Research Topics

Researchers are exploring how disinformation campaigns use bots and automation tools, and how algorithms can encode and reproduce biases and ideologies.

How do populist politics and other anti-elite, anti-institutional movements intersect with new technologies and declining public trust in science and media?

Conspiracy theories, vaccine misinformation, scams and frauds, and influence operations can flourish online. This research topic delves deep into case studies that analyze the complex dynamics and histories of the circulation of false information, examining the actors, their incentives, and their relationships with the media and affected communities.  

The field of mis- and disinformation studies is comprised of a range of disciplines that bring different methodological tools to the table, and mis- and disinformation can be found in a range of different media, not just online. This research topic explores the affordances and limits of different methodologies and sources for helping to gain a wider view. 

In recent years, the consequences of ideological polarization have increased dramatically within the rise of political manipulation from mis- and disinformation spread both online and off. This research topic explores the causes of growing polarity and divides among ideological communities and searches for solutions.

Changes at social media platforms, shifting roles of traditional media, and varying governmental responses all contribute to a chaotic information environment.

Recent research reveals how contemporary online harassment fits into historical patterns of oppression of women, minorities, and vulnerable groups.