Analysis and Theory

RSM Fall 2024 Speaker Series

September 23, 2024

The Institute for Rebooting Social Media is bringing back its Speaker Series this Fall with an exciting group of writers, social scientists, and academics.

The Institute for Rebooting Social Media is pleased to announce the lineup for its Fall Speaker Series.

The events will be hosted at the Lewis International Law Center in Cambridge, MA and on Zoom from 12:30-1:30PM ET every other Wednesday unless otherwise specified. In-person events are reserved for Harvard ID holders, but the general public is invited to attend virtually via Zoom. 

We’ll be adding new events to this slate over the coming weeks, so check back soon for updates!

September 25 – The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age

Author and journalist Sasha Issenberg discusses his new book, The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age. Moderated by RSM Visiting Scholar Myojung Chung.

This event has passed. Watch the recording here.

October 9 – Social Processes of Online Hate

UC Santa Barbara Professor and former RSM Visiting Scholar Joe Walther discusses his new open-access volume, Social Processes of Online Hate, with contributor and BKC Fellow Sahana Udupa.

This event has passed. Watch the recording here.

October 23 – Fearless Speech: Breaking Free from the First Amendment

George Washington University Professor Mary Anne Franks discusses her new book, Fearless Speech: Breaking Free from the First Amendment. Featuring RSM Faculty Co-Director Jonathan Zittrain.

This event has passed. Watch the recording here.

October 30Combating Misinformation Through Digital Markets

Visiting Scholar Marshall Van Alstyne presents research on market interventions to combat misinformation.

This event has passed. Watch the recording here.

November 14Beyond the Big Lie

Journalist and Duke University Professor Bill Adair discusses his new book, Beyond the Big Lie: The Epidemic of Political Lying, Why Republicans Do It More, and How It Could Burn Down Our Democracy.

NOTE: This event takes place on Thursday, November 14 at 12:30-1:30PM

This event has passed. Watch the recording here.

November 20 – The Impact of Conspiracy Theories: At Home and Online

Nieman Fellow Jesselyn Cook and BKC-Nieman Fellow Ben Reininga discuss how conspiracy theories spread online and the impacts they have on communities and families. Moderated by BKC Faculty Director Jonathan Zittrain.

This event has passed.

December 4Post-Truth, Fake News and Democracy: Mapping the Politics of Falsehood

University of Copenhagen Professor Johan Farkas outlines the state of fake news today and offers based on the 2nd edition of his book, Post-Truth, Fake News and Democracy: Mapping the Politics of Falsehood. The discussion will be fully virtual and moderated by Applied Social Media Lab Senior Director Jonathan Bellack.