Can We Rebuild Trust in the Information Environment?
Co-sponsored by the Center for News, Technology & Innovation, this virtual event explored the breakdown in trust in the online information environment — and what can be done to repair it.
For decades, America has seen a steady decline in trust in institutions — in government, science, media, and even the very idea of democracy. The problem stems from several places, such as rising political polarization and declining civic participation. But many place the blame on our increasingly siloed and partisan information environment, which is exacerbated by social media and recent advances in generative AI.
What does this decline in trust mean for the future of our democracy? Can we rebuild trust in the information environment and, if so, how? Are there ways technology could help prioritize authoritative and fact-based sources and identify what the public does or does not find relevant to their information needs? This panel convened experts across academia, civil society, and media to discuss these questions and more.
Co-sponsored by NYU's Center for Social Media and Politics and the Center for News, Technology & Innovation
Panelists
Brandi Collins-Dexter - Media Fellow, UCLA Center on Race & Digital Justice
Indira Lakshmanan - Founding Ideas & Opinions Editor, U.S. News & World Report
Amy Mitchell - Founding Executive Director, Center for News, Technology & Innovation
Jay Rosen - Professor of Journalism, New York University
Zeve Sanderson - Executive Director, NYU’s Center for Social Media and Politics (moderator)
Video
Additional Materials
The following are additional resources shared by panelists during the event: