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Job vacancy: Research Associate (100%) as part of ComAI research group
by ZeMKI 19 Aug '25

19 Aug '25

Research Associate (f/m/d) wanted as part of the “Communicative AI” research group The University of Bremen is seeking to fill a position at the Center for Media, Communication, and Information Research (ZeMKI) starting no earlier than January 1, 2026, as a Research Associate (f/m/d) Pay grade 13 TV-L, full-time (39.2 hours per week), limited to 36 months (in accordance with § 2 WissZeit VG) for the development of software for communication and media research. Job description The position is part of the innovative team at ComAI Research Space in Research Group 5656 “Communicative AI: The Automation of Social Communication,” which is funded by the DFG and the FWF. The team is based in the research group’s coordination project (project participants: Prof. Dr. Andreas Hepp, Prof. Dr. Wiebke Loosen, Prof. Dr. Christian Katzenbach, Prof. Dr. Cornelius Puschmann, Dr. Gregor Wiedemann). The research group is investigating how social communication is changing with communicative AI. The focus of the first funding phase (2025–2028) is on investigating the emergence and construction of communicative AI. The research focuses on pioneering communities of communicative AI, their interfaces, the legal handling of communicative AI and its governance by companies, the appropriation of communicative AI in journalism, in public (online) discourse, in everyday personal life, in the health sector, and in learning and teaching. The research uses highly innovative methods from the social sciences and HCI, including digital and computer-assisted methods. Further information on the research group and the many opportunities for doctoral studies in this context can be found on the website https://www.comai.space. More information about the position can be found in the detailed job advertisment: https://zemki.uni-bremen.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Ausschreibung-A212-2…

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New CITR report on The State of Independent Technology Research
by Tromble, Rebekah 19 Aug '25

19 Aug '25

Dear Colleagues, (With apologies for cross posting...) The Coalition for Independent Technology Research (CITR) today released its inaugural report “The State of Independent Technology Research 2025: Power in Numbers,” <https://independenttechresearch.org/citr-report-2025/> showing how the collapse of support for public-interest research is a threat to not only the researchers behind the work, but people’s deeper understanding of the technology shaping their everyday lives. The report <https://independenttechresearch.org/citr-report-2025/> serves as both an accountability check on the tech industry and a call to arms for researchers. >From shrinking funding and institutional censorship to legal threats, harassment and surveillance, the report <https://independenttechresearch.org/citr-report-2025/> is a glaring signal that the public infrastructure needed to study technology’s impact is under attack. This comes at a time when trillion-dollar technology companies have outsized influence on how we learn, work, communicate and govern. While their power grows, the resources to study their impact and hold them accountable have dissipated. The report <https://independenttechresearch.org/citr-report-2025/> surveyed independent researchers behind some of the most important tech accountability stories—from harms to children’s mental health, to algorithmic bias, to AI’s risks to labor and civil rights—and found they are often underfunded, lacking infrastructure, and exposed to risk. The report <https://independenttechresearch.org/citr-report-2025/> draws on dozens of interviews, surveys, and case studies from across six continents to document an unprecedented crisis facing independent technology research. Key Findings <https://independenttechresearch.org/citr-report-2025/>: These statistics signal the systematic erosion of independent oversight over the most powerful technologies in human history. - Barriers to Information: Researchers report barriers to accessing the data essential for studying how technology affects society. 60% face barriers accessing the data essential for studying how technology affects society - Funding Collapse: Philanthropy and public funding are insufficient in comparison to industry-dominated research agendas and funding, leaving critical areas unstudied. 85% of researchers identify funding as their most significant challenge, with many forced to choose between research independence and financial survival - Retaliation and Risk: Researchers face personal and professional retribution including harassment and legal threats, both from the technology industry and political actors. Nearly 70% of respondents report safety or security threats once unimaginable in our field. The Coalition for Independent Technology Research is not idly standing by. Coalition members are building collective power to defend the right to research and free information. Through coordinated advocacy, mutual aid, cross-border solidarity and public education, Coalition members work together to ensure that public interest technology researchers are protected, supported, and free to ask the hard questions, so that knowledge about technology’s impacts isn’t controlled by corporations, but belongs to the public. Read the full report here <https://independenttechresearch.org/citr-report-2025/>. And please help us circulate these important findings. Rebekah --- Dr. Rebekah Tromble Director of Global Partnerships, Institute for Information, the Internet, and Democracy, Northeastern University | Professor of Political Science and Computer Science, Northeastern University | Co-founder, Executive Board Member, Coalition for Independent Technology Research <https://independenttechresearch.org/> | Co-founder, Expert Voices Together <https://expertvoicestogether.org/> | Co-founder, Researcher Support Consortium <https://researchersupport.org/> |

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NO WEBCAST – African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF) 2025
by Joly MacFie 19 Aug '25

