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6 min read T&S Insider

Social media use is changing, but why, and what does it mean for T&S?

Fewer users doesn’t mean fewer risks — bad actors thrive when harm is concentrated among smaller, more active audiences. Platforms must move beyond user reports to stay ahead.

I'm Alice Hunsberger. Trust & Safety Insider is my weekly rundown on the topics, industry trends and workplace strategies that Trust & Safety professionals need to know about to do their job.

New research suggests that adults are spending less time on some platforms and you'd be forgiven for thinking that means less potential for harm too. In today's edition, I take a look at what could be behind this shift and what T&S professionals can do to get ahead.

Reminder: If you want a break from T&S Insider, or indeed Ben's Friday round-up, you can change your newsletter preferences on the EiM site without hitting unsubscribe (which removes you from all future emails - sad face).

Get in touch if you'd like your questions answered or just want to share your feedback. Plus, scroll to the links section for a look at some recent child safety updates and my #1 (cheeky) networking tip.

Here we go! — Alice

SPONSORED BY RESOLVER, proudly attending TSPA EMEA 2025 in Dublin

For over 20 years, Resolver has been at the forefront of protecting communities from online threats. We provide unrivalled intelligence and strategic support to platforms and regulators, driving innovation in Trust & Safety.

At this year’s Trust & Safety Professional Association EMEA summit, we’re thrilled to be taking part in a vital panel session: The Psychological Cost of Innovation: Reassessing Well-being Challenges for New Types of T&S Work.

Join industry leaders, academics, and frontline professionals as we explore how the evolution of Trust & Safety work is reshaping mental health norms, organisational responsibility, and sustainable innovation.

EXPLORE MORE FROM RESOLVER

Getting ahead of changes in social media usage

Why this matters: US adults are spending less time on some platforms, but that doesn't shrink the harm surface; it simply concentrates bad content among fewer, more-engaged users. Platforms should revisit how they engage with user reports and look at reinforcing other signals.

If you don't already know about the Neely Center Ethics and Technology Indices, you should.

Created by the University of Southern California, the Indices measure the positive and negative experiences of US adults when using social media platforms, AI and AR/VR and are designed to inform the design, use and regulation of these emerging technologies. Last week, Neely senior advisor Matt Moytl published the results from the social media index survey with data through January 2025.

The findings offer an important read on shifting user experiences and the knock-on effects for T&S teams.

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Published by:

Alice Hunsberger

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