Study traces an infectious language epidemic

“Sticks and stones may break my bones,” the old adage goes. “But words will never hurt me.” 

Tell that to Eugenia Rho, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, and she will show you extensive data that prove otherwise.

Her Society + AI & Language Lab has shown that

• Police language is an accurate predictor of violent interactions with Black motorists.
• Broadcast media bias and social media echo chambers have put American democracy at risk.

Now, Rho’s research team in the College of Engineering has turned to another question: what effects did social media rhetoric have on COVID-19 infection and death rates across the United States, and what can policymakers and public health officials learn from that?

“A lot of studies just describe what’s happening online. Often they do not show a direct link with offline behaviors,” Rho said. “But there is a tangible way to connect online behavior with offline decision making.”

Rho is also an affiliate faculty member at the Sanghani Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics.

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