Luke Thorburn
@lukethorburn.com
Algorithms ∩ Conflict • PhD candidate • King's College London • lukethorburn.com
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
AI presents a fundamental threat to our ability to use polls to assess public opinion. Bad actors who are able to infiltrate panels can flip close election polls for less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee. Models will also infer and confirm hypotheses in experiments. Current quality checks fail
November 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
AI presents a fundamental threat to our ability to use polls to assess public opinion. Bad actors who are able to infiltrate panels can flip close election polls for less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee. Models will also infer and confirm hypotheses in experiments. Current quality checks fail
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
💥My report out now💥
📗 *VLOPs - how big is your Polarization Footprint? Towards a metric to give EU citizens transparency about an online systemic risk driving conflict in our societies*
Connecting #polarizationfootprint concept to systemic risk framework of Digital Services Act (#DSA)
📗 *VLOPs - how big is your Polarization Footprint? Towards a metric to give EU citizens transparency about an online systemic risk driving conflict in our societies*
Connecting #polarizationfootprint concept to systemic risk framework of Digital Services Act (#DSA)
November 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
💥My report out now💥
📗 *VLOPs - how big is your Polarization Footprint? Towards a metric to give EU citizens transparency about an online systemic risk driving conflict in our societies*
Connecting #polarizationfootprint concept to systemic risk framework of Digital Services Act (#DSA)
📗 *VLOPs - how big is your Polarization Footprint? Towards a metric to give EU citizens transparency about an online systemic risk driving conflict in our societies*
Connecting #polarizationfootprint concept to systemic risk framework of Digital Services Act (#DSA)
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
Is social media dying? How much has Twitter changed as it became X? Which party now dominates the conversation?
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
October 30, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Is social media dying? How much has Twitter changed as it became X? Which party now dominates the conversation?
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
GreenEarth is creating open source AI-driven recommender infrastructure for BlueSky. Type a prompt, see your feed change. We are here for the users, the builders, the dreamers. Join us.
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
Introducing GreenEarth
We're building advanced open source algorithms for social media
greenearthsocial.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:08 AM
GreenEarth is creating open source AI-driven recommender infrastructure for BlueSky. Type a prompt, see your feed change. We are here for the users, the builders, the dreamers. Join us.
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
Macron remarks are notable- some quotes: "We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies."
President Macron: “Europeans, let's wake up!
We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
October 4, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Macron remarks are notable- some quotes: "We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies."
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
🚨 PhD Position at the University of Amsterdam 🚨
Join my team as a computer scientist / computational social scientist working on LLMs, social media, and politics.
We offer freedom, impact, and an inspiring environment at one of Europe's leading universities.
🔗 werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...
Join my team as a computer scientist / computational social scientist working on LLMs, social media, and politics.
We offer freedom, impact, and an inspiring environment at one of Europe's leading universities.
🔗 werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...
Vacancy — PhD Position on Improving Social Media Using Large Language Models
The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) at the University of Amsterdam is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD position in the NWO VIDI project "Improving Social Media Using L...
werkenbij.uva.nl
August 25, 2025 at 8:34 AM
🚨 PhD Position at the University of Amsterdam 🚨
Join my team as a computer scientist / computational social scientist working on LLMs, social media, and politics.
We offer freedom, impact, and an inspiring environment at one of Europe's leading universities.
🔗 werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...
Join my team as a computer scientist / computational social scientist working on LLMs, social media, and politics.
We offer freedom, impact, and an inspiring environment at one of Europe's leading universities.
🔗 werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
In the literature, there are two competing explanations for "echo chambers":
1️⃣ Algorithms curate what we see (“filter bubbles”)
2️⃣ People choose like-minded peers (“selective exposure”)
Our new study suggests something surprising:
both explanations might be wrong. 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2508.10466
1️⃣ Algorithms curate what we see (“filter bubbles”)
2️⃣ People choose like-minded peers (“selective exposure”)
Our new study suggests something surprising:
both explanations might be wrong. 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2508.10466
Online Homogeneity Can Emerge Without Filtering Algorithms or Homophily Preferences
Ideologically homogeneous online environments - often described as "echo chambers" or "filter bubbles" - are widely seen as drivers of polarization, radicalization, and misinformation. A central debat...
arxiv.org
August 15, 2025 at 7:46 AM
In the literature, there are two competing explanations for "echo chambers":
1️⃣ Algorithms curate what we see (“filter bubbles”)
2️⃣ People choose like-minded peers (“selective exposure”)
Our new study suggests something surprising:
both explanations might be wrong. 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2508.10466
1️⃣ Algorithms curate what we see (“filter bubbles”)
2️⃣ People choose like-minded peers (“selective exposure”)
Our new study suggests something surprising:
both explanations might be wrong. 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2508.10466
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
Ever since I started thinking seriously about AI value alignment in 2016-7, I've been frustrated by the inadequacy of utility+RL theory to account for the richness of human values.
