The Power of the Comment Section
Many organizations that monitor social media have traditionally focused on what people post. More recently, at the Command Center, we have started paying closer attention to replies. We noticed that conversations and opinions often form in the comment section itself. This shift in our focus is supported by research showing that comments can influence users’ opinions and emotions, as well as by social media […]
Argentina’s 2026 World Cup Win Over Egypt Fueled Antisemitic Conspiracies
On Tuesday, July 7th, Argentina defeated Egypt in the World Cup, advancing to the quarterfinals and eliminating Egypt from the tournament. Before the game had even concluded, it became a lightning rod for antisemitic conspiracy theories. Even as conversations about Argentina’s team and star player Lionel Messi exploded across X and other platforms, a striking […]
UpScrolled’s Free Speech Pitch and the Hate It’s Attracting
Since TikTok’s U.S. deal was finalized on January 22, a new social app, UpScrolled, has surged into the spotlight. The platform presents itself as an alternative for users who believe mainstream social media sites suppress certain political content, especially pro-Palestinian posts. In online conversation, UpScrolled is repeatedly framed as a place with “no censorship” and “no shadowbanning.” Its founder, Issam Hijazi, has reinforced that narrative publicly, claiming that […]