19 Aug '25

>From *19-21 August 2025* the* African Peering and Interconnection Forum <https://www.afpif.org/>* (AfPIF) 2025 is under way in Lagos, Nigeria. Due to a lack of funding there will be no* ISOC.LIVE <https://isoc.live/>* simulcast this year, however it is still possible to participate remotely.* https://bit.ly/afpif2025 <https://bit.ly/afpif2025>* Recordings of previous AfPIF simulcasts are available. *2022 <https://archive.org/details/afpif2022>*, *2023 <https://archive.org/details/afpif2023>*, *2024 <https://archive.org/details/afpif2024>* -- -------------------------------------- Joly MacFie +12185659365 -------------------------------------- -

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Read the Report: Worker-Owned Intersectional Platforms in Brazil and Argentina
by Rafael Do Nascimento Grohmann 19 Aug '25

19 Aug '25

New Report: Worker-Owned Intersectional Platforms: Shared Learnings Between Brazil and Argentina https://digilabour.com.br/report-launch-worker-owned-platforms-and-intersec… The Worker-Owned Intersectional Platforms<https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-report-EN.pdf> (WOIP) team is pleased to announce the launch of the action-research report Worker-Owned Platforms and Intersectionality: Shared Learnings between Brazil and Argentina<https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-report-EN.pdf>.<https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-report-EN.pdf> Resulting from the WOIP project, this document shares insights on alternatives to dominant models of technology and labour, proposing pathways toward more just and solidarity-based digital futures grounded in concrete Latin American experiences. The report presents the outcomes of a collaboration between six self-managed organizations from Brazil and Argentina, active in the technology and delivery sectors. Aimed at reflecting on, imagining, and collectively building principles and practices for worker-owned platforms, the research adopts intersectionality as both a starting point and a destination, weaving together gender, race, class, and territory. Latin American Perspectives: Participating Organizations The research generated rich collective learning by bringing together organizations from two countries—Brazil and Argentina—and two distinct sectors: technology and delivery. One of the project’s main strengths lies in the diversity of its co-researcher organizations and their institutional arrangements: * Argentina: ALT Cooperativa<https://altcooperativa.com/>, Cooperativa Central<https://www.instagram.com/coop.central/>, and the Argentine Federation of Tech Co-ops<https://facttic.org.ar/> (FACTTIC), represented by the cooperatives Código Libre <https://codigolibre.coop.ar/> and Animus<https://animus.coop/>. * Brazil: MariaLab<https://www.marialab.org/>, Señoritas Courier<https://senoritascc.com.br/>, and the Tech Sector of the Homeless Workers’ Movement (MTST)<https://www.nucleodetecnologia.com.br/>. Through participatory methods, including online and in-person meetings in São Paulo and Buenos Aires, the project created a space for dialogue where all participants acted as co-researchers in a collective decision-making process. Key Learnings: Care, Cooperation, and Technopolitical Imagination Anchored in the rich Latin American traditions of solidarity economy and community technologies, the WOIP research <https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-report-EN.pdf> highlights essential lessons for building fairer technological ecosystems: * Confronting the capital–life conflict: prioritizing life and dignity over profit. * Care before code: guiding tech development by recognizing vulnerabilities, territories, and bodies. * Overcoming binaries: rejecting false choices and embracing complexity to build more plural organizations. * Articulation and communication: strengthening cooperation between collectives, as exemplified by the Hire a Coop<https://hireacoop.tech/> campaign, which encourages universities to contract cooperatives. Key Concepts for Imagining, Working, Coding Otherwise Drawing on their practices, each organization