8:00 a.m. Doors open, coffee and breakfast reception in the lobby
8:30 a.m. Opening Remarks from the Riley Institute
8:35 a.m. Welcome Remarks from Charleston School of Law Dean, Jonathan A. Marcantel
8:40 a.m. Welcome Remarks from Charleston Law Review Editor Elizabeth Steedley & Symposium Editor Alexis Mourounas
8:45 a.m. Keynote Address: Nu Wexler
Opening remarks will serve as an introduction to the legal and technical terms, concepts, and issues that will be discussed during the symposium. It will be a comprehensive overview and primer to help the audience understand the challenges and opportunities in the social media landscape and policy debates.
9:15 a.m. Panel 1: Social Media’s Impact on Mental Health
Panelists: Dr. Rakin Hoq., Jessica Carroll, Nu Wexler
This panel will explore the multifaceted impact of social media on the mental health of children and adolescents. With the rise of digital platforms, young users are increasingly exposed to both positive and negative influences online. Dr. Hoq will discuss the psychological effects of social media usage, including its impact on human interaction, and focus and attention. This panel will also examine the legal responsibilities of social media companies in safeguarding young users and the potential for regulatory reforms to protect mental health. Discussions will delve into ethical considerations, the role of parents and educators, and strategies for fostering digital resilience among youth.
10:15 a.m. Panel 2: The Battle Against Falsehoods: Social Media, Disinformation, and the Rise of Deepfakes
Panelists: Michael Goodyear, Amy Landers, Bojan Perovic, Linny KT NG
This panel will address the growing concern over the role of social media in spreading disinformation and the emerging threat of deepfakes. Social media platforms have become breeding grounds for false narratives, conspiracy theories, and fabricated content, undermining public trust and influencing political, social, and economic outcomes. Panelists will examine how disinformation spreads through algorithms and user-generated content, and the challenges these platforms face in moderating harmful material. Legal, ethical, and regulatory responses to both disinformation and deepfakes will be explored, with an emphasis on how law can adapt to these new threats while balancing free speech rights.
11:15 a.m. Break
11:25 a.m. Panel 3: Algorithms and the Law: The Invisible Forces Shaping Our Digital World and the Need for Greater Transparency
Panelists: Scott Wilkens, Nu Wexler, Amy Landers, Kevin Frazier, Jessica Carroll, Dr. Rakin Hoq, Bojan Perovic
This panel will start by addressing Scott Wilkens, senior counsel at The Knight Institute. Scott Wilkens will discuss The Knight Institute’s involvement in the recent Supreme Court case, Gonzalez v. Google, a case addressing whether Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects social media platforms’ use of recommendation algorithms. Scott Wilkens will also discuss the need for transparency with social media companies and how they moderate their content. Subsequently, the panel will open up to all the panelists to discuss the legal challenges and implications surrounding the algorithms that drive social media platform. Algorithms are at the core of how content is filtered, prioritized, and presented to users, influencing everything from political discourse to mental health. The panel will examine how social media algorithms operate, their impact on user behavior, and the ethical and legal issues they raise. Panelists will discuss the role of algorithms in content moderation, privacy concerns, and the potential for algorithmic bias.
11:25 a.m. Panel 3: Algorithms and the Law: The Invisible Forces Shaping Our Digital World and the Need for Greater Transparency
Panelists: Scott Wilkens, Nu Wexler, Amy Landers, Kevin Frazier, Jessica Carroll, Dr. Rakin Hoq, Bojan Perovic
This panel will start by addressing Scott Wilkens, senior counsel at The Knight Institute. Scott Wilkens will discuss The Knight Institute’s involvement in the recent Supreme Court case, Gonzalez v. Google, a case addressing whether Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects social media platforms’ use of recommendation algorithms. Scott Wilkens will also discuss the need for transparency with social media companies and how they moderate their content. Subsequently, the panel will open up to all the panelists to discuss the legal challenges and implications surrounding the algorithms that drive social media platform. Algorithms are at the core of how content is filtered, prioritized, and presented to users, influencing everything from political discourse to mental health. The panel will examine how social media algorithms operate, their impact on user behavior, and the ethical and legal issues they raise. Panelists will discuss the role of algorithms in content moderation, privacy concerns, and the potential for algorithmic bias.
12:25 p.m. Panel 4: Social Media Regulation and the Implications of Free Speech in the Digital Age
Panelists: Scott Wilkens, Nu Wexler, Bojan Perovic, Michael Goodyear
This panel will delve into the complex interplay between social media regulation and the principles of free speech. As digital platforms have become central to public discourse, the challenge of moderating content while respecting users’ freedom of expression has intensified. Panelists will explore the legal and ethical dilemmas that arise when regulating social media. Key discussions will include the impact of moderation decisions on public discourse, and the tension between curbing harmful content and upholding free speech rights. The panel will also examine the global variation in content moderation standards. The panel will aim to provide a balanced perspective on the responsibilities of social media platforms, the rights of users, and the evolving legal landscape that seeks to address the challenges of free speech in an increasingly digital world.