The violence of the "good internet"

In this project, I am exploring how users of self-defined feel-good Reddit communities use toxic speech. To explore this, i am relying on digital ethnography of three subreaddit communities that self-define as 'positive vibe' spaces. By focusing on the use of platformized violence as disentangled from toxic cultures in these positive-vibe communities, I aim to foreground the tension between the gratifications that motivate people to enact (or at least tolerate) platformized violence and its antisocial consequences. 

GenAI and the circulation of platform-acceptable atrocities

With Drs Nataliia Laba & Rik Smit, we are examining how the circulation of genAI on social media enables the production of what we call platform-acceptable atrocities: representations of horrific violence that circumvent content moderation while conforming to platform aesthetic and algorithmic logics. We are researching this using a multimodal mixed-methods design, analyzing both the audiovisual construction and the discursive themes emerging in user comments. 

Violence here, violence there: Spatial context collapse among migrants

This project explores how digital platforms shape the spatial experiences of migrant communities in Groningen with mediated violence. Through collaborative and participatory methods, it creates space for communities to make sense of, negotiate, and respond to violent online encounters. 

AI algorithmic folklore among conspiracy theorists

In this project, led by Lena Kostuj and in collaboration with Dr. Lars de Wildt, we are studying how conspiracy theorists circulate particular ways of making sense of AI's role in society, hoping to shed light on the tensions that permeate AI through both technopessimistic mistrust and (con)spiritual authority.

Understanding everyday encounters with digital violence among Colombian young adults 

In my doctoral dissertation, I examined Colombian young adults’ views and experiences concerning violence on social media. To address this research objective, I drew from a case study where Colombian young adults discussed the violence they interacted with in their everyday uses of digital platforms, examining how violence on social media is experienced and understood by users. You can read the published dissertation here.

Citizen Data Audits in Latin America

In this project, led by Dr. Katherine Reilly, we mobilized data literacy and community engagement to help people think through and verbalize their experience with data uptake in specific consumer circumstances. This project was conducted in collaboration with digital rights organizations in 5 countries in Latin America: Chile (Derechos Digitales), Colombia (Karisma), Paraguay (TEDIC), Uruguay (ObservaTIC) y Perú (HiperDerecho). You can read some of our theoretical explorations (here) and empirical findings (here). 

Mis/disinformation and human rights in Canada

This project—in collaboration with BC Human Rights— comprised a systematic and comprehensive search on the intricate relationship between misinformation/disinformation and human rights, including what mis/disinformation is in the Canadian context, as well as what approaches are most effective in interrupting and challenging these forces. 

Unflattening the cultures of violence on digital platforms: A knowledge synthesis proposal

In this SSHRC-funded project, we explored the different ways in which violence on digital platforms is shaped by and can shape culture. To achieve this, we mapped the state of knowledge on the role of culture concerning violence on digital platforms, conducting a scoping literature review to identify, summarize, and evaluate information concerning cultures of platformed violence. The final report is available here.

Critically narrating data power

This project, led by Dr. Katherine Reilly, aimed to promote and explore podcasting as a tool to narrate stories about data power in Latin America. Other scholars participating in this project include Dr. Paola Ricaurte, Dr. Ignacio Siles, Dr. Natalie Coultier, Dr. Patricia Peña, and Dr. Andrés Lombana. The final project—a collaborative audiobook hosted by Tierra Comun—is available here. 

Antisocial social media initiative

This project—a collaboration between the Social Media Lab (Dr. Philip Mai and Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd) and Royal Roads University (Dr. Jaigris Hodson and Dr. Victoria Omeara)—explored antisocial behaviour on social media platforms. I  lead a case study on a Telegram group channel in Medellin, Colombia. Two papers resulted out of this project, one on emojis as a form of infrastructural platform violence, and another one online toxic speech as positioning acts.  

Communicating across cultures in cyberspace: Update

With Dr. Jörg Roche and Dr. Leah Macfadyen, we published an updated version of the book "Communicating across cultures in cyberspace: A bibliographical review of intercultural communication online." This publication explores how scholarly conversations around culture and technology have evolved over the last 20 years. The review is available here: https://digitalcultures.ca/ 

Bystander intervention concerning gender-based technology-facilitated violence and abuse

Combining qualitative and quantitative methods with feminist analysis, this project (https://harassment.thedlrgroup.com/) aims to make sense of online abuse to aid in policy and strategy development. This project is led by Dr. George Veletsianos and Dr. Jaigris Hodson, with the collaboration of Dr. Chandell Gosse, Dr. Yimin Chen, Dr. Dr. Shandell Holden, Dr. Victoria Omeara, and Dr. ‪Kaitlynn Mendes.

Special Issue: Contextual Complexities of Violence on Digital Platforms

This special issue—published in New Media & Society and co-edited with Dr. Martin Lundqvist and Tom Divon—strives to enhance the understanding of the diverse forms, actors, and perceptions associated with online violence, serving as a crucial stride toward cultivating a healthier digital landscape. You can find the whole special issue here: https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/nmsa/28/4 

ScholCommLab

I am working in collaboration with Dr. Juan Pablo Alperin and the ScholCommLab team in research projects related to online annotation, digital literacies and scholarly communication. You can find out more about the ScholCommLab and its different projects here: https://www.scholcommlab.ca/

Tierra Común

I am an active member of Tierra Común, a network of activists, citizens and scholars focused on the decolonization of data. The network is led by Dr. Nick Couldry, Dr. Paola Ricaurte and Dr. Ulises Mejias. You can read more about the network here: https://www.tierracomun.net/en/home

Public Scholars Initiative

I have been selected as part of the Public Scholars Initiative (PSI) of the University of British Columbia, which promotes collaborative, action-oriented, and creative forms of scholarship among doctoral students. You can learn more about the PSI here: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/psi

Digital Public Interest (DPI) Collective

I am an affiliated member of the DPI Collective. The DPI is centred on studying digital media in relation to the public interest. The Collective is led by Dr. Jaigris Hodson, Dr. Chandell Gosse, Dr. Shandell Houlden, Dr. Victoria O’Meara, and Andrea Galizia. You can read more about it here: http://www.dpicollective.com/