Jevin D. West
@jevinwest.bsky.social
Professor @UW_iSchool, Co-founder of Center for an Informed Public @uwcip. I study misinformation in science & society. Book: tinyurl.com/y7ekfkhx
Reposted by Jevin D. West
Who is the Big Tobacco of today?
In new work, we find 50% of high profile social media papers are connected to big tech through funding, collaboration and employment. Most connections aren't disclosed. @jbakcoleman.bsky.social @jevinwest.bsky.social @carlbergstrom.com 1
arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
In new work, we find 50% of high profile social media papers are connected to big tech through funding, collaboration and employment. Most connections aren't disclosed. @jbakcoleman.bsky.social @jevinwest.bsky.social @carlbergstrom.com 1
arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
Industry Influence in High-Profile Social Media Research
To what extent is social media research independent from industry influence? Leveraging openly available data, we show that half of the research published in top journals has disclosable ties to indus...
arxiv.org
January 19, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Who is the Big Tobacco of today?
In new work, we find 50% of high profile social media papers are connected to big tech through funding, collaboration and employment. Most connections aren't disclosed. @jbakcoleman.bsky.social @jevinwest.bsky.social @carlbergstrom.com 1
arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
In new work, we find 50% of high profile social media papers are connected to big tech through funding, collaboration and employment. Most connections aren't disclosed. @jbakcoleman.bsky.social @jevinwest.bsky.social @carlbergstrom.com 1
arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
Reposted by Jevin D. West
Some coverage of our new findings, with perspectives and thoughts from @shelbygrossman.bsky.social, @cailinmeister.bsky.social, @naomioreskes.bsky.social, and @profsanderlinden.bsky.social
“While we cannot definitively show that industry funding in this area is redirecting attention from products to consumers, our results are consistent with this possibility.”
Preprint suggests “industry influence in social media research is extensive, impactful, and often opaque.”🧪
Preprint suggests “industry influence in social media research is extensive, impactful, and often opaque.”🧪
Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry, preprint claims
Industry-linked studies were also more likely to focus on particular topics, suggesting these ties may be skewing the field
www.science.org
January 19, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Some coverage of our new findings, with perspectives and thoughts from @shelbygrossman.bsky.social, @cailinmeister.bsky.social, @naomioreskes.bsky.social, and @profsanderlinden.bsky.social
Reposted by Jevin D. West
One of the issues that has come up again and again in my reporting on misinformation and social media is the massive influence social media companies have on research in the field.
Last night a preprint dropped that tries to get at this with some numbers. My piece in @science.org (and 🧪🧵 coming):
Last night a preprint dropped that tries to get at this with some numbers. My piece in @science.org (and 🧪🧵 coming):
Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry, preprint claims
Industry-linked studies were also more likely to focus on particular topics, suggesting these ties may be skewing the field
www.science.org
January 19, 2026 at 3:26 PM
One of the issues that has come up again and again in my reporting on misinformation and social media is the massive influence social media companies have on research in the field.
Last night a preprint dropped that tries to get at this with some numbers. My piece in @science.org (and 🧪🧵 coming):
Last night a preprint dropped that tries to get at this with some numbers. My piece in @science.org (and 🧪🧵 coming):
Applications are open for the second annual Disinformation Summer Institute. This is a 4-day, intensive summer institute intended primarily for early career researchers. It will be held at IslandWood. Beautiful place! Applications short and due February 15th, 2026. More info: disinfoinstitute.org
Disinformation Summer Institute (DSI) - Disinformation Summer Institute
Disinformation Disinformation is false or misleading information created and spread to advance policy, political, economic or ideological goals. It is sometimes used by industries, governments, and ot...
disinfoinstitute.org
January 16, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Applications are open for the second annual Disinformation Summer Institute. This is a 4-day, intensive summer institute intended primarily for early career researchers. It will be held at IslandWood. Beautiful place! Applications short and due February 15th, 2026. More info: disinfoinstitute.org
Superhuman intelligence.
