Antisocial Media: How Social Media Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy

Cultural historian and media scholar Siva Vaidhyanathan will deliver the 2026 Richard Gelwick Endowed Lecture at 4 p.m. on Feb. 5 in the Rockwell Pavilion at M.D. Anderson Library.  Vaidhyanathan will examine the impact of social media and AI on democracy, as well as the role of technology in recent elections and the broader political landscape. He will delve into how popular social media platforms have deviated from their original missions, analyzing their societal implications and contributions to the erosion of democracy. Vaidhyanathan argues the rise of technology has fostered security threats and propaganda, undermined journalism, eroded social trust and fostered doubts about science. His campus visit is part of the "Rebooting Our Relationship with Tech" lecture series hosted by the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership.