Technology and Society

A peer-reviewed Nature study led by researchers at Columbia, Cornell, and UMKC finds that brief video-call glitches—freezes, lags, echo—significantly reduce perceived trust and willingness to engage, with measurable effects in simulated sales pitches, telehealth consults, and job interviews. An analysis of 472 U.S. online court hearings also associated glitchy connections with a lower likelihood of parole, raising equity concerns for Americans with poor internet access.