December 19, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Superhuman intelligence.
Reposted by Jevin D. West
It’s really hard to defend industry academic collaborations with meta as earnest, if they’re internally burying evidence of harm.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
November 23, 2025 at 6:22 PM
It’s really hard to defend industry academic collaborations with meta as earnest, if they’re internally burying evidence of harm.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Reposted by Jevin D. West
1. We ( @jbakcoleman.bsky.social, @cailinmeister.bsky.social, @jevinwest.bsky.social, and I) have a new preprint up on the arXiv.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
October 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
1. We ( @jbakcoleman.bsky.social, @cailinmeister.bsky.social, @jevinwest.bsky.social, and I) have a new preprint up on the arXiv.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
Reposted by Jevin D. West
The Canopy Neurodiversity Foundation awarded a $15 million grant to the UW Information School to support the launch of the UW Institute for Neurodiversity and Employment. ischool.uw.edu/news/2025/10...
October 21, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The Canopy Neurodiversity Foundation awarded a $15 million grant to the UW Information School to support the launch of the UW Institute for Neurodiversity and Employment. ischool.uw.edu/news/2025/10...
September 9, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Reposted by Jevin D. West
The idea that AI-as-scientist will replace human researchers, or augment their creativity and productivity, is drawing attention. But how soon? @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...
AI-generated scientific hypotheses lag human ones when put to the test
Machines still face hurdles in identifying fresh research paths, study suggests
www.science.org
August 25, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The idea that AI-as-scientist will replace human researchers, or augment their creativity and productivity, is drawing attention. But how soon? @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...
Research for grants rather than grants for research.
This kind of policy, especially with additional cuts to federal funding, will create perverse incentives that will have consequences on the actual science that this whole system is supposed to support.
www.dukechronicle.com/article/2025...
This kind of policy, especially with additional cuts to federal funding, will create perverse incentives that will have consequences on the actual science that this whole system is supposed to support.
www.dukechronicle.com/article/2025...
Duke School of Medicine plans salary cuts for tenured faculty who do not meet grant expectations
Set to go in effect in 2026, the proposed policy would apply to the School’s basic sciences units. These units rely heavily on grants from the National Institutes of Health, which have been increasing...
www.dukechronicle.com
July 20, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Research for grants rather than grants for research.
This kind of policy, especially with additional cuts to federal funding, will create perverse incentives that will have consequences on the actual science that this whole system is supposed to support.
www.dukechronicle.com/article/2025...
This kind of policy, especially with additional cuts to federal funding, will create perverse incentives that will have consequences on the actual science that this whole system is supposed to support.
www.dukechronicle.com/article/2025...
NIH is already feeling the effects of LLMs.
A new policy was posted yesterday that limits the number of proposals that can be submitted by any one investigator.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
A new policy was posted yesterday that limits the number of proposals that can be submitted by any one investigator.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-25-132: Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications NOT-OD-25-132. NIH
grants.nih.gov
July 18, 2025 at 5:17 PM
NIH is already feeling the effects of LLMs.
A new policy was posted yesterday that limits the number of proposals that can be submitted by any one investigator.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
A new policy was posted yesterday that limits the number of proposals that can be submitted by any one investigator.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
Into the “golden age of science that is transparent, rigorous, and trustworthy”…
www.notus.org/health-scien...
h/t @shahanmemon.bsky.social
www.notus.org/health-scien...
h/t @shahanmemon.bsky.social
The MAHA Report Cites Studies That Don’t Exist
The Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” report misinterprets some studies and cites others that don’t exist, according to the listed authors.
www.notus.org
May 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Into the “golden age of science that is transparent, rigorous, and trustworthy”…
www.notus.org/health-scien...
h/t @shahanmemon.bsky.social
www.notus.org/health-scien...
h/t @shahanmemon.bsky.social
Evidence shows AI systems are already too much like humans. Will that be a problem?
theconversation.com/evidence-sho...
theconversation.com/evidence-sho...
