Last week, we co-hosted Algorithms for Common Ground: Reimagining Social Media & AI in Menlo Park, a hands-on showcase of emerging tools using artificial intelligence to strengthen civic trust and reduce polarization.

As deepfakes and disinformation threaten public trust, a new generation of civic technologists is using AI for something different: to help us listen, reflect, and connect. Read the Blog: techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/p/heres-how-...

Join Newsweek, @allsidesnow.bsky.social, and Living Room Conversatons on Nov 6 for the National Roundtable on Political Violence. Thousands of Americans will meet online to talk, listen, and take action together. www.allsides.com/national-rou...

📅 Join us Oct 1 (4pm ET / 1pm PT) for a Civic Health Project + @rururbbridge.bsky.social briefing on defusing toxic polarization & political violence and what we can do to build resilience and strengthen our civic fabric. Register for the briefing: tinyurl.com/octpolar

A glimpse of how technology can serve democracy. We the People uses AI not to divide, but to draw out reflection, common ground, and the shared values that sustain us.

When technology is designed to foster local belonging and shared identity, it can strengthen the very social fabric so many fear is unraveling. This is the kind of evidence we need to reimagine digital spaces—not as engines of outrage, but as platforms that help us connect with our communities.

Heavy social media users are nearly 4x more likely than light users to justify political violence. s. The stakes are clear: if we want to counter the rise of political violence, technology has to be part of the solution, not just part of the problem.

Trust in chatbots is 30% higher than in elected officials — and 38% of people feel that AI could make better decisions on their behalf than government representatives. techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/p/more-peopl...

We are deeply disturbed by the news that Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking at UVU today. We stand alongside bipartisan leaders and elected officials who have condemned this attack on a fellow American. We denounce this shooting and all forms of political violence.

What happens when you build a social media platform where every user is an AI? One recent study did just that, and even without ads or algorithms, the bots still formed partisan echo chambers and amplified the most polarized content. gizmodo.com/researchers-...

Is there still hope for the internet? 🌐 On Outrage Overload, Civic Health Project’s Kristin Hansen shares how @normsyai.bsky.social uses Human+AI to scale counterspeech, curb toxic conversations, and strengthen our shared civic norms. outrageoverload.net/outrage-70-i...

“We design our technology, and thereafter it designs us. We must get it right this time—and soon.” We still have time to build a future where AI serves the public good, but we need to take action now. centerforhumanetechnology.substack.com/cp/171329941

Algorithmic plurality isn’t enough—we need exposure diversity to build trust & counter misinformation. www.techpolicy.press/making-media...

ChatGPT convinced a user he’d developed a formula that could take down the internet and to warn others. He asked 50+ times for a reality check. The AI kept saying yes—a reminder that LLMs, trained by humans, can be swayed by sycophancy. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/t...

On Nextdoor, crime posts dominate your feed thanks to engagement-driven algorithms. In Vermont, Front Porch Forum updates just once a day—fostering trust and civic engagement instead of fear. www.afterbabel.com/cp/170467486

Google’s AI Overview puts summaries at the top of search results. Helpful? Maybe. But it also makes AI an unaccountable gatekeeper—shaping what we see, and what we don’t. What’s your take?

Digital spaces, like physical spaces, should be public-friendly. Civic Signals defines 14 «signals» that help platforms with 4 «blocks»: 👥 Welcome diverse publics 🌎 Build bridges and strengthen local ties 🧠 Promote understanding and reliable information 🤝 Inspire civic action

As AI agents gain autonomy, ethics must guide them to foster trust, reduce polarization, and strengthen—not erode—our civic fabric. Prosocial design isn’t optional; it’s essential for a healthy democratic future www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Bowling Green, KY just ran “the largest town hall in America.” In 33 days, 8,000 residents cast 1M+ votes on local ideas using Deliberative Tech & AI. 80%+ agreement on half the proposals. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sEC...

25 orgs. 2,798 surveys. One finding: bridging works. SCIM shows measurable gains in empathy, respect & reduced animosity — and these same indicators can guide prosocial tech design.

If AI outputs get full First Amendment protection, regulating manipulative or harmful systems could become nearly impossible. Learn about why AI is the next free speech battleground from @centerforhumanetechnology.substack.com.web.brid.gy centerforhumanetechnology.substack.com/p/why-ai-is-...

31 members of Congress. No party labels. No talking points. No posturing. Just one hour of real, crosspartisan dialogue. Bridge Grades crunched the data—and many of them are walking the walk. Let’s make this the norm, not the exception. bridgegrades.substack.com/p/a-bipartis...

Happy #ListenFirstFriday! 👂🌍 What if tech brought us together instead of tearing us apart? 🎥 Watch @civichealthproject.bsky.social's Kristin Hansen share why the June 26 Global Expo on Tech & Social Cohesion matters. 🗓️ Free + hybrid → Register + Agenda: techandsocialcohesion.org/ctsc-expo/

What if tech didn’t divide us—but helped rebuild trust? On June 26, the Global EXPO on Tech & Social Cohesion. Demos, policy convos, tools for healthy online spaces, and more. Join in DC, Kathmandu, or online. techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/p/join-us-fo...

Algorithms prioritize velocity—what spreads fastest wins. That means outrage, fear, and lies get amplified. It’s not accidental. It’s a design choice. And it doesn’t have to be that way.

Designing social media with user choice at its core isn’t just a feature—it’s a foundational principle for building technology that fosters social cohesion. When platforms prioritize agency, they create space for trust, connection, and healthier digital communities.

