Category · 38 questions
Technology
AI, social media, surveillance — what we build and what it builds in us.
In this section
38 entriesAre chatbots useful?
A debate over whether chatbots — from customer-service bots to large language model assistants like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini — deliver real value to their users, or whether their errors, dependencies and deskilling effects outweigh the work they replace.
Are ride-hailing apps a benefit to society?
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber or Lyft have made it convenient for passengers to connect with local drivers through their smartphones. However, there are controversies surrounding the practice of ride-hailing apps. Do ride-hailing apps benefit society?
Are smart phones making us smarter?
Smart phone processing power is radically improving, VR, AI... powerful mini computers in our pockets. And the phones are now part of (and even control) every aspect of our lives. Is it possible that they are now smarter than we are?
Are social networking sites good for society?
Social networking sites have greatly impacted society. We can not only connect and interact with others across the globe in a few clicks, characters or likes, but we also have the potential to learn from these sites. While there may be advantages, there are also disadvantages but the pivotal question is whether the former outweighs the latter.
Can a machine be conscious?
As technology advances more and more rapidly, we are coming closer to technology that previous generations would never even have dreamed of. The possibilities seem endless; but the question of whether or not a machine can have consciousness is still up in the air. Can a machine be conscious?
Can an AI friend help you feel less lonely?
Artificial Intelligence technology is advancing rapidly in many domains, including AI understanding of human social needs. Is it possible that AI can provide meaningful friendship to people?
Did Fortnite kill the App Store as we know it?
Epic Games' battle with Apple over Fortnite challenged the rules of the App Store. This entry sets out the two positions on whether that fight killed the App Store as we knew it — that it did, and that it did not.
Do cell phones cause cancer?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified the radiofrequency fields generated by cell phones as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." With billions of people around the world using cell phones on a regular basis, any link between cell phones and cancer would represent a major public health risk. What does the science say? Has enough research been done? And can existing studies be trusted?
Do social media influencers have a positive impact?
Are social media influencers a force for good or ill? This entry maps the positions on the question — that influencers have a negative impact, that they have a positive one, and that their impact is a mix of both.
Do video games cause violence?
For decades, parents, psychologists, and neuroscientists have studied the potential connection between violent video games and the level of real-world violence displayed by the children and young adults who play them, especially those shown on the national stage for criminal activity and mass shootings. A plethora of research and academic study has erupted from this debate, contributing to our growing knowledge of how the brain works when interacting with video games and why further research into the topic is important. So, as we traverse a new world of technological advancement and even more complex immersion into video games, do video games cause violence?
Does pornography lead to violence against women?
Does pornography contribute to violence against women? This entry sets out the two positions on the contested question — that pornography leads to violence against women, and that it does not.
How has online dating changed relationships?
Has online dating fundamentally reshaped how people form relationships? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that online dating has changed relationships, and that it has not.
In what way has social media changed human communication?
How has social media reshaped the way we communicate? This entry maps the positions — that it has changed human communication for the better, for the worse, and in ways that are neither clearly good nor bad.
Is 5G technology dangerous for human health?
The telecom industry is rolling out 5G technology that some claim may have unintended consequences. Scientific studies, both recently and over many years, have identified harmful effects on health when testing wireless products under realistic conditions. Some people are very concerned that the increase in radiation exposure by 5G leads to damage that cannot be reversed. But are these studies something to worry about?
Is AI good for humanity?
The advancements in the past few years have pointed to the radical potential impacts of Artificial Intelligence in the world. While the AI is an amazing technology, will AI be good for humanity? Or will AI bring us a dystopia?
Is free software better quality than closed software?
There is no singular way to define the quality of a software; there are many ways to define it. It could be defined by user satisfaction, the efficiency of the code, or the software's technological impact. With this in mind, how does free software compare to closed software?
Is the internet encouraging rebellion in Russia?
Is the internet fuelling dissent in Russia? This entry sets out the two positions on whether online platforms are encouraging rebellion against the Russian state: that the internet is encouraging it, and that it is not.
Is the TikTok security threat real?
TikTok is a wildly popular and successful social media and video platform that was created in China and has taken over the world. But with unprecedented amounts of personal data information now available to this Chinese company, some nations are concerned about security. Is TikTok a security risk?
Is the US about to split the internet?
Is the United States poised to fracture the global internet into rival systems? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that the US is about to split the internet, and that it is not.
Is there a social media bias?
Do social media platforms systematically favour some viewpoints over others? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that there is a social media bias, and that there is not.
