Improbable Insights

  Now that the election is behind us, we've seen interesting tidbits about the impact of social media on the election. Whatever your stance on the candidates might be, some of the trends in social are disturbing. One particularly disturbing trend: the traction gained by fake news sites, some simply satirical, others with an axe to grind. Fake news isn't the only problem with social media. Social media's original goals of bringing people together may be undermined by algorithmic-driven silos. Social media, with its ability to let users avoid divergent views, allows us to place ourselves in comfortable echo chambers. What can we do? What can the social media companies do? David Bryant and I take a stab at these thorny questions. Tools I picked up a Manfrotto 131db "reproduction arm" to facilitate more efficient top-down photography. Next step is to perfect my technique -- in particular, making the focal plane level relative to the target. I also pick up an iPad Pro, mainly for the improved screen, beefier