Digital culture in the platform era: Future directions of social media research

On Wednesday 27 November, ESHCC will host the symposium "Digital culture in the platform era: Future directions of social media research".

Instagram, TikTok, as well as many other rising social media platforms have become the fields for digital culture to flourish. Activist activities and social movements are livestreamed and archived on platforms; celebrities and fandom intertwined to take spotlight of everyday push notifications; creative expressions around trending topics are increasingly relying on social network sites to get attention and funding opportunities ... How are digital platforms transforming our contemporary cultural and social life? This symposium engages with various interesting developments of digital culture in the platform era. The symposium includes three talks, painting the contour of the digital cultural landscape, and a roundtable discussion devoted to exploring future directions of social media research. 

Program:

• 14.00-14.15 Opening remarks by Prof. Susanne Janssen
• 14.20-14.30 Cultural Intermediaries within Platform Ecosystems - Prof. Thomas Poell
• 14.35-14.45 Instagram activism: from mundane to muddied practice - Dr. Delia Dumitrica
• 14.50-15.00 Negotiating Digital Visibility: Cultural Workers' Cautious Labour - Dr. Qian Huang 
• 15.00-15.20 Tea break
• 15.20-15.55  Roundtable: Future Directions of Social Media Research
  Discussant: Prof. Bingchun Meng; Prof. Elaine Yuan; Prof. Thomas Poell; Dr. Delia Dumitrica; Dr. Qian Huang; Dr. Tonny Krijnen, moderated by Zhen Ye.
• 16.00-16.30 Q&A
• 16.35-17.30 Closing drinks

Organizers: Tonny Krijnen, Zhen Ye