WCPO: Expert discusses social media's role in Buffalo mass shooting
Social media expert Jeffrey Blevins weighs in on impact of social media in mass shooting
Jeffrey Blevins, PhD, head of UC's Department of Journalism. Photo/UC Creative + Brand/Kelley
The shooter in the Buffalo tragedy had access to hate group theories and many ways to kill at his fingertips...via the internet.
“Social media seems to play a role in just about everything,” UC’s social media expert Jeffrey Blevins told WCPO, explaining that the dark side of social media has been there since the beginning.
“Webpages afforded a lot of anonymity to hate groups,” said Blevins, who heads the Department of Journalism. “They’ve allowed them to sadly merchandise and recruit others and raise money. It's very difficult for the government to interdict because we’re talking about cyberspace and not geographical space.”
Featured image at top courtesy of Unsplash.
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
From literature to AI: UC grad shares career path to success
April 23, 2024
Before Katie Trauth Taylor worked with international organizations like NASA, Boeing and Hershey, and before receiving accolades for her work in the generative AI space, she was in a much different industry: English and literature.
Local 12: Head injury survivor, doctor share importance of...
April 23, 2024
Local 12 spoke with patient Shane Shapiro and the University of Cincinnati's Laura Ngwenya about the importance of wearing a helmet following Shapiro's traumatic brain injury and recovery.
WVXU: Why is part of Green Township called Dent?
April 23, 2024
UC College of Arts and Sciences professor tells WVXU that Ohio's glacial past might explain how Dent got its name.