Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society has recently announced the launch of an Applied Social Media Lab, which aims to develop social media technology for the benefit of the public. The lab is an extension of the center’s Institute for Rebooting Social Media and will bring together technologists, academics, and public servants to create solutions that prioritize society’s well-being over the interests of big tech companies. The initiative has received substantial funding from billionaire entrepreneur Frank H. McCourt Jr. and his tech nonprofit Project Liberty.
In celebration of the lab’s launch, the Berkman Klein Center will host a Future of the Internet summit on October 18. The event will feature discussions with former President Barack Obama, as well as industry experts, government officials, and Harvard faculty members.
According to its director, Rebecca H. Rinkevich, the Applied Social Media Lab aims to produce a range of outputs, from whitepapers to fully functional prototypes. The goal is to develop products that can be directly implemented into existing and future social media platforms. Rinkevich believes that this initiative represents a turning point for social media and hopes to inspire the next generation of technologists to work in the public interest and contribute to the development of a healthier digital world.
The launch of the Applied Social Media Lab is the second major initiative from the Berkman Klein Center this year. In July, the center announced a joint initiative with Harvard Law School to study the impact of artificial intelligence on the legal system.
By prioritizing the collaboration between academia and the private sector, the Berkman Klein Center aims to leverage the practical expertise of technologists while integrating the generative nature of academic research. The lab aspires to become a home for technologists interested in breaking away from big social media companies and utilizing their skills for the greater good. The center hopes that the Applied Social Media Lab will usher in a new wave of social media that addresses the current challenges and contributes positively to society.
Overall, the launch of the Applied Social Media Lab at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society represents a significant step towards reshaping the social media landscape for public benefit. With the support of influential figures like Frank H. McCourt Jr. and the participation of former President Barack Obama, the center aims to bring together experts from various fields to address the issues surrounding social media and inspire the next generation of technologists to work towards a healthier digital world.
