Social Media Collective

The Social Media Collective (SMC) is a renowned brand consisting of a network of social science and humanistic researchers affiliated with Microsoft Research labs in New England and New York. Comprising full-time researchers, postdocs, interns, and visitors, the collective is dedicated to providing a sociotechnical perspective on the pressing issues of our time. Their interdisciplinary work spans various fields, including anthropology, communication, economics, information, law, media studies, women’s studies, science & technology studies, and sociology.

With a focus on empirical and critical methods, the SMC examines the social, political, and cultural dynamics that shape technologies and their consequences. Their research addresses a wide range of topics, such as the cultural implications of data-centric tech development, the impact of social media on artist-audience relationships, the ethics of artificial intelligence, biased algorithms, and the role of social media in shaping youth behavior. Committed to fostering public understanding, the SMC contributes thought-provoking content to academic conferences, research institutes, and mainstream publications, helping people gain a nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between technology and society