developed fundamental concepts that challenge Silicon Valley models: * Autonomy (MariaLab) * Digital inclusion (Central) * Intercooperation (FACTTIC) * Popular digital sovereignty (MTST) * Social technology (Señoritas Courier) * Trans technologies (ALT) Recommendations and Next Steps The WOIP project <https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-report-EN.pdf> points to a future research and action agenda, with challenges such as deepening debates on autonomy and sovereignty, strengthening data governance, and addressing economic sustainability. The document concludes with recommendations for self-managed organizations, policymakers, and universities. The report is available in Portuguese<https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-relatorio-PT.pdf>, Spanish<https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-informe-ES.pdf>, and English<https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-report-EN.pdf>. Credits The report and the action-research project Worker-Owned Intersectional Platforms <https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-report-EN.pdf> (WOIP) are the result of collective and collaborative work involving many organizations and individuals. Authorship The report is collectively authored and signed by: * Organizations: ALT Cooperativa, Cooperativa de Cadetes Central, FACTTIC, MariaLab, Tech Sector of MTST, Señoritas Courier, Animus, and Código Libre. * Individuals: Rafael Grohmann, Fabiana Benedito, Alexandre Boava, Alexandre Costa Barbosa, Aline Os, Ana María Martínez, Cecilia Muñoz Cancela, Elena Ficher, Giovanna Freire, Jacira Sousa, Joaquim Renato Alves, Laura Arcuri, Luana Cuello, Maraiza Adami Pereira, Natália Petrica, and Patricia Morimoto Minamizawa. Project Team * Participating Organizations: * Argentina: ALT Cooperativa, Cooperativa Central, and FACTTIC (represented by the cooperatives Código Libre and Animus). * Brazil: MariaLab, Señoritas Courier, and the Tech Sector of the Homeless Workers’ Movement (MTST). * University of Toronto Team: Rafael Grohmann, Fabiana Benedito, Kaushar Mahetaji, and Mayara Almeida de Paula. * Advisory Board: Roseli Figaro (University of São Paulo), Denise Kasparian (University of Buenos Aires), and David Nieborg (University of Toronto). Design The report design was developed by ALT Cooperativa<https://altcooperativa.com/>. Funding The research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council <https://sshrc-crsh.canada.ca/en.aspx> (SSHRC) of Canada through an Insight Development Grant, and by the Connaught New Researcher Award<https://connaught.research.utoronto.ca/>, University of Toronto. Download the Report The report is available in Portuguese<https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-relatorio-PT.pdf>, Spanish<https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-informe-ES.pdf>, and English<https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-report-EN.pdf>. Read the report: https://digilabour.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WOIP-report-EN.pdf -- dr. Rafael Grohmann Assistant Professor of Media Studies Department of Arts, Culture and Media<https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/acm/rafael-grohmann> Faculty of Information<https://ischool.utoronto.ca/profile/rafael-grohmann/> University of Toronto Leader, DigiLabour<https://digilabour.com.br/> Research Associate, University of Oxford<https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/people/profiles/rafael-grohmann/> Founding Editor, Platforms & Society<https://journals.sagepub.com/home/PNS> Principal Investigator, Worker-Owned Intersectional Platforms (WOIP)<https://digilabour.com.br/worker-owned-intersectional-platforms-woip/> Co-Lead, Creative Labour and Critical Futures (CLCF)<https://criticaldigitalmethods.ca/creative-labour-critical-futures/> Researcher, AI Policy Observatory for the World of Work<https://www.essex.ac.uk/research-projects/ai-policy-observatory-for-the-wor…> Faculty Affiliate, Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society<https://srinstitute.utoronto.ca/> <https://srinstitute.utoronto.ca/>

