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The Future of Social Media Governance: Will AI Be the Savior or the Problem?

(Week 10: Digital Citizenship and Conflict: Social Media Governance)

The future of social media governance is looking more tech-driven than ever. As online spaces continue to evolve, we’re seeing a growing role of AI in moderating content, detecting harassment, and even predicting potential harm.

But is AI the hero we need, or does it come with its own set of challenges?

A big question is: can AI truly understand context in the way humans do?

While AI is good at processing large amounts of data, it often lacks the empathy and nuance necessary to make ethical decisions, which can lead to mistakes in content moderation (Khushal Gadhvi et al., 2025). For instance, AI might flag a meme as offensive even when it’s meant to be a joke. So, is it a good idea to let algorithms decide what's "safe" or not?

But it's not all doom and gloom. Some scholars believe AI can be a game-changer in tackling the sheer volume of content on platforms like Facebook and X, where moderation is already a challenge. Kacie (2024)points out that AI could help identify harmful content faster than human moderators, saving time and reducing emotional toll on staff.

So, what’s the verdict?

Well, it’s likely that AI will play an essential role, but it shouldn’t be the only solution. A balance of human oversight and machine learning might be the way forward to create safer, fairer online communities.

Do you think AI will make the internet safer, or will it make things worse?

Reference:

Khushal Gadhvi, N., Chintaman, S., & Parmar, Y. (2025). GAP iNTERDISCIPLINARITIES A Global Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies THE ROLE OF AI IN CONTENT MODERATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA: A DATA ANALYTICS PERSPECTIVE. GRAND ACADEMIC PORTAL RESEARCH JOURNALS. https://www.gapinterdisciplinarities.org/res/articles/(83-85)%20THE%20ROLE%20OF%20AI%20IN%20CONTENT%20MODERATION%20ON%20SOCIAL%20MEDIA%20A%20DATA%20ANALYTICS%20PERSPECTIVE.pdf

Kacie Saxer-Taulbee. (2024, May 29). What Is AI Content Moderation and How Does It Work? Smartcat.com. https://www.smartcat.com/blog/ai-content-moderation/

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How Game Streaming is Changing the Way We Play, Watch, and Connect

(Week 9: Gaming Communities, Social Gaming and Live Streaming)

Game streaming is huge right now, and it’s not just about playing games anymore

It’s about sharing your experience with the world.

Platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming have turned gaming into a social event. But, you might be wondering, what exactly does that mean for the gaming world?

Well, game streaming allows players to broadcast their gameplay live to an online audience. It’s like watching your favorite show, but you get to control the action! And it’s changed the game in ways we couldn’t have predicted.

But how?

Let’s break it down.

First, let’s talk about how game streaming has become a career. If you’ve been following popular streamers, you’ll know that some are making serious money.

How? Through ads, donations, and even paid subscriptions from their followers (Chisom Maduonuorah, 2025). These platforms allow players to monetize their passion, turning what was once a casual hobby into a full-time job. Crazy, right? Imagine getting paid to play your favorite games! And with esports tournaments offering millions in prizes, it’s no wonder streaming has become such a big deal (Gevme, 2024).

Then there’s the community aspect. One of the coolest things about streaming is how it brings people together. People don’t just watch games, they participate. Fans can chat, donate, and interact with the streamer and other viewers (Huang, 2023). It creates a sense of community.

But of course, not everything is perfect. What about the downsides? Well, streaming can sometimes attract toxic behavior, like harassment or bullying, in the chatrooms (Richard Wee & Brenda Tan, 2021). Some people take it too far, and that can ruin the vibe. Plus, there’s the issue of monetization. Loot boxes, paid subscriptions, and ads are everywhere, and not everyone’s a fan of how it affects the experience. Does it feel more like a business than a game sometimes?

But i still think game streaming has changed the entire landscape of the gaming industry. It’s no longer just about playing alone in your room; it’s about sharing that experience with others and building something bigger. It’s turned gaming into a social activity, creating new opportunities for gamers worldwide.

Reference:

Chisom Maduonuorah. (2025, March 21). Adsterra Affiliate Marketing and Traffic Monetization Blog. Adsterra Iblog . https://adsterra.com/blog/how-to-make-money-streaming-as-a-streamer/https://adsterra.com/blog/how-to-make-money-streaming-as-a-streamer/

Gevme. (2024, December 28). Esports Events: How Gaming Tournaments Are Redefining the Industry. Gevme. https://www.gevme.com/en/blog/esports-events-how-gaming-tournaments-are-redefining-the-industry/

Huang, P. (2023, August 3). Gaming Live Streaming: Building Online Communities for Esports Fans. - Practical Tips and Expert Advice for Live Streaming. https://www.yololiv.com/blog/gaming-live-streaming-for-esports-fans/

Richard Wee, & Brenda Tan. (2021, March 3). Toxicity in the Streaming World- Causes, Effects and Solutions. Richardweechambers. https://www.richardweechambers.com/toxicity-in-the-streaming-world-causes-effects-and-solutions/

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The Hidden Cost of AR Filters: Beauty or Pressure?