Glad to be part of a larger team now moving beyond those thin theories towards thicker ones.
Glad to be part of a larger team now moving beyond those thin theories towards thicker ones.
July 14, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Ever since I started thinking seriously about AI value alignment in 2016-7, I've been frustrated by the inadequacy of utility+RL theory to account for the richness of human values.
Glad to be part of a larger team now moving beyond those thin theories towards thicker ones.
Glad to be part of a larger team now moving beyond those thin theories towards thicker ones.
🔔
Often our tech policy interventions operate from linear, top-down assumptions that don't account for the complexity they seek to govern.
To dig into this I'm co-organizing a workshop at ACM CI 2025 with Jason Burton, Joe Bak-Coleman, + Naomi Shiffman. You should come!
ci-x-tp.github.io
Often our tech policy interventions operate from linear, top-down assumptions that don't account for the complexity they seek to govern.
To dig into this I'm co-organizing a workshop at ACM CI 2025 with Jason Burton, Joe Bak-Coleman, + Naomi Shiffman. You should come!
ci-x-tp.github.io
June 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
🔔
Often our tech policy interventions operate from linear, top-down assumptions that don't account for the complexity they seek to govern.
To dig into this I'm co-organizing a workshop at ACM CI 2025 with Jason Burton, Joe Bak-Coleman, + Naomi Shiffman. You should come!
ci-x-tp.github.io
Often our tech policy interventions operate from linear, top-down assumptions that don't account for the complexity they seek to govern.
To dig into this I'm co-organizing a workshop at ACM CI 2025 with Jason Burton, Joe Bak-Coleman, + Naomi Shiffman. You should come!
ci-x-tp.github.io
Proposals for Build Peace (arguably the main conference on digital peacebuilding) are now open. This year it's near Barcelona in November. Consider applying!
https://howtobuildpeace.org/attend-the-conference/register/
https://howtobuildpeace.org/attend-the-conference/register/
March 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Proposals for Build Peace (arguably the main conference on digital peacebuilding) are now open. This year it's near Barcelona in November. Consider applying!
https://howtobuildpeace.org/attend-the-conference/register/
https://howtobuildpeace.org/attend-the-conference/register/
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
🚨 WEBINAR ALERT 🚨 Join KGI on March 25th for a live discussion on designing algorithmic feeds that put people first. As legislation and litigation around algorithms heats up, it’s never been more important to learn how they can be improved.
March 13, 2025 at 2:50 PM
🚨 WEBINAR ALERT 🚨 Join KGI on March 25th for a live discussion on designing algorithmic feeds that put people first. As legislation and litigation around algorithms heats up, it’s never been more important to learn how they can be improved.
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
EVENT: Join us for Artificial Intelligence and Democratic Freedoms on April 10-11 at
@columbiauniversity.bsky.social & online. Hosted with Senior AI Advisor @sethlazar.org. Co-sponsored by the Knight Institute & @columbiaseas.bsky.social. Panel info in 🧵. RSVP: knightcolumbia.org/events/artif...
@columbiauniversity.bsky.social & online. Hosted with Senior AI Advisor @sethlazar.org. Co-sponsored by the Knight Institute & @columbiaseas.bsky.social. Panel info in 🧵. RSVP: knightcolumbia.org/events/artif...
Artificial Intelligence and Democratic Freedoms
knightcolumbia.org
March 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
EVENT: Join us for Artificial Intelligence and Democratic Freedoms on April 10-11 at
@columbiauniversity.bsky.social & online. Hosted with Senior AI Advisor @sethlazar.org. Co-sponsored by the Knight Institute & @columbiaseas.bsky.social. Panel info in 🧵. RSVP: knightcolumbia.org/events/artif...
@columbiauniversity.bsky.social & online. Hosted with Senior AI Advisor @sethlazar.org. Co-sponsored by the Knight Institute & @columbiaseas.bsky.social. Panel info in 🧵. RSVP: knightcolumbia.org/events/artif...
Connected by Data are seeking examples of participatory digital governance to map out such projects around the world.
https://connectedbydata.org/blog/2025/03/05/participatory-digital-governance
https://connectedbydata.org/blog/2025/03/05/participatory-digital-governance
March 7, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Connected by Data are seeking examples of participatory digital governance to map out such projects around the world.
https://connectedbydata.org/blog/2025/03/05/participatory-digital-governance
https://connectedbydata.org/blog/2025/03/05/participatory-digital-governance
🔔 (new paper!)
You might have heard of the "Habermas Machine", an AI-human pipeline that is really good at finding common ground between ideologically diverse groups, at least in lab settings.
