Governments around the world are adopting laws limiting the use of social media. Let’s sort out some of the concerns. An age filter on a social media site. (Illustration by News Decoder) Editor’s note: On 15 June 2026, the British government said it would...
A small grammatical error can cause a big misunderstanding. But there are many ways your story can be read in a way you didn’t intend. A man is late because he took a bottle of cabernet, instead of a cab. (Illustration by News Decoder.) Have you ever posted...
With so much chaos in the world, it’s hard to know what to believe. That’s when people grab onto conspiracy theories. Don’t be a spreader of misinformation. Two people question the news on TV. (Illustration by News Decoder) Editor’s note: On 25...
The core principles of journalism are no longer just tools for the professional news reporter. They can help anyone navigate this information-saturated world. A reporter thinks about the five Ws: Who, what, where, when and why. (Illustration by News Decoder) ...
Despite their simplicity, memes can both inspire new political voices and reinforce false narratives, and are affecting online discourse around the globe. A social media meme that pokes fun at the intense debate over the right to bear arms. (Illustration by News...
In response to pressure from parents, politicians in Switzerland and elsewhere are considering social media bans. But teens say that won’t solve the problem. A teen on her phone ignores a birthday cake. (Illustration by News Decoder.) This article was produced...
Many people picture Africa as desert, safaris and trash-filled cities. Of 54 nations and vibrant urban scenes? Not so much. Why do we think we know places we’ve never visited? Left to right: A Tunisian oasis (Kaji from Kajicom); A camel in the Sahara (Nato...
On International Fact-Checking Day, we recognize the many ways truth has blurred and the ways people are working to separate what’s real from what’s false. Two sections in a bookstore for facts and fiction. (Illustration by News Decoder) According to a...
We absorb ideas the way we absorb language, not through argument but through immersion, until the position becomes indistinguishable from thought itself. A woman holds an Ethiopian flag at a ceremony to remember soldiers who died. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3 November...
Some think Big Tech is to blame for our inability to get off the social media that has left so many of us depressed. Why is it so hard to turn off the phone? Teenagers on their phones. (Illustration by News Decoder.) Editor’s note: This week Meta founder and CEO...