(Week 8: Digital Citizenship and Software Literacy: Instagram Filters)

We’ve all used them—those fun, transformative AR filters that turn a selfie into a work of art. Whether it’s adding dog ears, smoothing out your skin, or accentuating your features, face filters have taken over social media (pulpoar, 2020)

In fact, more than 200 million people use Snapchat’s AR filters daily, and Instagram and TikTok aren’t far behind (Mansuri, 2022)

Why does it matter ?

On the surface, they seem harmless—just a fun way to express yourself or add a little flair to your photos.

But behind the fun, there’s a darker side to AR filters. As filters evolved, moving from goofy to beauty-focused, they started promoting a very narrow, Eurocentric beauty standard (Jumphost, 2022). Suddenly, everyone was striving for the same features—youthful, slim faces with big eyes and flawless skin. It’s no longer just about personal expression; it’s about conforming to an ideal look.

The issue ?

These filters can have a serious impact on self-esteem. In a world where everyone is trying to match the “ideal,” many users—especially teens—are beginning to feel that their natural appearance is not enough.

Cosmetic procedures are on the rise, with people seeking permanent changes to look more like their filtered selves (Inocencio, 2024). This leads to body dysmorphia, where individuals see flaws that aren't even there, exacerbated by the filters they use.

A perfect example is the Bold Glamour filter on TikTok.

While it offers a flawless, camera-ready look, users have reported feeling “ugly” once they turn it off. It’s clear that while these filters can provide a confidence boost, they also contribute to unrealistic beauty standards that leave many feeling dissatisfied with their true selves (Allyn, 2023).

So, what can we do ?

It’s time we ask: Why do these filters perform so well? Are we shaping beauty, or is beauty shaping us ?

Reference:

pulpoar. (2020, December 24). What is AR Face Filters and How to Use It? - PulpoAR. PulpoAR. https://pulpoar.com/what-is-ar-face-filters-pulpoar/

‌ Misbaah Mansuri. (2022, April 29). Over 200 million people on Snapchat use augmented reality every single day: Sophia Dominguez, Snap Inc - Digital Studio Middle East. Digital Studio Middle East. https://www.digitalstudiome.com/news/over-200-million-people-on-snapchat-use-augmented-reality-every-single-daysophia-dominguez-snap-inc

Jumphost. (2022, October 28). Tik Tok filters fuel the fire of self-image issues. The Queen’s Journal. https://www.queensjournal.ca/tik-tok-filters-fuel-the-fire-of-self-image-issues/

Inocencio, S. V. (2024, November 18). The beauty paradox: Filters vs body positivity. Tatler Asia. https://www.tatlerasia.com/newsletters/gent-filters-body-positivity

Allyn, B. (2023, March 10). Does the “Bold Glamour” filter push unrealistic beauty standards? TikTokkers think so. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/03/10/1162286785/does-the-bold-glamour-filter-push-unrealistic-beauty-standards-tiktokkers-think-

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The Aesthetic Pressure on Social Media 🎭

(Week 7:Digital Citizenship and Health Education: Body Modification on Visual Social Media)

Have you ever noticed how social media makes us all feel like we need to be perfectly put together?

It’s not just about posting pictures anymore; it’s about branding yourself. Influencers and microcelebrities are pros at curating their feeds to look flawless, and they do it by following these "aesthetic templates" – basically, the perfect poses, angles, and even body modifications to get likes and attention. It’s like a whole other job, but without the paycheck.

But here’s the thing: this online persona isn’t always real. It’s often a version of ourselves that’s been edited and filtered to fit into what’s trending. And because of this, more and more people are feeling the pressure to change themselves—whether it’s through cosmetic surgery or just more editing. It’s leading to a rise in body dysmorphia, where people get so caught up in how they look online that it messes with their self-esteem in real life (Laughter et al., 2023).

The whole thing gets even messier when we talk about "pornification"—where sexualized, hyper-feminine (or even masculine) ideals dominate social media. This trend often promotes unrealistic beauty standards and can contribute to body dissatisfaction (Cathy Cassata, 2023) . And honestly, it’s not just women who are affected. Men, especially gay men, have to fight against mainstream standards that don't always accept more "feminine" expressions of themselves.

