University Roundtable

February 18

Should Children Participate in the Attention Economy?
Clinton Castro

The attention economy accounts for much of how “free” services (such as TikTok) are funded: Consumers give media developers their attention in exchange for a good or service (e.g., short-form video content) and developers sell that attention to advertisers. Critics of the attention economy tend to be especially worried about the impact it has on children, who have access to it via smartphones and social media. These concerns have sparked a debate about what ought to be done to protect children from these harms. Alarming as the concerns in question might be, there are pressing philosophical questions about the legitimacy of governmental action in this arena. Even if we agree with the critics about the harmful effects of the attention economy, further argument is needed to justify state intervention. Clinton Castro, Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy and the Information School, aims to provide such a justification, one that is responsive to children’s distinctive autonomy interests, parental rights, and the collective action problems that the attention economy creates and exploits.

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March 25

The SoulFolk Collective: Black Study as Freedom Practice
The SoulFolk Collective

In this roundtable talk, members of The SoulFolk Collective will share key findings from their community-based oral history project about the spaces that Black Madison residents reported as Black-affirming. They will explore how a Black geographies theoretical framework allows them to see how Black folks have co-constructed space to have meaning and a sense of belonging in Madison, revealing the freedom practices and spatial knowledge that challenge dominant narratives of exclusion and erasure. They will end with a look forward to their work on designing the SoulFolk Saturday school, a program for high school students in the spirit of the Freedom School movement.

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April 29

Migration in the Americas: Policies, Pitfalls, and Prospects since 2025
Sara McKinnon

This lecture will explore the development of migration policies across the Americas since 2025, focusing on the enduring effects of the Trump Administration’s policies on the U.S. and the region. Sara McKinnon, Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, will cover key policy changes, such as increased detention, deportation, and alterations to asylum procedures, and analyze their impact on migration flows and the experiences of migrants and refugees. Additionally, examples of how U.S. policies have influenced migration responses in neighboring countries like Mexico and across the region, shaping local governments and communities, will be provided. The lecture aims to promote discussion on creating a more cohesive and humane migration system by considering innovative solutions that uphold human rights and regional cooperation, while also evaluating the long-term migration prospects in the Americas influenced by prior administrations.

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