But can this kind of approach help in real world conflicts?
You might have heard of the "Habermas Machine", an AI-human pipeline that is really good at finding common ground between ideologically diverse groups, at least in lab settings.
But can this kind of approach help in real world conflicts?
March 4, 2025 at 7:28 PM
🔔 (new paper!)
You might have heard of the "Habermas Machine", an AI-human pipeline that is really good at finding common ground between ideologically diverse groups, at least in lab settings.
But can this kind of approach help in real world conflicts?
You might have heard of the "Habermas Machine", an AI-human pipeline that is really good at finding common ground between ideologically diverse groups, at least in lab settings.
But can this kind of approach help in real world conflicts?
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
Thanks to TIME and Tharin Pillay for this great coverage of our work with @audreyt.org, @mchangama.bsky.social, @lukethorburn.com, Divya Siddarth and Emilie de Keulenaar: time.com/7258238/soci...
Read the full paper here: www.arxiv.org/abs/2502.10834
Read the full paper here: www.arxiv.org/abs/2502.10834
Social Media Fails Many Users. Experts Have an Idea to Fix It
In a new paper, digital activist Audrey Tang and others emphasize the need for context and community over clicks.
time.com
February 18, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Thanks to TIME and Tharin Pillay for this great coverage of our work with @audreyt.org, @mchangama.bsky.social, @lukethorburn.com, Divya Siddarth and Emilie de Keulenaar: time.com/7258238/soci...
Read the full paper here: www.arxiv.org/abs/2502.10834
Read the full paper here: www.arxiv.org/abs/2502.10834
Live near Chicago? Or going to ISA 2025? Want to geek out on conflict theory + coauthor a landmark paper?
We're finding all the ways people distinguish between "good conflict" and "bad conflict" — but we need help, so we're hosting a workshop! You should come!
https://forms.gle/BKxziu8zbZ1oZZqU8
We're finding all the ways people distinguish between "good conflict" and "bad conflict" — but we need help, so we're hosting a workshop! You should come!
https://forms.gle/BKxziu8zbZ1oZZqU8
January 31, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Live near Chicago? Or going to ISA 2025? Want to geek out on conflict theory + coauthor a landmark paper?
We're finding all the ways people distinguish between "good conflict" and "bad conflict" — but we need help, so we're hosting a workshop! You should come!
https://forms.gle/BKxziu8zbZ1oZZqU8
We're finding all the ways people distinguish between "good conflict" and "bad conflict" — but we need help, so we're hosting a workshop! You should come!
https://forms.gle/BKxziu8zbZ1oZZqU8
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
Re-aligning SOCIAL MEDIA & AI: "Whom does it serve? That is the overarching issue as we confront "enshittification" & threats to democracy. Subject of 4 publications covered in this thread. 🧵
Most recent applies to PERSONAL AI AGENTS - "Have your AI call my AI"
www.techpolicy.press/new-perspect...
Most recent applies to PERSONAL AI AGENTS - "Have your AI call my AI"
www.techpolicy.press/new-perspect...
New Perspectives on AI Agentiality and Democracy: "Whom Does It Serve?" | TechPolicy.Press
Richard Reisman and Richard Whitt write that interoperability will enable agential relationships that serve individuals and communities faithfully.
www.techpolicy.press
December 10, 2024 at 7:19 PM
Re-aligning SOCIAL MEDIA & AI: "Whom does it serve? That is the overarching issue as we confront "enshittification" & threats to democracy. Subject of 4 publications covered in this thread. 🧵
Most recent applies to PERSONAL AI AGENTS - "Have your AI call my AI"
www.techpolicy.press/new-perspect...
Most recent applies to PERSONAL AI AGENTS - "Have your AI call my AI"
www.techpolicy.press/new-perspect...
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
Register your interest in our LLMs & Public Discourse: Convening & Workshop by mid-December.
This exclusive, invite-only event will occur in Berkeley, California, February 27-28, 2025.
Complete the interest form here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
This exclusive, invite-only event will occur in Berkeley, California, February 27-28, 2025.
Complete the interest form here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Interest Form: LLMs & Public Discourse Convening
Thank you for your interest in attending the LLMs & Public Discourse Convening in Berkeley, CA on Feb 27-28, 2025.
The event is by invitation, but we have several seats open for technologists, rese...
docs.google.com
December 3, 2024 at 10:25 PM
Register your interest in our LLMs & Public Discourse: Convening & Workshop by mid-December.
This exclusive, invite-only event will occur in Berkeley, California, February 27-28, 2025.
Complete the interest form here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
This exclusive, invite-only event will occur in Berkeley, California, February 27-28, 2025.