It’s like we’re all stuck in this loop, we create content that gets shaped by social media algorithms, and in turn, those algorithms shape what content gets seen. So, how do we break free from this cycle? It’s tough, but maybe it’s time we start promoting a more real, less filtered version of ourselves.

Reference:

Laughter, M. R., Anderson, J. B., Maymone, M. B. C., & Kroumpouzos, G. (2023). Psychology of Aesthetics: Beauty, Social Media, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Clinics in Dermatology, 41(1), 28–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2023.03.002 ‌

Cathy Cassata. (2023, August 4). Thinspo: What It Is and How It Impacts Body Image [Review of Thinspo: What It Is and How It Impacts Body Image]. Verywellmind.com. https://www.verywellmind.com/thinspo-and-body-image-7564396 ‌

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Fashion, Ethics, and the Digital World: Rethinking What We Wear 🌍

(Week 6: Digital Citizenship Case Study: Social Media Influencers and the Slow Fashion Movement)

Fashion has always been a way to express who we are,

but in the digital age, it’s become so much more. As digital citizens, we’re not just consumers of trends; we’re influencers, educators, and change-makers. This shift gives us the power to steer the fashion industry towards something more responsible, ethical, and sustainable.

But how exactly do we use that power?

One of the big conversations happening right now is about sustainability in fashion. We’re seeing the rise of slow fashion, which is all about buying less, but buying better. It means choosing quality, sustainable materials, and supporting brands that treat people and the planet with respect.

A report by Fashion Revolution (2021) revealed that more people are starting to make these ethical choices when shopping, even if it sometimes means paying a bit more. The problem is, not everyone has access to slow fashion—it can be pricey and hard to find, especially for people who don't live in major cities or have limited resources.

In this space, social media influencers play a pivotal role. Figures like Greta Thunberg, known for her climate activism, have used their platforms to shed light on the environmental harm caused by industries like fashion. Thunberg calls out overconsumption, particularly fast fashion, as a major contributor to the climate crisis (BBC, 2021). This challenges us to reconsider our choices: is our desire for "newness" worth the environmental cost? Is it time to rethink the way we approach fashion in a world that is rapidly changing?

Can we really escape the allure of fast fashion?

As digital citizens, we can do more than change our shopping habits. We must push for greater transparency in the industry, demand ethical production from brands, and raise awareness online. Our voices, our actions, and our values can reshape the fashion industry, making it not just about the clothes we wear, but about the choices we make for the future.

Fashion should not be about the endless consumption of resources, but about creating a responsible, sustainable future. Every digital citizen has the potential to drive this change.

Reference:

BBC. (2021, August 9). Thunberg calls out climate impact of fashion brands in Vogue interview. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58145465 ‌

Fashion Revolution. (2021). Fashion Transparency Index 2021. Fashion Revolution. https://www.fashionrevolution.org/about/transparency-index-2021/ ‌

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Hashtags, Activism and Digital Citizenship: Why Your Online Voice Matters

(Week 5: What is Digital Citizenship? Hashtag Publics, Political Engagement and Activism)

Over the years, I’ve seen hashtags like #MeToo and #BLM bring people together online to fight for change. I realise that digital citizenship is more than just being careful or polite on the internet, it’s about taking part and using your online voice to make a difference.

The Council of Europe (2022) explains digital citizenship as having the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to use digital technology responsibly and positively. It’s about creating, sharing, communicating, and learning while respecting others and human dignity. Digital citizenship is a lifelong process where we engage in communities locally and globally.

Hashtag movements like #BLM and #MeToo help people feel part of a community and raise awareness. A recent example is #Blockout2024, where people called on others to block celebrities who stayed silent about the Gaza conflict. This showed me how hashtags can quickly unite people and push for accountability.

But not everyone has the same experience online. Choi and Cristol (2021) explain that things like race, gender, and class affect how people use and are heard on the internet. Some voices are louder, while others are ignored. That’s why digital citizenship should also be about fairness and including everyone, not just about following rules.

Social media platforms like Instagram and X (Twitter) control what we see through algorithms, which means they have a lot of power over what topics get attention. It makes me wonder who really controls the online world we think of as “public.”

After thinking all about this, I realise being a good digital citizen means more than just sharing posts. It means listening to different voices, learning more, and using my online space to support real change. This topic also inspires me to be more thoughtful about how I use the internet.