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Reminder: Online Launch Event: Worker-Owned Intersectional Platforms (Argentina and Brazil)
by Rafael Do Nascimento Grohmann 18 Aug '25

18 Aug '25

Dear AoIR colleagues, A gentle reminder about this event happening tomorrow. I would like to invite you to the online launch event of the Worker-Owned Intersectional Platforms (WOIP)<https://digilabour.com.br/worker-owned-intersectional-platforms-woip/> research report, taking place tomorrow, August 19 at 10AM ET / 11AM São Paulo & Buenos Aires. Trilingual event (English, Portuguese, and Spanish) Registration Link: https://digilabour-br.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y5ZwynfUSHmwJ3-F0e9TLw This participatory action research, funded by the SSHRC Insight Development Grant and the Connaught Fund, brought together six self-managed organizations from Argentina and Brazil in the tech and delivery sectors to reflect on, imagine, and co-develop principles and practices for worker-owned platforms through an intersectional lens. Rooted in Latin American traditions of solidarity economies and community technologies, the project centers care, intercooperation, and political imagination in building technological alternatives. The event will feature a presentation of the report’s main findings and a conversation with three invited discussants: * Ruha Benjamin (Princeton University) * Verónica Gago (University of Buenos Aires) * Sasha Costanza-Chock (Northeastern University & Design Justice Network) Participating organizations: Alternativa Laboral Trans (ALT), Cooperativa Central, Argentine Federation of Tech Co-ops (FACTTIC), MariaLab, Tech Sector of the Homeless Workers Movement (MTST), and Señoritas Courier PI: Rafael Grohmann (University of Toronto) Short video introducing the project: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/I6CPLXC5_3Q See you there! ES Me gustaria invitarles al evento online de lanzamiento del informe Plataformas de Propiedad de Personas Trabajadoras e Interseccionalidad<https://digilabour.com.br/plataformas-interseccionales-propiedad-trabajador…> <https://digilabour.com.br/plataformas-interseccionales-propiedad-trabajador…> (WOIP), que se realizará manana, 19 de agosto a las 11h (Buenos Aires/São Paulo). Evento trilingüe (inglés, portugués y español) Link de inscripción: https://digilabour-br.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y5ZwynfUSHmwJ3-F0e9TLw Este proyecto de investigación-acción participativa , financiado por SSHRC y el Connaught Fund, reunió a seis organizaciones autogestionadas de Argentina y Brazil de los sectores tecnológico y de reparto para reflexionar, imaginar y construir colectivamente principios y prácticas para plataformas propiedad de trabajadores/as desde una perspectiva interseccional. Inspirado en tradiciones latinoamericanas de economías solidarias y tecnologías comunitarias, el proyecto pone en el centro el cuidado, la intercooperacion y la imaginación política para construir alternativas tecnológicas. El evento contará con la presentación de los principales hallazgos del informe y con la participación de tres comentaristas invitadas: * Ruha Benjamin (Princeton University) * Verónica Gago (Universidad de Buenos Aires) * Sasha Costanza-Chock (Northeastern University & Design Justice Network) Organizaciones participantes:Alternativa Laboral Trans (ALT), Cooperativa Central, Federación Argentina de Cooperativas de Trabajo de Tecnología, Innovación y Conocimiento (FACTTIC), MariaLab, Núcleo de Tecnologia do MTST y Señoritas Courier Coordinación general: Rafael Grohmann (University of Toronto) Vídeo corto de presentación del proyecto: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ms2nhcbtTX4 PT Eu gostaria de convidar vocês para o evento online de lançamento do relatório da pesquisa Plataformas de Propriedade de Pessoas Trabalhadoras e Interseccionalidade<https://digilabour.com.br/pt/plataformas-interseccionais-propriedade-trabal…> <https://digilabour.com.br/pt/plataformas-interseccionais-propriedade-trabal…> (WOIP), que vai acontecer no dia 19 de agosto, às 11h (horário de São Paulo/Buenos Aires). Evento trilíngue (inglês, português e espanhol) Link para inscrição: https://digilabour-br.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y5ZwynfUSHmwJ3-F0e9TLw Essa pesquisa-ação participativa, com financiamento do SSHRC e do Connaught Fund, reuniu seis organizações autogestionadas de Brasil e Argentina dos setores de tecnologia e entrega para refletir, imaginar e construir coletivamente princípios e práticas para plataformas de propriedade das pessoas trabalhadoras a partir de uma perspectiva interseccional. Inspirado em tradições latino-americanas de economias solidárias e tecnologias comunitárias, o projeto coloca o cuidado, a intercooperação e a imaginação política no centro da construção de alternativas tecnológicas. O evento contará com a apresentação dos principais achados do relatório e com a participação de três convidadas especiais como debatedoras: * Ruha Benjamin (Princeton University) * Verónica Gago (Universidad de Buenos Aires) * Sasha Costanza-Chock (Northeastern University & Design Justice Network) Organizações participantes: Alternativa Laboral Trans (ALT), Cooperativa Central, Federación Argentina de Cooperativas de Trabajo de Tecnología, Innovación y Conocimiento (FACTTIC), MariaLab, Núcleo de Tecnologia do MTST e Señoritas Courier Coordenação geral: Rafael Grohmann (University of Toronto) Video curto apresentando o tema da pesquisa: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jOEGeLxGUaE Ate la! thanks, gracias, obrigado! Rafael -- dr. Rafael Grohmann Assistant Professor of Media Studies Department of Arts, Culture and Media<https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/acm/rafael-grohmann> Faculty of Information<https://ischool.utoronto.ca/profile/rafael-grohmann/> University of Toronto Leader, DigiLabour<https://digilabour.com.br/> Research Associate, University of Oxford<https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/people/profiles/rafael-grohmann/> Founding Editor, Platforms & Society<https://journals.sagepub.com/home/PNS> Principal Investigator, Worker-Owned Intersectional Platforms (WOIP)<https://digilabour.com.br/worker-owned-intersectional-platforms-woip/> Co-Lead, Creative Labour and Critical Futures (CLCF)<https://criticaldigitalmethods.ca/creative-labour-critical-futures/> Researcher, AI Policy Observatory for the World of Work<https://www.essex.ac.uk/research-projects/ai-policy-observatory-for-the-wor…> Faculty Affiliate, Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society<https://srinstitute.utoronto.ca/> <https://srinstitute.utoronto.ca/>

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Call for Submissions: Workshop on Internet Archetypes, 14.11.2025
by Laura Niebling 18 Aug '25

