Information overload makes us numb, but things that freak us out have a rare ability to break through and capture our attention, Boyd said. As she put it, “The attention economy provides fertile ground for the culture of fear.”

Everyday negative occurrences can seem more important because social media documents them and makes them visible. Boyd noted that a story of a mugging or a personal experience with bullying is what sticks in our minds, much more so than rational information.

“Fear cannot be combated through data,” she said.

In fact, examining historical data shows that kids bullying each other actually isn’t on the rise, Boyd contended. It’s just that now parents have a window into their children’s online actions, so they’re freaking out about the rise of cyberbullying.

Boyd called on social media toolmakers to consider how their creations may be repurposed to spread negativity. Even if techies have idealistic hopes of people using technology for good or even neutral purposes, that isn’t always going to happen.

She said she didn’t have a solution to offer, but wanted to start a discussion. She does have some thoughts about what won’t work.

For one thing, Boyd doesn’t have much faith in so-called “radical transparency.” Many techies love the idea of trying to combat intolerance by making the world more open and honest; for instance, Facebook requires users to register with their real names.

But people who are marginalized often benefit the least from transparency, Boyd said. “Why do we expect that when people go online and are exposed to new people it will be good? Just because you have opportunity to meet strangers and value their perspectives doesn’t mean you necessary do.”

(Photo credit: Esty Stein / Personal Democracy Media)

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Here is a very funny ad for a baseball cap company with actors Alec Baldwin (he of the New York Yankees persuasion) and John Krasinski (a Boston Red Sox fanatic), getting us ready for the 2011 season.

By the way, Walt Mossberg loves the Sox, although BoomTown loves me some World Series-winning San Francisco Giants.

The beard is still very feared.

Enjoy:

Over at Mini-Microsoft, the Redmond insiders who frequent the site’s comments are incredulous over the layoff rumors, insisting that they are baseless. Costs will be cut, they say, but they will be cut through attrition and reduction in open headcount. “For the last time folks–THERE ARE NO LAYOFFS HAPPENINGS IN JANUARY,” writes one Mini-Microsoft commenter. “Beyond Jan…well we dont have a crystal ball–but if the economy doesn’t improve and the company misses targets–it would get uglier for everyone–from no raises/no bonuses to (maybe) cutbacks/layoffs… but then, those are the rules of the game in corporate America.”