Reference:

Digital transformation - Education - www.coe.int. (n.d.). Education. https://www.coe.int/en/web/education/digital-transformation ‌

Choi, M., & Cristol, D. (2021). Digital Citizenship with Intersectionality Lens: Towards Participatory Democracy Driven Digital Citizenship Education. Theory into Practice, 60(4), 361–370. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405841.2021.1987094 ‌

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How Reality TV Became a Social Media Party ?

(Week 4: Digital Community and Fandom: Reality TV Case Study)

Reality TV is way more than just screen time—it’s a whole social experience that happens online alongside the show.

According to Deller (2019), these shows invite viewers not only to watch but to actively engage by discussing, judging, and even creating content like memes.

What used to happen on forums and blogs is now exploding on social media platforms like X (Twitter) and Instagram, where fandoms come alive in real time.

Take Single’s Inferno as example. Fans don’t just passively watch the contestants awkwardly try to find love—they live-tweet their reactions, share GIFs of cringey or romantic moments, and debate who’s the best match.

This real-time interaction turns solitary viewing into a shared event, creating what Stewart (2019) calls an “imagined community” — a digital space where fans from all over the world come together, united by the show. It’s basically a virtual water cooler where people bond over collective emotions and cultural references, even if they’re physically apart.

But these digital publics are more than just fun hangouts. Fans analyze contestants’ behavior through lenses of gender, culture, and social norms, turning a simple dating show into a forum for deeper conversations. This means Reality TV fandoms aren’t just about entertainment; they’re active cultural spaces where audiences make sense of themselves and their societies.

At the same time, the contestants are part of this loop. Social media lets them craft their own narratives, respond to fans, and fight back against editing that might paint them unfairly. This blurs the line between their on-screen “characters” and their real identities online — a classic example of microcelebrity culture (Deller, 2019).

In short, I believe Reality TV and Digital Publics feed into each other. Shows like Single’s Inferno spark passionate fandoms that extend far beyond TV screens, shaping how people connect, talk, and even see themselves in today’s media landscape.

References:

Deller, R. A. (2019). Reality television in an age of social media. In Emerald Publishing Limited eBooks (pp. 141–175). https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83909-021-920191007

Stewart, M. (2019). Live tweeting, reality TV and the nation. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 23(3), 352–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877919887757

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Is #BodyPositive Really Inclusive ?

(Week 3: Tumblr Case Study)

We’ve all seen the #bodypositive hashtag blowing up on social media, It’s supposed to be this awesome place where people celebrate their bodies — no matter the size, shape, or look. On Tumblr especially, before all the NSFW content got censored, people used the hashtag to share honest, real selfies and support each other.

But here’s the thing: research by Anne Reif and her team found that even in these spaces, most selfies still show mostly young, white women who kinda stick to traditional beauty poses. So, it’s not always as diverse or radical as we might hope.

The body positivity movement started as a way to challenge narrow beauty standards and make space for everyone, especially people who are often left out, like fat people or people of color. But sometimes, it feels like there’s a new kind of pressure to “love your body” in a way that’s still about how your body looks, not how you feel.

For example, Reif’s study noticed that pictures where people wear less clothing tend to get more likes and love, which could push the idea that your body still needs to look “sexy” to be accepted.

Another layer to this is Tumblr’s censorship, explored by Pilipets and Paasonen, which shows how algorithms and rules can hide or delete content that’s actually important to marginalized groups. When Tumblr was more open, the #bodypositive community could be more raw and real, but that space is shrinking.

And there’s a lot of confusion out there. Some think body positivity is about promoting obesity, but as Jennifer Palumbo wrote in Forbes, it’s really about inclusion — accepting all bodies without shame, not telling people what to eat or how to live.

So what i think is that body positivity is great but it’s not perfect. Maybe what we really need is to focus less on how our bodies look and more on what they do — a mindset some call “body neutrality”. That might be a way to actually feel good about ourselves without the pressure to perform or look a certain way.

Reference:

Reif, A., Miller, I., & Taddicken, M. (2022). “Love the Skin You‘re In”: An Analysis of Women’s Self-Presentation and User Reactions to Selfies Using the Tumblr Hashtag #bodypositive. Mass Communication & Society, 26(6), 1038–1061. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2022.2138442

Pilipets, E., & Paasonen, S. (2020). Nipples, memes, and algorithmic failure: NSFW critique of Tumblr censorship. New Media & Society, 24(6), 1459–1480. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820979280

Palumbo, J. J. (2022b, May 12). The body positive movement encourages inclusion, not obesity. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferpalumbo/2022/05/12/how-the-body-positive-movement-doesnt-encourage-obesity-but-inclusion/