Should electronic identities be managed by the state?
The management of electronic identities (credentials for accessing state services) should not be sub-contracted to external entities. Electronic identities should be private.
Should mobile contact-tracing be used to tackle COVID-19?
Contact-tracing apps - mobile applications where individuals can track their symptoms - have been proposed as a possible salve to the spread of coronavirus. Experts believe that at least half the population needs to use contact-tracing apps for them to work. The challenge will be convincing the public to opt in after years of trust issues with big tech.
Should scientific research focus on facial coding systems to explain what people are thinking?
Should science invest in facial-coding systems that read emotions and thoughts from expressions? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that research should focus on facial coding, and that it should not.
Should social media companies crack down on white supremacists?
Should social media platforms actively remove white supremacists? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that companies should crack down on them, and that they should not — weighing safety against free expression.
Should Tik Tok be purchased by Microsoft?
In order to save the hit app Tik Tok from a damaging US ban - on account of its Chinese connections. Should we support its purchase by Microsoft founder Bill Gates?
Should we abandon online privacy?
An infringement on our privacy is ubiquitous to the modern internet era. The media paints the image that all of our online activities, from mindless internet browsing to banking information, is being monitored by hackers, corporations and even governments. However, there may still be ways, and things society can do, to maintain anonymity. Is online privacy a lost cause which should be abandoned altogether? Or can we still retain it?
Should we boycott Facebook because of Cambridge Analytica?
Cambridge Analytica is a British political consulting firm. In March, allegations broke that CA obtained private information from an estimated 50 million Facebook users without their permission. This data was then shared with third parties, including Donald Trump’s presidential campaign during the 2016 US Presidential Elections. The issue has raised concerns about privacy in the age of Big Data, and has sparked calls to increase the regulatory oversight over firms like Facebook.
Should we mute the microphones, find a better referee, or cancel them altogether?
After chaotic televised debates, this entry maps proposals for fixing them — setting out the positions that candidates' microphones should be muted, that a better moderator is the answer, and that microphones should be cut altogether.
Should you buy a second-hand smartphone?
Is buying a used smartphone a smart move or a false economy? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that you should buy a second-hand smartphone, and that you should not.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of 5G technology in the US?
Although already introduced by some carriers in some areas of the US, 5G - the successor to 4G, which currently provides connectivity to most mobile devices - could have a nationwide rollout by the end of 2020. The transition from 4G to 5G would transform the digital landscape as we know it today. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of 5G deployment across the United States?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of self-driving cars?
Advances in technology, automation, and artificial intelligence have lead to break throughs in the dream of self-driving cars. What will the advantages and disadvantages, and pros and cons, be to society of having these vehicles on the road?
What are the positions on Germany's social media hate policy?
This entry maps the debate over Germany's NetzDG law requiring platforms to remove hate speech, setting out the opposing positions that the social-media hate-speech law is flawed and that it is effective.
What are the positions on net neutrality?
Net neutrality policy is the idea that all websites, irrespective of their content, equipment, or location, must be treated with the same priority and speeds, but can vary in the extent of regulation. What are the main stances on net neutrality?
What are the positions on racism in online dating?
This entry maps the debate over racism in online dating, setting out positions on racial dating preferences, the principle that everyone deserves love, race-based assumptions, and the idea of a racial 'hierarchy of desire'.
What is the best front end framework for building websites?
'Front end' development concerns the visual presentation of data and input, for instance, website design. But there are many different frameworks that can assist with and facilitate front end development. Out of all the front end frameworks for building websites, which is the best?
What will the future of work be?
The future of work is being shaped by two powerful forces: the growing adoption of artificial intelligence in the workplace, and the expansion of the workforce. What changes could be in store for the workplace, the workforce, and the nature of work itself?
Why do videos of public beheadings get millions of views?
Why do videos of public beheadings draw millions of views? This entry maps the explanations — that people have always been drawn to watch executions, that horror exerts a pull, and that some viewers are being violently radicalised.
Will artificial intelligence lead to the end of humankind?
The term artificial intelligence (AI) was coined back in 1956. While science fiction often portrays AI as robots with human-like characteristics, AI can encompass anything from Google’s search algorithms to IBM’s Watson to autonomous weapons, and it's progressing rapidly. AI today is properly known as narrow AI (or weak AI), as it is designed to perform a narrow task (e.g. facial recognition or driving a car). However, the long-term goal of many researchers is to create general AI (AGI or strong AI). While narrow AI may outperform humans specific tasks, AGI would outperform humans at nearly every cognitive task.