18 Aug '25

Dear colleagues, we are happy to announce our upcoming hybrid workshop on „Karens, Tradwives and MechaHitlers: Internet Archetypes as Indicators of A Transatlantic, Collective Unconscious“ on post-digital imaginaries and rhetorics at the University of Regensburg on Nov. 14th 2025. We cordially invite you to send in a proposal for a contribution (20 min. presentations or similar formats). The full CfP can be found here: https://www.uni-regensburg.de/fileadmin/user_upload/dimas/2025/aktuelles-ne… About the Workshop: In the early days of the Web, Steven Stefik’s anthology Internet Dreams: Archetypes, Myths and Metaphors (MIT Press, 1996) offered a now almost forgotten, early reading of Internet imaginaries, anxieties and assorted rhetorics. Featuring Internet pioneers like J.C.R. Licklider, Robert (Bob) Kahn or Vinton G. Cerf alongside academics and – most notably – psychologists, the volume sought to examine then-popular metaphors surrounding the “information highway”. It was but one attempt to give a psychological framework to tech ideologies and transformations in the making (see also Schrezenmeier 2019, 217–239; Dick and McLaughlan 2020, 63–93; Bollmer 2023). To frame the use of metaphors, Stefik drew on the analytical psychology of Carl G. Jung and argued that metaphors, just like technologies in the making, were often embedded in unconscious yet identity-shaping imaginaries. Following Jung’s terminology, he sketched four “archetypes” of Internet functions: the Keeper of Knowledge, the Communicator, the Trader, and the Adventurer. Unlike the “information highway”, Stefik argued that these were the foundational metaphors to understand the Web through epistemic relationships and references of situated communal and cultural experiences: as a library, a virtual mailing system, a marketplace and a world to explore. There is a particular hegemony of transatlantic discourses of the Western hemisphere when “Karens” (Hamad 2025, 22–37), “Crypto bros” (Smith 2022), “tradwives” (Rhodes 2024) and a variety of other Internet user types (Feldman 2019) are now invoked as archetypes and carried over into diverse areas of everyday life. The narrative potential of the Internet (Bassett 2007) as a rugged landscape of collective stories and experiences comes into critical relief through archetypes old and new, humorous and critical, radicalized and resistant. Researching them against critical theories of postcolonialism, gender and transcultural area studies can help us shed light on “the specific political and cultural constraints […] which give rise to idiosyncratic creative practices, curatorial creativity, and communal imaginaries” (Ensslin and Roy 2023, 153) and on how cultural meanings are shared, circulated, amplified, modified and erased by individuals and communities online. In this workshop, generously funded by the Leibniz ScienceCampus “Europe and America in the Modern World”, we aim to revisit various archetypical iterations (e.g. in critically engaging with the role of Jungian archetypes) and definitions and seek to understand why and how archetypes have come to shape transatlantic post-digital landscapes across Europe and North America. We investigate transcultural flows in contemporary digital culture and examine (g)local formations of Internet memes as hybrid expressions of identity, power, and belonging. Contributions across disciplines are welcome to address the following (and/or other relevant) questions: The one-day hybrid workshop is hosted at the Department for Interdisciplinary and Multiscalar Area Studies (DIMAS) at the University of Regensburg by Prof. Dr. Astrid Ensslin and Dr. Laura Niebling on Nov 14th 2025. It will bring together perspectives from various transatlantic, European and North American academic communities. Using a case study approach, we will critically engage with the idea of the Web as a new “collective unconscious”, and revisit and question Jung’s and other, emergent archetype schemata in light of how they might reflect elements of contemporary post-digital imaginaries and transcultural flows within the imagined “Global North”. To participate, please send in a short abstract (300 words) and short CV (150 words) to laura.niebling(a)ur.de <mailto:laura.niebling@ur.de> before 30.09.2025. The event is free of charge and light snacks and drinks will be provided. Researchers will have to cover their travel and accommodation costs. We can provide limited funding for researchers without travel expense support from their institutions. Best regards, Laura Niebling Dr. Laura Niebling DIMAS University of Regensburg Bajuwarenstraße 4 93059 Regensburg laura.niebling(a)ur.de <mailto:laura.niebling@ur.de> *** Out now / Forthcoming: Moving Image Memes (meson press, 2026, w. J Zündel, K. Pauliks & T. Heilmann) Handbuch Digitale Medien und Methoden <https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1007/978-3-658-36629-2> (Springer, 2025; w. F. Raczkowski & S. Stollfuß) Escape from the Glass Prison <https://dspace-backend.ub.uni-siegen.de/server/api/core/bitstreams/a716236c…> (Navigationen 25/1 2025, 117-127)

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Canceled: [EXT] Call for Submissions: #SMSociety, Glasgow, Scotland (July 13-15, 2026)
by Dozal, Laura Werthmann - (lwerthmann) 16 Aug '25

16 Aug '25

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Re: [Air-L] [EXT] Call for Submissions: #SMSociety, Glasgow, Scotland (July 13-15, 2026)
by Dozal, Laura Werthmann - (lwerthmann) 16 Aug '25