Complete the interest form here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Build Up are hiring a Digital Peacebuilding Associate! You should apply. They're the best.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WH9-zE7tt7EsFe-W_DFAhX3MGuhloiSSAhf0c_y4G_w/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WH9-zE7tt7EsFe-W_DFAhX3MGuhloiSSAhf0c_y4G_w/edit?usp=sharing
November 27, 2024 at 8:53 AM
Build Up are hiring a Digital Peacebuilding Associate! You should apply. They're the best.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WH9-zE7tt7EsFe-W_DFAhX3MGuhloiSSAhf0c_y4G_w/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WH9-zE7tt7EsFe-W_DFAhX3MGuhloiSSAhf0c_y4G_w/edit?usp=sharing
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
Today the European Commission proposed how Art.40 of the Digital Services Act (#DSA) could work in practice.In a worldwide first, this article in the DSA mandated very large platforms to grant researchers access to a wide range of previously undisclosed data.Some key points - now also on Bluesky :)👇
October 29, 2024 at 1:23 PM
Today the European Commission proposed how Art.40 of the Digital Services Act (#DSA) could work in practice.In a worldwide first, this article in the DSA mandated very large platforms to grant researchers access to a wide range of previously undisclosed data.Some key points - now also on Bluesky :)👇
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
Reframing the issues of governing social media.
Human discourse is a social process that depends on three pillars: agency, mediation, & reputation. Without these three strong pillars, + middleware enabling open innovation and interoperation, social media will struggle to balance chaos and control.
Human discourse is a social process that depends on three pillars: agency, mediation, & reputation. Without these three strong pillars, + middleware enabling open innovation and interoperation, social media will struggle to balance chaos and control.
Human discourse is a social process, writes @rreisman.bsky.social , that depends on three pillars: agency, mediation, and reputation. But without strong pillars and middleware enabling open innovation and interoperation, social media will likely struggle to balance chaos and control.
Three Pillars of Human Discourse (and How Social Media Middleware Can Support All Three) | TechPolicy.Press
Human discourse is a social process, writes Richard Reisman, that depends on three pillars: agency, mediation, and reputation.
www.techpolicy.press
October 24, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Reframing the issues of governing social media.
Human discourse is a social process that depends on three pillars: agency, mediation, & reputation. Without these three strong pillars, + middleware enabling open innovation and interoperation, social media will struggle to balance chaos and control.
Human discourse is a social process that depends on three pillars: agency, mediation, & reputation. Without these three strong pillars, + middleware enabling open innovation and interoperation, social media will struggle to balance chaos and control.
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
Human discourse is a social process, writes @rreisman.bsky.social , that depends on three pillars: agency, mediation, and reputation. But without strong pillars and middleware enabling open innovation and interoperation, social media will likely struggle to balance chaos and control.
Three Pillars of Human Discourse (and How Social Media Middleware Can Support All Three) | TechPolicy.Press
Human discourse is a social process, writes Richard Reisman, that depends on three pillars: agency, mediation, and reputation.
www.techpolicy.press
October 24, 2024 at 2:35 PM
Human discourse is a social process, writes @rreisman.bsky.social , that depends on three pillars: agency, mediation, and reputation. But without strong pillars and middleware enabling open innovation and interoperation, social media will likely struggle to balance chaos and control.
Applications are open for fellowships at the Applied Social Media Lab at BKC, Harvard:
https://asml.cyber.harvard.edu/asml-fellowship-program/
https://asml.cyber.harvard.edu/asml-fellowship-program/
October 4, 2024 at 8:33 AM
Applications are open for fellowships at the Applied Social Media Lab at BKC, Harvard:
https://asml.cyber.harvard.edu/asml-fellowship-program/
https://asml.cyber.harvard.edu/asml-fellowship-program/
Reposted by Luke Thorburn
There are opportunities for regulators to dive deeper into less-emphasized areas for intervention around social media, write Nathaniel Lubin, Kalie Mayberry, Manon Revel, and @lukethorburn.com:
Underexplored Ways to Regulate Social Media | TechPolicy.Press
There are opportunities for regulators to dive deeper into less-emphasized areas for intervention.
www.techpolicy.press
August 28, 2024 at 2:30 PM
There are opportunities for regulators to dive deeper into less-emphasized areas for intervention around social media, write Nathaniel Lubin, Kalie Mayberry, Manon Revel, and @lukethorburn.com:
"we need people in our lives, not the simulation of people"
https://theconvivialsociety.substack.com/p/embracing-sub-optimal-relationships
https://theconvivialsociety.substack.com/p/embracing-sub-optimal-relationships
August 6, 2024 at 4:48 PM
"we need people in our lives, not the simulation of people"
https://theconvivialsociety.substack.com/p/embracing-sub-optimal-relationships
https://theconvivialsociety.substack.com/p/embracing-sub-optimal-relationships