed since 1900? youtu.be/nkocAXiqanE
🚀 New Report! Are meaningful online connections rising or falling? It's complicated.
🔹 60% of US adults report meaningful connections. 🔹 Older, educated, & wealthy = more connections. 🔹 Facetime/WhatsApp > Pinterest/YouTube.
Dive in: psychoftech.substack.com/p/meaningful...
🔹 60% of US adults report meaningful connections. 🔹 Older, educated, & wealthy = more connections. 🔹 Facetime/WhatsApp > Pinterest/YouTube.
Dive in: psychoftech.substack.com/p/meaningful...
Do people still have meaningful connections on social media?
We examine how people’s connections with others online may have changed over 1 year marked by an influx of AI chatbots & unconnected content
psychoftech.substack.com
August 5, 2024 at 4:58 PM
🚀 New Report! Are meaningful online connections rising or falling? It's complicated.
🔹 60% of US adults report meaningful connections. 🔹 Older, educated, & wealthy = more connections. 🔹 Facetime/WhatsApp > Pinterest/YouTube.
Dive in: psychoftech.substack.com/p/meaningful...
🔹 60% of US adults report meaningful connections. 🔹 Older, educated, & wealthy = more connections. 🔹 Facetime/WhatsApp > Pinterest/YouTube.
Dive in: psychoftech.substack.com/p/meaningful...
Affective polarization has been increasing for decades. Here's my latest piece on how we are moving from political animosity and insults to political violence towards all, not just public officials mattmotyl.substack.com/p/how-polari...
July 17, 2024 at 8:02 PM
Affective polarization has been increasing for decades. Here's my latest piece on how we are moving from political animosity and insults to political violence towards all, not just public officials mattmotyl.substack.com/p/how-polari...
Happy 4th of July, folks!
mattmotyl.substack.com/p/fixing-the...
mattmotyl.substack.com/p/fixing-the...
Fixing the Web Independence Day Edition
Happy 4th of July!
mattmotyl.substack.com
July 4, 2024 at 11:13 PM
Happy 4th of July, folks!
mattmotyl.substack.com/p/fixing-the...
mattmotyl.substack.com/p/fixing-the...
🚨 In 2023, social media giants laid off thousands of trust & safety experts. In 2024, the layoffs continue. The result? A surge in harmful content. Read more on the consequences and what it means for the future: open.substack.com/pub/mattmoty... #SocialMedia #TrustAndSafety
Fixing the Web by Laying Off the Fixers?
The tech layoffs continue, perfectly timed to increase the risk of threats to the elections 4 billion people are voting in this year
open.substack.com
June 28, 2024 at 9:38 PM
🚨 In 2023, social media giants laid off thousands of trust & safety experts. In 2024, the layoffs continue. The result? A surge in harmful content. Read more on the consequences and what it means for the future: open.substack.com/pub/mattmoty... #SocialMedia #TrustAndSafety