16 Aug '25

________________________________ From: Air-L <air-l-bounces(a)listserv.aoir.org> on behalf of Harry Dyer (EDU - Staff) via Air-L <air-l(a)listserv.aoir.org> Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2025 10:44:43 AM To: air-l <air-l(a)listserv.aoir.org> Subject: [EXT] [Air-L] Call for Submissions: #SMSociety, Glasgow, Scotland (July 13-15, 2026) External Email Hi AoIR friends! We are pleased to announce the Call for Submissions for the 2026 International Conference on Social Media & Society (#SMSociety)! For 2026 #SMSociety will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 13th-15th. The call can be found below: Call for submissions! #SMSociety July 13-15, 2026 in Glasgow, UK - Social Media & Society International Conference<https://socialmediaandsociety.org/2025/call-for-submissions-smsociety-july-…<https://socialmediaandsociety.org/2025/call-for-submissions-smsociety-july-…>> The 2026 conference is co-organized by the Digital Cultures and Economies Research Hub<https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/london-college-of-communication/research-at…<https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/london-college-of-communication/research-at…>> at the University of the Arts London (UAL), the University of East Anglia<https://www.uea.ac.uk/groups-and-centres/critical-cultural-studies-in-educa…<https://www.uea.ac.uk/groups-and-centres/critical-cultural-studies-in-educa…>> (UEA), and the hosts at the Division of Urban Studies and Social Policy<https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/urban-studies-social…<https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/urban-studies-social…>> at Glasgow University. The conference's three-day program will feature panels and paper presentations, workshops, tutorials, networking events, and a poster session. In keeping with the conference's inter- and transdisciplinary focus, we welcome both quantitative and qualitative scholarly and original submissions that crosses disciplinary boundaries and expands our understanding of current and future trends in social media research across many fields including (but not limited to): Communication, Computer Science, Critical Data Studies, Education, Journalism, Information Science, Law, Management, Political Science, Psychology, Public Policy, Public Administration, Science and Technology, Sociology, Urban Studies, among others. SUBMISSION DETAILS * Submission types and guidelines<https://socialmediaandsociety.org/submission-types-and-guidelines/<https://socialmediaandsociety.org/submission-types-and-guidelines>>: You can submit an extended abstract for a paper or poster presentation, and/or propose a panel, workshop or hands-on tutorial<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftm_yw8HDDrnuliY7GkhIy4UkebDWviCI…<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftm_yw8HDDrnuliY7GkhIy4UkebDWviCI…>> SUBMISSION DEADLINES * Papers (Extended Abstracts): January 26, 2026 (1000-1500 words) * Panels: February 16, 2026 (2000-3000 words) * Workshops & Tutorials: February 16, 2026 (2000-3000 words) * Posters (Extended Abstracts): March 13, 2026 (1000-1500 words) ABOUT THE CONFERENCE #SMSociety is a biennial gathering of leading social media researchers from around the world. It is the premier venue for sharing and discovering new peer-reviewed interdisciplinary research on how social media affects society. #SMSociety provides participants with opportunities to exchange ideas, present original research, learn about recent and ongoing studies, and network with peers. TOPICS OF INTEREST (the list is not exhaustive) * Affordances * AI and LLMs * Algorithms * Computational, digital and data methods * Creators and Influencers * Cyberbullying, Trolling and Antisocial Behavior * Digital Education * Digital Intimacies * Discourse and Public Opinion * Health and Wellbeing * Infrastructures, platformisation and datafication * Marketing and Promotional Social Media * Misinformation and Disinformation * Online and Offline Communities * Platform Cultures * Platform Governance and Regulation * Emerging and Established Social Technologies, Apps and Platforms * Politics, Policy, and Regulation * Privacy, Security and Trust * Social Media Cultures and Everyday Life * Use and Users * Vibes, memes and trends PUBLICATIONS: * Publication of Pre-prints and Datasets: To promote your work during and after the conference, authors of accepted papers (extended abstracts) are encouraged to share their work as a pre-print via a public repository of your choice. Preprint will be accessible via the conference online program and other channels. If you have a dataset to share, you can also upload it to one of many data repositories such as Dataverse<https://dataverse.org/researchers<https://dataverse.org/researchers>> or figshare<https://figshare.com/<https://figshare.com>>. Authors of accepted papers will have an opportunity to provide a link to their pre-print and/or dataset for inclusion in the conference program. * Journal Publications: We hope that feedback received from other scholars during the review process and the Q&A part of your presentation will help you refine your ideas and develop your work into a full paper after the conference. Once ready, you are encouraged to submit your full paper to a journal of your choice. * All #SMSociety conference presenters will also receive an exclusive invitation to submit their work as an expanded full paper for consideration in an open access, conference thematic issue of Platforms & Society<https://journals.sagepub.com/overview-metric/pns?tabActivePane=view-indexin…<https://journals.sagepub.com/overview-metric/pns?tabActivePane=view-indexin…>> ORGANISING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: * Zoetanya Sujon - Reader and the Programme Director for Communications and Media courses at London College of Communication (LCC), University of the Arts London, UK * Harry Dyer - Associate Professor of Education, School of Education & Lifelong Learning, University of East Anglia, UK * Mark Wong - Senior Lecturer and Subject Group Lead of Social and Urban Policy, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK * Devina Sarwatay - Presidential Fellow City St. George's, University of London, UK * Estaban Morales Velasquez - Assistant Professor / Media and Digital Cultures Centre for Media and Journalism Studies University of Groningen, NL * Irida Ntalla - Senior Lecturer in Digital Storytelling at London College of Communication (LCC), University of the Arts London, UK * Daniel Jordan - Postgraduate Research Student University of Glasgow, UK * Yingwen Wang - Postgraduate Research Student London College of Communications, University of the Arts London, UK * Yue Qin - Postgraduate Research Student London College of Communications, University of the Arts London, UK _______________________________________________ The Air-L(a)listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org<http://aoir.org> Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org<http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org> Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/<http://www.aoir.org>

