search
Public Discourse
Trends
- 1Sexual harassment term traced to 1970s Cornell activists●The term “sexual harassment” was popularised and likely coined through feminist workplace organising at Cornell in the m
Feminist workplace organisers at Cornell University in the mid-1970s are credited with coining and popularising the term "sexual harassment," with activist and professor Lin Farley and the group Working Women United playing central roles. The phrase entered common public use around 1975 as part of efforts to name and challenge workplace abuse of women.
- 2
A Sun Journal opinion piece argues that ego has become a defining force in American politics. The commentary contends that self-promotion and personal ambition now overshadow public service and policy in US political life, and it invites readers to consider how personal vanity is shaping national discourse and governance.
- 3
A Times of Israel blog piece argues that public discourse increasingly frames every tragedy around the world through the lens of Gaza, whatever its actual cause or context. The author criticizes what they see as a reflex to make every crisis a referendum on the war, contending this distorts both the tragedies themselves and honest debate about Gaza. The argument speaks to a broader frustration with politicized commentary after two years of war.
- 4Zurich police quit X and move updates to WhatsApp●«Zürcher Polizei steigt bei X aus – und wechselt zu WhatsApp: Die Stadtpolizei verlagert ihre aktuellen Mitteilungen von
The Zurich city police are discontinuing their presence on X and will publish their public announcements on WhatsApp instead. The force said respectful discourse on X has become increasingly rare, prompting the move. Critics note the irony that the department is shifting from one American platform to another rather than to an open or local alternative, and the change is drawing debate about institutional communication online.
- 5Study examines how Chinese state media shaped COVID-19 online discussion●Agenda-setting relations between Chinese state media reports and public social media posts: focusing on COVID-19
A study published in Nature analyses the agenda-setting relationship between Chinese state media reports and public posts on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research looks at whether official reporting influenced what the public discussed online, or whether public attention drove media coverage, offering evidence on state communication and opinion formation in China during the health crisis.
- 6Jimmy Carr explains the Dunning-Kruger effect●https:// youtube.com/shorts/0caYETYWEQM Jimmy Carr explains the Dunning-Kruger effect and how social media destroys nuan
Comedian Jimmy Carr explains the Dunning-Kruger effect and argues that social media destroys nuance in public discussion. In a short clip, he outlines how people with limited knowledge tend to overestimate their competence, and how simplified online discourse rewards confident takes over careful ones. The clip is circulating widely, with viewers sharing it as a pointed commentary on how debates unfold on social platforms.
- 7
A new study has found a link between exposure to anti-trans content and worse mental health outcomes, according to reporting by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The findings suggest that hostile media and public discourse about transgender people may have measurable effects on wellbeing. Details of the study's size, methodology and population have not been widely reported yet, and reaction from researchers, advocacy groups and commentators is still emerging.