🗓️ This week, we will be presenting several papers with our collaborators at the #EPSSBelfast conference. 💬 Come along to see the presentations and discuss, we’re eager to hear people’s feedback! ⬇️ Here's what's coming up! 🧵[1/7]
London Social Media Observatory
@ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social
We are a multidisciplinary research centre based @royalholloway.bsky.social. We use computational methods and big data to investigate the role of social media platforms in politics, in partnership with key stakeholders and policymakers.
🔬📚 We are recruiting 2x full-time 2-year postdoctoral researchers! 🚨 Deadline: June 23rd 🚨 🔗 ⬇️ For more details, see the linked posts
Andreu Casas@andreucasas.bsky.social · 2mo ago🚨 I'm recruiting 2 postdoctoral researchers for the @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social, to be based at the University of Oxford (@ox.ac.uk). These are both full-time positions for 2 years. Deadline for applications: June 23. Expected start date: September 2026. 🔁 Please share and help me spread the word! 🚀
🥳 We are excited to announce Seyi Akiwowo as our inaugural Policy Fellow! 🔬 A digital governance leader & founder of Glitch, of which she led until 2025, Seyi will work with us on social media governance & democracy, as governments consider measures like social media bans for young people. 🧵[1/2]
🙌 Thank you @psampg.bsky.social for having us! @georgidag.bsky.social @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social
PSA Media and Politics Group@psampg.bsky.social · 4mo agoNext up Georgia Dagher is presenting work with colleagues from the London Social Media Observatory @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social on how people identify and evaluate misinformation. Looking at the influence of ideology on how people evaluate claims, whether true or false.
❓ Want to know more about our TikTok, Politics, and Elections briefing paper co-created with @wfd.org ? 🗞️ Read our official press release on the @royalholloway.bsky.social website ➡️ www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/new... 📩 For any enquiries, send us an email at lsmo@rhul.ac.uk !
New briefing paper outlines concerns around TikTok moderation policies political influence, and election integrity
New briefing paper produced by the London Social Media Observatory (LSMO) at Royal Holloway and Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) details emerging risks to democratic participation on TikTok.
royalholloway.ac.uk
🌐 📲 With international collaborators, the Observatory’s director @andreucasas.bsky.social revisited recent “TikTok censorship” claims after the TikTok USDS takeover ➡️ Detailed information about the analysis available: goodauthority.org/news/was-the... 🧵[1/5]
Was there censorship on TikTok after the U.S. takeover?
A TikTok outage more likely explains recent anomalies – there’s no evidence of larger platform changes so far.
goodauthority.org
📣🚨 New Briefing Paper Alert ! 📃 We are excited to announce the launch of our briefing paper on TikTok, Politics and Elections, co-produced with @wfd.org ➡️ www.wfd.org/tiktok-polit... 🧵[1/4]
TikTok, politics and power: Implications for democracy
wfd.org
💡It was great to engage with fellow researchers & present our work on content moderation 📃Our research uses state-of-the-art VLMs to examine the moderation of content from 11k+ YouTube channels & their 6mil+ videos on US politics during the 2024 Pres Election 🙌Thank you @oii.ox.ac.uk for hosting!
Oxford Internet Institute@oii.ox.ac.uk · 9mo ago50 researchers from across Europe and North America recently came to University of Oxford for a two-day workshop at St Anne's College, University of Oxford, exploring the future of social media research.
🔭🚨 One more week to apply to the fully funded (3.5 years) PhD position at the Observatory! 💻 Deadline: 2nd November ℹ️ For more information, see the link below! ➡️ www.royalholloway.ac.uk/media/hquftp...
royalholloway.ac.uk
🔭 Want to hear more about the Observatory's trip to Berlin? 💻 Read our article detailing our time at @dsa40collaboratory.bsky.social's Data Access Days, which furthered our commitment to seek better access to platform data for academic research! ➡️ london-social-media-observatory.org/dsa40_berlin/
🎉 We're really excited to be collaborating with our excellent partners on this, as part of WP3 of the What-If Horizon project, hosted at the Observatory. 🎯 Understanding what interventions affect citizen misinformation effects is crucial to build evidence based policy in the area! More insights 🔜
WHAT-IF@what-if-horizon.bsky.social · 10mo agoLearn more about this partnership here: what-if-horizon.eu/2025/09/30/s...
🔬📚 Come do your PhD with us at the Observatory! 🔗 For more details, see the quoted thread!
Andreu Casas@andreucasas.bsky.social · 10mo ago🚨Hiring a fully funded (3.5 years) PhD for the @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social to research social media and politics. Candidates should have quantitative/computational skills and/or be interested in content curation/moderation. UK home candidates only unfortunately. www.royalholloway.ac.uk/media/hquftp...
🇩🇪 Hello from Berlin! 📍This week, LSMO is at the #DSA40 Workshop, thanks @dsa40collaboratory.bsky.social for the invitation! 🤝 We’re here to connect with other academics to learn more about how to access platform data for research via DSA & to advocate for better data access more generally 🧵[1/3]
💪 Did you know about @royalholloway.bsky.social's history of supporting social justice, especially women's suffrage? We did! 🖌️ When it came to designing our logo, we chose colours that honoured these alumnae, while also maintaining a close connection to the current identity of the college 🧵 [1/2]
While we’re on the subject of press releases, here is the official announcement from @ukri.org 🎉 Congratulations to all the new fellows! 👏
UK Research and Innovation@ukri.org · 11mo agoAnnouncing our latest round of successful UKRI Future Leaders Fellows! Our flagship fellowship scheme will support 77 talented early-career researchers to lead ambitious research and develop their careers. Congratulations to our new fellows👏 More: www.ukri.org/news/ukri-an...
👋 Hello again! 🗞️ We are happy to share an official press release announcing our launch on the @royalholloway.bsky.social website! ➡️ www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/new... 📩 If you have any questions or are interested in collaborating, send us a message! 🔭 We’re excited to get started soon! ☺️
Dr Andreu Casas awarded UKRI fellowship to launch London Social Media Observatory
Royal Holloway is proud to announce that Dr Andreu Casas, from the Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy has been awarded a prestigious UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship.
royalholloway.ac.uk
📣 We’re launching the London Social Media Observatory! 🎉 ➡️ We are a new multidisciplinary research centre, directed by @andreucasas.bsky.social & funded by the @ukri.org Future Leaders Fellowship 🧵 [1/4]