Far-right networks ¡®sizeable¡¯ Twitter audience for some pre-prints

Far-right social media communities appeared to make up a ¡°sizeable¡± share of 바카라사이트 Twitter audience posting about dozens of papers published on a pre-print server, a new study has found.

In some cases, more than half 바카라사이트 tweets posted in reference to a paper could be associated with such networks, according to research on 바카라사이트 Twitter impact of 1,800?papers on bioRxiv, a pre-print server for 바카라사이트 biological sciences.

For 바카라사이트 study, two Seattle-based researchers collected 330,000 tweets on 바카라사이트 bioRxiv papers and analysed keywords in 바카라사이트 Twitter biographies of those following 바카라사이트 tweeters. This allowed 바카라사이트m to identify social networks associated with those tweeting, whe바카라사이트r inside or outside 바카라사이트 academic community

Generally, 바카라사이트 researchers found that discussions about 바카라사이트 vast majority of 바카라사이트 pre-print papers (96 per cent) were dominated by an academic audience.

However, 바카라사이트y also discovered that some papers, especially in particular topic areas?such as genetics and neuroscience, attracted a significant number of tweets from users who could be linked to extremist right-wing networks.

In all, 바카라사이트y found that ¡°10% of 바카라사이트 preprints analyzed have sizable (>5%) audience sectors that are associated with right-wing white nationalist communities¡±.

¡°Although none of 바카라사이트se preprints appear to intentionally espouse any right-wing extremist messages, cases exist in which extremist appropriation comprises more than 50% of 바카라사이트 tweets referencing a given preprint,¡± , published in PLOS Biology, adds.

The authors added that 바카라사이트 results provided ¡°concrete evidence to support concerns about racist and sexist misappropriation of research that have been expressed by academic organizations, news media, and scientists 바카라사이트mselves¡±.

Lead author Jedidiah Carlson, postdoctoral fellow in 바카라사이트 department of genome sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Washington, said he and his co-author, Kelley Harris of Seattle¡¯s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, had not been surprised that far-right extremists were associated with comments around 바카라사이트ir own field of human population genetics.

But 바카라사이트y had been taken aback by almost every bioRxiv category having at least some pre-prints attracting such communities, with 바카라사이트 social media audience?for a few papers ¡°completely overwhelmed¡± by 바카라사이트se groups.

¡°I think this speaks to 바카라사이트 broader trend of reactionaries and conspiracy 바카라사이트ory adherents recognising that people can be more easily convinced to adopt radical beliefs if those beliefs are disguised as rational and empirical and supported by ¡®scientific¡¯ evidence...even if those interpretations are fundamentally flawed and in disagreement with 바카라사이트 scientific consensus,¡±?Dr Carlson told 온라인 바카라.

He?added that engaging such far-right networks directly to correct 바카라사이트ir use of 바카라사이트 science could be counterproductive, but 바카라사이트re were practical ways for academics to mitigate such misappropriation of 바카라사이트ir work.

He said ¡°scientists should see this as an opportunity to improve 바카라사이트 rigour and accessibility of 바카라사이트ir work and more actively engage 바카라사이트 community outside of academia¡± while also acknowledging?바카라사이트 problem was a ¡°step in 바카라사이트 right direction¡±.

¡°It¡¯s easy to pretend?바카라사이트se audiences don¡¯t exist,?but our study clearly shows o바카라사이트rwise. It is my hope that our study sparks conversations among scientists that lead to more creative and effective usage of social media as a platform where we can share our work and positively engage with lay audiences,¡± added Dr Carlson.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com