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Postdoctoral position in digital media and communication research at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen
by Klaus Bruhn Jensen 16 Aug '25

16 Aug '25

*Second announcement* Postdoctoral position in digital media and communication research at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen The Department of Communication, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invites applications for a postdoctoral position in digital media and communication research beginning January 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term position for three years. Introduction The successful applicant will become part of the project entitled, GREENWATCH – Green Surveillance: Imagining a Sustainable Internet of Things, funded through a European Research Council Advanced Grant, 2025-2029. The project examines the potentials and challenges of employing the Internet of Things (IoT) as a communication system monitoring the effects of human activities of Earth’s ecosystems, which further entails surveillance of human individuals and social institutions. The position represents a unique opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary and culturally comparative work covering China, Europe, and the United States, and to contribute to theory development on a strategic issue with global ramifications. Duties and Responsibilities The successful applicant will undertake computational and other quantitative analyses of public debate in China, Europe, and the United States regarding the pros and cons of employing the Internet of Things (IoT) as a communication system monitoring the effects of human activities of Earth’s ecosystems. Qualification requirements and assessment criteria Employment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level. Applicants must have specific theoretical and methodological competences in research on digital media and communicative practices, with a particular emphasis on computational approaches. Other things being equal, applicants with previous experience in methods such as natural language processing, representation learning, and/or large-scale text analysis will be preferred. Applicants must be fluent in speaking and writing both English and Mandarin. More information on careers at UCPH and the requirements for different academic positions is available at: Career at The University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)<https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/career-at-upch/>. For more about postdoc positions and qualification requirements, see the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities: Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities<https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2025/375> (in Danish only). Applicants will primarily be assessed in relation to their research qualifications, including their publications, ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations, and their experience with research management. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and research potential will be assessed in relation to the GREENWATCH project described above. Application Applications must be submitted online in PDF or Word format. Click on the “Apply now” button at the bottom of this advertisement to apply. Applications must be written in English and must include the following attachments: 1. Letter of motivation 2. CV 3. Documentation of qualifications (exam certificates and PhD diploma) 4. Complete publication list (attached publications must be marked with an asterisk). The list must be structured systematically and divided into the following categories: * Peer-reviewed publications: * Monographs and anthologies * Articles in journals * Book chapters/anthology contributions, etc. * Non-peer-reviewed publications: * Publications disseminating research findings, etc. Applicants can attach a maximum of 3 publications. The publication dates must be clearly marked on the list. The selected publications must be uploaded as attachments and numbered 1-3. 5. Research plan. 6. Documentation of other work on the dissemination of research. Only documentation in English will be assessed. Applicants are invited to familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Humanities’ strategic landmarks here: Strategic landmarks – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)<https://humanities.ku.dk/about/strategic-landmarks/>. Salary and terms of employment Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range for Postdocs starts at approximately DKK 38,700 (EUR 5,190) + a 18.07 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis. The recruitment process Once the deadline for applications has expired, the Head of Department will consider advice from an appointment committee and select applicants for further assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. The Head of Department then sets up an expert assessment committee to consider the applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee, and will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before an appointment is announced. Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here: Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)<https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/>. An Equal Opportunity Workplace The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment, and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity, etc. For more on the diverse working place environment at the University and the University’s participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, please see HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)<https://employment.ku.dk/working-at-ucph/eu-charter-for-researchers/>. International applicant? The University of Copenhagen offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during relocation and career counselling for expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)<https://ism.ku.dk/>. Contact information Further information about the recruitment process is available from HR email: hr-soendre(a)adm.ku.dk<mailto:hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk>, please refer to ID number: 211-2222/25-2I #2. Additional information about the position, including an outline of the GREENWATCH project, can be obtained from the PI of the project, Professor Klaus Bruhn Jensen, email: kbj(a)hum.ku.dk<mailto:kbj@hum.ku.dk>. The deadline for applications is 23:59 [CEST] on September 12, 2025. Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career. Link to application system: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/?show=164371 ********************************************************** Klaus Bruhn Jensen Professor, dr.phil. Center for Tracking and Society Department of Communication University of Copenhagen Karen Blixens Plads 8 DK-2300 Copenhagen S Denmark kbj(a)hum.ku.dk<mailto:kbj@hum.ku.dk> http://www.komm.ku.dk/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.komm.ku.dk&d=DwQGaQ…> Tel +45-35328104 ********************************************************** *New publication* Jensen, K.B. & Lai, S.S. (2025). Media and Society - An Introduction. London, New York: Routledge, https://www.routledge.com/Media-and-Society-An-Introduction/Jensen-Lai/p/bo…

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Call for Submissions: #SMSociety, Glasgow, Scotland (July 13-15, 2026)
by Harry Dyer (EDU - Staff) 16 Aug '25