We are loving this Responsible Tech Summer Reading List from All Tech Is Human. alltechishuman.org/all-tech-is-...

🚨 We know what we want to stop: disinformation, polarization, exploitation. But naming the harms isn’t enough. New Blueprint for Prosocial Tech Design Governance lays out how we can shift the deeper systems—governance + design—that shape our digital lives. techandsocialcohesion.org/wp-content/u...

EXPO 2025: Two Hybrid Events, Global Programming 📅 June 26 | 🌎 Americas | EMEA | Asia Pacific How can tech foster trust, cohesion, and collaboration—instead of fueling division and violence? Join global voices shaping the future of prosocial tech. techandsocialcohesion.org/ctsc-expo

What if reducing polarization didn’t start with talking—but watching? Research shows that simply viewing respectful dialogue across divides can soften partisan animosity. Just observing. Turns out, civility can be contagious. techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/p/contagious...

What if we could simulate peace deals before they’re signed—and see how groups respond? Digital twins, once used to model engines and cities, are now applied to divided societies, giving peacebuilders a powerful way to forecast conflict dynamics. techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/p/will-the-p...

Nearly half of Americans have experienced online abuse. A new report from PEN America and Consumer Reports urges a shift in how platforms respond—treat abuse like spam. Give people real tools to filter, quarantine, and control what they see. It's time to make digital spaces safer and freer.

And we’re just getting started co-building a network of networks that empowers and amplifies - because we are truly #BetterTogether! Stay tuned for more on the #CivicExchange a collaborative fundraising platform! @representwomen.bsky.social @civichealthproject.bsky.social @ncdd.bsky.social

Gen Z isn’t anti-democracy. They’re just asking: What has it done for us lately? New research from @moreincommonus.bsky.social CommonUS shows their skepticism stems from disillusionment—not dictatorship. It’s a call to deliver, not dismiss. 📖 Report: moreincommonus.com/publication/...

Build Peace 2025 is calling for bold, tech-driven ideas that support deliberation and conflict transformation. If you're building tools or systems that help bridge divides or reimagine peace in the digital age, submit your proposal and be part of shaping a pluriverse of peace.

Americans are spending less time on social media— but when they stay, they want more than noise. 📉 Use is down 🧠 Learning is up 🤝 Real connection is rising The message is clear: Design for trust, or lose it. psychoftech.substack.com/p/social-med...

When AI companions never challenge us, we lose something deeper than debate—we lose practice. Kim Malfacini’s new report warns that frictionless, affirming bots may “deskill” our ability to handle difference.

Most Americans want to bridge divides. They just need more chances to try. In this issue of Depolarize: 📊 70% feel a responsibility to connect 🎥 Better Together Film Fest is live 🌐 New role as co-chair of the Council on Tech & Social Cohesion mailchi.mp/5383bb42021f...

The LA Times' new AI bias ratings miss the mark, says @allsidesnow.bsky.social John Gable. Limiting analysis to opinion pieces + skipping human oversight = flawed results. AI can help, but not without people. 👉https://www.allsides.com/blog/what-la-times-got-right-and-wrong-new-ai-bias-ratings

AI is changing political campaigns—but we still have time to shape the future. With smart regulation, transparency, and ethical design, we can harness innovation to strengthen democracy, not undermine it.

This isn’t just a moderation issue—it’s a design issue. Our new report with @integrity-inst.bsky.social and Search for Common Ground highlights upstream solutions: nudges, filters, privacy-by-default, and better platform architecture. 👉 techandsocialcohesion.org/prevention-b...

Surfacing diverse views is vital—but execution matters. The LA Times' AI ratings reduced nuanced opinions to oversimplified labels, risking confusion and mistrust. Intent isn’t enough—design for understanding. www.niemanlab.org/2025/03/ther...

New @MoreInCommon_US report reveals Americans want to connect across differences—70% feel a responsibility to engage—but lack the opportunity. Intentionally designed technology can help increase opportunities for connection and ease intergroup anxiety. 📑 moreincommonus.com/publication/...

What if social media prioritized community over clicks? In @lemonde.fr, Dr. Talia Stroud @taliastroud.bsky.social discusses how Vermont’s Front Porch Forum fosters respectful online interactions, reinforcing real-world connections. www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/ar...

Digital community-building is on the agenda at #SXSW2025! New_ Public's @deeptidoshi.bsky.social joins a panel to share her hands-on experience building digital tools that foster more democratic online spaces. Catch Innovating Democracy: New Ways to Power the People on Monday at 4pm CST!

How can we build healthier algorithmic feeds? Through detailed design transparency, user choices and defaults, and assessments of long-term impact. Excellent and straightforward report that focuses on user autonomy and wellbeing.

Absolutely—better algorithms aren’t just possible, they’re essential for a healthier democracy. Platforms shape public discourse, and when their design prioritizes engagement over truth, polarization thrives. We need feeds that inform rather than inflame, connect rather than divide.

🎧 New podcast! I spoke with one entrepreneur building middleware for Bluesky: Rudy Fraser (@rudyfraser.com), the founder of Blacksky Algorithms (@blacksky.app) and a fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Listen here on your favorite podcast app:

AI chatbots aren’t addictive because people are lazy or lonely—they’re designed to be. Like social media, their engagement-driven model maximizes time spent, emotional entanglement, and dependency—even at the cost of user well-being. #AI #TechEthics techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/cp/158373302