The Company Using Social Media to Prevent School Shootings
*By Amanda Weston*
Risk management firm Firestorm wants to spot warning signs of tragedies before it's too late, and it's looking to social media for clues.
"Typically, people who perpetrate bad acts broadcast their intent ahead of time," Suzanne Loughlin, a co-founder of Firestorm, said Friday in an interview on Cheddar. "If we're looking and listening, we can pick up clues that might help us intervene long before the individual causes harm."
As part of its [formula](https://www.firestorm.com/home/firestorm-verticals/security-solutions/formula/) to prevent school violence, Firestorm helps institutions and businesses identify threats and vulnerabilities and then designs a strategy.
One way is through algorithms and tools that scan public social media posts for warning signs and keywords like the word "gun" or "glock."
The firm gave some example tweets that would have triggered an alarm, including, "This school is worthless. I wish it didn't exist."
In an actual Facebook post Firestorm shared with Cheddar, a user wrote, "All life I've been bullied by these same kids..well towmarow \[sic\] that all ends. Maryvale is gonna look ugly towmarow \[sic\]." The post concluded with a gun emoji.
While it's unclear what happened in that instance, in other cases Firestorm has detected a more pressing threat.
[Wired reported](https://www.wired.com/story/algorithms-monitor-student-social-media-posts) this week that the company's system flagged a student's post earlier this year that featured a picture of a gun in a backpack. When the principal approached the author of the post, he found that the student was carrying the weapon.
Even if flagged posts don't always identify a person who is planning immediate violence, Loughlin said the system is still valuable.
"Those people still need help," she said.
"Most school shooters, statistically, have been bullied. Bullying is a big problem. So wouldn't that be wonderful, that we solve that issue for a student, whether or not that kid ever is going to be the one who's on the path to ultimately bringing the gun to school?"
Loughlin pointed out that the social media watch is just one of Firestorm's nine strategy components. But, she added, the human element still plays a major role.
"You can't forgo the human interaction and the value that a teacher has, or a staff member, in recognizing what's going on in that kid's life," Loughlin said.
For full interview [click here] (https://cheddar.com/videos/firestorm-scans-for-warning-signs-of-violence).
According to multiple reports, President Biden's upcoming executive order for the crypto marke would assign some government entities to study cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and NFT's with the goal of developing a workable regulatory framework. Douglas Borthwick, Chief Business Officer at INX, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he elaborates on what role the Biden administration would play under this order.
Nutritional supplement beverage company Athletic Greens has achieved unicorn status. The company announced a new $115 million funding round, bringing its valuation to $1.2 billion. The company's flagship product AG1 combines 75 different vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients into one daily serving. Athletic Greens says it is poised to reach the millions of consumers who are currently driving the health and wellness market's exponential growth. Athletic Greens founder and CEO Chris Ashenden joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Is Spotify a platform for content creators, or is it a media company? The streaming giant may have to find an answer sooner rather than later amid a controversy involving its most popular podcast host, Joe Rogan. Rogan has hosted guests who have made false claims about COVID-19 vaccines, and in turn, some musicians like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have removed their discographies from Spotify in protest. Rogan says he welcomes content advisories, and will balance out his guests going forward, but is it enough? And is Spotify liable in any way? John Freeman, Vice President of CFRA Research, joins Closing Bell to discuss Rogan's response to the controversy, whether Spotify should be considered a media company with responsibility for its content, and more.
The gaming industry has seen multiple large scales deals this month alone, including Microsoft's megadeal for Activision Blizzard. And, seemingly in response, rival Sony, picked up Bungie for $3.6 billion, a studio once owned by both Microsoft and Activision. The sector is reportedly on track to spend $150 billion on mergers and acquisitions just this year alone, a record-breaking total, according to investment firm Drake Star Partners. Michael Metzger, a partner at the firm specializing in technology, media, and communications, joined Cheddar to discuss the flurry of deals in the gaming space and what might be behind the hot M&A activity.
Ari Redbord, head of legal and government affairs and TRM Labs, joins Cheddar News to discuss why Facebook is ditching its crypto project and what that means for the space.
A virtual gathering in the online space, Decentraland, of Elvis Presley impersonators is looking to grab the Guinness World Record for most Elvis impersonators in one place after the record-keeping org recently approved the use of avatars as stand-ins for people.
Tesla reported record profits for an electric fourth quarter, but investors still have plenty of questions. The EV giant will not be releasing any new vehicles this year and provided no updates on its Cybertruck. Cheddar News was joined by Ed Butowsky, Chapwood Investments Managing Partner to go over Tesla's quarter and analyze its concerns going forward.
