Catherine F. Brooks addresses the role of social media in the recent campus clown incidents

Catherine F. Brooks, Director of the Center for Digital Society and Data Studies, remains concerned with issues of social media and safety. She addressed the media this week about the role social media has played in the recent campus clown incidents and related concerns.

"This is as much about the nature of the news as it is about the mode of delivery because today's stories of all kinds move so swiftly," says Catherine F. Brooks, director of the University of Arizona's Center for Digital Society and Data Studies.

"Because the clown story is traveling by social media, it is fast and furious. It propagates easily. It moves faster and faster, and it takes hold in communities of people and becomes fashionable."

To read more click on the following links:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/clown-hoaxes-given-life-via-social-media…

http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/article/2016/10/ua-talks-about-nationwid…

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2016/10/05/clown-threats…

http://www.cleveland19.com/story/33328650/ua-expert-social-media-fuelin…