The launch of a new social media app by Facebook parent-company Meta yesterday has brought renewed attention to the social media landscape. Rice University Professor and computing expert Moshe Vardi is available to comment on the Meta-Twitter rivalry and its potential impact.
“Now Twitter is on the ropes, because of a series of missteps by Elon Musk, so Meta sees an opening,” he said. “Meta's eagerness means that they see profits, and we know that they will ignore social harm. Competition in social media is good for society, but having the social-media giant control one more channel (in addition to Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) cannot be good for society.”
Vardi is available to comment via email and remotely on Zoom. To schedule an interview with Moshe Vardi, contact Silvia Cernea Clark, media relations specialist, at 713-348-6728 or silviacc@rice.edu.