Evidence shows AI systems are already too much like humans. Will that be a problem?
On the internet, nobody knows you’re a chatbot.
theconversation.com
May 21, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Evidence shows AI systems are already too much like humans. Will that be a problem?
theconversation.com/evidence-sho...
theconversation.com/evidence-sho...
Given concerns of anthropomorphic seduction, should we lean into human-like abilities of LLMs or should we look to dehumanize them?
Sandra Peter, Kai Riemer, and I write about the benefits and dangers of anthropomorphic conversational agents in @pnas.org.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Sandra Peter, Kai Riemer, and I write about the benefits and dangers of anthropomorphic conversational agents in @pnas.org.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
The benefits and dangers of anthropomorphic conversational agents | PNAS
A growing body of research suggests that the recent generation of large language model
(LLMs) excel, and in many cases outpace humans, at writing p...
www.pnas.org
May 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Given concerns of anthropomorphic seduction, should we lean into human-like abilities of LLMs or should we look to dehumanize them?
Sandra Peter, Kai Riemer, and I write about the benefits and dangers of anthropomorphic conversational agents in @pnas.org.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Sandra Peter, Kai Riemer, and I write about the benefits and dangers of anthropomorphic conversational agents in @pnas.org.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions
Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund
www.science.org
May 9, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
The University of Washington has stopped processing all NSF grants on or after May 5th due to the uncertainty of the new 15% indirect rate. This is devastating, especially for junior faculty and early-career researchers.
How many other universities will follow suite?
How many other universities will follow suite?
May 6, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The University of Washington has stopped processing all NSF grants on or after May 5th due to the uncertainty of the new 15% indirect rate. This is devastating, especially for junior faculty and early-career researchers.
How many other universities will follow suite?
How many other universities will follow suite?
It's official. 15% ICR on NSF grants.
My favorite line: "Reducing administrative burdens for awardee institutions."
Say the opposite of what is true... the communication strategy of our time: www.nsf.gov/policies/doc...
My favorite line: "Reducing administrative burdens for awardee institutions."
Say the opposite of what is true... the communication strategy of our time: www.nsf.gov/policies/doc...
Policy Notice: Implementation of Standard 15% Indirect Cost Rate
www.nsf.gov
May 2, 2025 at 3:50 PM
It's official. 15% ICR on NSF grants.
My favorite line: "Reducing administrative burdens for awardee institutions."
Say the opposite of what is true... the communication strategy of our time: www.nsf.gov/policies/doc...
My favorite line: "Reducing administrative burdens for awardee institutions."
Say the opposite of what is true... the communication strategy of our time: www.nsf.gov/policies/doc...
Reposted by Jevin D. West
My new piece in @theguardian.com
Techno-optimism is human pessimism.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Techno-optimism is human pessimism.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
AI is ‘beating’ humans at empathy and creativity. But these games are rigged | MJ Crockett
Research pitting people against AI systems gives AI an edge by asking us to perform in machine-like ways
www.theguardian.com
February 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM
My new piece in @theguardian.com
Techno-optimism is human pessimism.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Techno-optimism is human pessimism.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Musk has received $13B in government contracts over the last 5 yrs. With all his fuss about the $9B/yr in overhead to the more than 2,500 universities conducting lifesaving research, I am curious when he is going to turn DOGE on his own contracts and ‘efficiencies’.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/u...
Elon Musk’s Business Empire Scores Benefits Under Trump Shake-Up
Government investigations into Mr. Musk’s companies are stalling amid President Trump’s firings and Biden administration resignations.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Musk has received $13B in government contracts over the last 5 yrs. With all his fuss about the $9B/yr in overhead to the more than 2,500 universities conducting lifesaving research, I am curious when he is going to turn DOGE on his own contracts and ‘efficiencies’.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/u...
February 4, 2025 at 4:55 PM