The internet has become a battleground, writes the author of a new article in the Journal of Anthropological Research, and particularly so in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has been called the first “TikTok war.” In “Social Media Warfare: Monetization and Materiality in the Ukrainian Armed Forces Since February 24, 2022,” Marcello Fantoni uses ethnographic interviews with former and current members of the Ukrainian military to analyze the role of social media in the conflict, and how social media helps create a “feedback loop” in which combat operations funded by donations incur the need for even more financial support.
Social media and monetization in the Ukraine-Russia war
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In an era of nonstop headlines and growing political division, many workplaces still follow a familiar rule of thumb: Don’t talk politics at work. New research from Washington State University suggests the issue is more [...]
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For decades, scholars have estimated the ideology of members of Congress by analyzing roll-call votes, recorded tallies of each member’s “yea-or-nay” on legislation. But a new study from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of [...]
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A new study, led by the University of Nottingham and conducted by a team of 72 economists and psychologists across the world, has identified a potential “private solution trap” in problems requiring international cooperation such [...]
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Past behavior matters, especially in law enforcement where certain pre-hire misbehavior by law enforcement candidates sharply increases the likelihood of police misconduct once they are hired, according to research titled “The Importance of Not Looking [...]
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Trying to persuade people to abandon deeply held views often backfires, leaving groups entrenched and unable to move forward. A new study by researchers at the University of Bath in the UK proposes a strategy [...]
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Computer simulations can help people gain a better understanding of the situation faced by migrants. This is shown by a new study in which 148 teenagers were assigned random migration pathways, with different start and [...]
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In recent decades, income and wealth disparities have widened significantly in many European countries. At the same time, support for populist parties has grown. Previous studies have already pointed out that rising inequality may be [...]
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AI systems are increasingly shaping public opinion, often in very subtle ways. A new study reveals that current legislation, such as the EU AI Act, is ill-equipped to handle this shift. The findings, authored by [...]
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A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, could severely disrupt global supply chains and destabilize energy markets, potentially leading to far-reaching economic impacts, according to [...]
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Jurors grappling with complex legal jargon are more likely to vote guilty while coming away less confident in their own performance and the judicial system, according to a new study published in the Journal of [...]


