Ep 84: The Coronavirus, Social Media, Online Dating and Black Lives Matter – with guest Dr. Shantel Buggs

To say we live in changing times is an understatement. The world right now is a pressure cooker. Already, people around the world were losing their jobs, their lives, and their ability to even venture into public places with the coronavirus outbreak. But then add to that the tragic murder of George Floyd by the police, igniting protests across the country and world.  Amid all of this, our online presence is having an affect on what is occurring, with social media playing a roll in black lives matter and COVID-19.

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Shantel Buggs, an assistant professor of Sociology and African American Studies at Florida State University.  Shantel looks at the roll of social media and online communities, especially in the context of society.  How has dating – now primarily online dating – changed when most dates now take place on a video call or with a facemask?  How are social media platforms affecting the Black Lives Matter movement, used both to coordinate protests and simultaneously being used against protesters?  How do online platforms change our friendships?  How are our online communities playing in a roll in how we define ourselves and those that we want to associate with?  And how is misinformation handled on social media?

For patrons of this podcast, check out the bonus content at Patreon.com. You’ll find the Pulitzer Winning photo that Shantel mentions in the podcast.  If you are not a patron and want to become one, you can sign up at Patreon.com.  Thank you for you support!

Some of the background music you heard are clips from:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626 Ft: J Lang, Morusque

eighteen pieces (soda) by Soda (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/soda/16738

SkyDub by Psykick (c) copyright 2016 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Psykick/52937

Start To Grow (cdk Mix) by Analog By Nature (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/cdk/43815 Ft: Jeris

Transmutation by Kara Square (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/56527 Ft: Spinningmerkaba

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