16 Aug '25

Hi AoIR friends! We are pleased to announce the Call for Submissions for the 2026 International Conference on Social Media & Society (#SMSociety)! For 2026 #SMSociety will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 13th-15th. The call can be found below: Call for submissions! #SMSociety July 13-15, 2026 in Glasgow, UK - Social Media & Society International Conference<https://socialmediaandsociety.org/2025/call-for-submissions-smsociety-july-…> The 2026 conference is co-organized by the Digital Cultures and Economies Research Hub<https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/london-college-of-communication/research-at…> at the University of the Arts London (UAL), the University of East Anglia<https://www.uea.ac.uk/groups-and-centres/critical-cultural-studies-in-educa…> (UEA), and the hosts at the Division of Urban Studies and Social Policy<https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/urban-studies-social…> at Glasgow University. The conference's three-day program will feature panels and paper presentations, workshops, tutorials, networking events, and a poster session. In keeping with the conference's inter- and transdisciplinary focus, we welcome both quantitative and qualitative scholarly and original submissions that crosses disciplinary boundaries and expands our understanding of current and future trends in social media research across many fields including (but not limited to): Communication, Computer Science, Critical Data Studies, Education, Journalism, Information Science, Law, Management, Political Science, Psychology, Public Policy, Public Administration, Science and Technology, Sociology, Urban Studies, among others. SUBMISSION DETAILS * Submission types and guidelines<https://socialmediaandsociety.org/submission-types-and-guidelines/>: You can submit an extended abstract for a paper or poster presentation, and/or propose a panel, workshop or hands-on tutorial<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftm_yw8HDDrnuliY7GkhIy4UkebDWviCI…> SUBMISSION DEADLINES * Papers (Extended Abstracts): January 26, 2026 (1000-1500 words) * Panels: February 16, 2026 (2000-3000 words) * Workshops & Tutorials: February 16, 2026 (2000-3000 words) * Posters (Extended Abstracts): March 13, 2026 (1000-1500 words) ABOUT THE CONFERENCE #SMSociety is a biennial gathering of leading social media researchers from around the world. It is the premier venue for sharing and discovering new peer-reviewed interdisciplinary research on how social media affects society. #SMSociety provides participants with opportunities to exchange ideas, present original research, learn about recent and ongoing studies, and network with peers. TOPICS OF INTEREST (the list is not exhaustive) * Affordances * AI and LLMs * Algorithms * Computational, digital and data methods * Creators and Influencers * Cyberbullying, Trolling and Antisocial Behavior * Digital Education * Digital Intimacies * Discourse and Public Opinion * Health and Wellbeing * Infrastructures, platformisation and datafication * Marketing and Promotional Social Media * Misinformation and Disinformation * Online and Offline Communities * Platform Cultures * Platform Governance and Regulation * Emerging and Established Social Technologies, Apps and Platforms * Politics, Policy, and Regulation * Privacy, Security and Trust * Social Media Cultures and Everyday Life * Use and Users * Vibes, memes and trends PUBLICATIONS: * Publication of Pre-prints and Datasets: To promote your work during and after the conference, authors of accepted papers (extended abstracts) are encouraged to share their work as a pre-print via a public repository of your choice. Preprint will be accessible via the conference online program and other channels. If you have a dataset to share, you can also upload it to one of many data repositories such as Dataverse<https://dataverse.org/researchers> or figshare<https://figshare.com/>. Authors of accepted papers will have an opportunity to provide a link to their pre-print and/or dataset for inclusion in the conference program. * Journal Publications: We hope that feedback received from other scholars during the review process and the Q&A part of your presentation will help you refine your ideas and develop your work into a full paper after the conference. Once ready, you are encouraged to submit your full paper to a journal of your choice. * All #SMSociety conference presenters will also receive an exclusive invitation to submit their work as an expanded full paper for consideration in an open access, conference thematic issue of Platforms & Society<https://journals.sagepub.com/overview-metric/pns?tabActivePane=view-indexin…> ORGANISING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: * Zoetanya Sujon - Reader and the Programme Director for Communications and Media courses at London College of Communication (LCC), University of the Arts London, UK * Harry Dyer - Associate Professor of Education, School of Education & Lifelong Learning, University of East Anglia, UK * Mark Wong - Senior Lecturer and Subject Group Lead of Social and Urban Policy, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK * Devina Sarwatay - Presidential Fellow City St. George's, University of London, UK * Estaban Morales Velasquez - Assistant Professor / Media and Digital Cultures Centre for Media and Journalism Studies University of Groningen, NL * Irida Ntalla - Senior Lecturer in Digital Storytelling at London College of Communication (LCC), University of the Arts London, UK * Daniel Jordan - Postgraduate Research Student University of Glasgow, UK * Yingwen Wang - Postgraduate Research Student London College of Communications, University of the Arts London, UK * Yue Qin - Postgraduate Research Student London College of Communications, University of the Arts London, UK

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