Sarah E. Bolden

Ph.D. Student
sebolden@syr.edu
bolden-sarah
Research

My research explores how networked assemblages on social media platforms such as Reddit and Tumblr construct and enforce boundaries of group membership. In particular, my research examines how activist and hate groups warrant their need for privacy and negotiate the risk of interference from perceived outsiders. In addressing these topics, I consider the interplay of: 1) the ideological beliefs that motivate an assemblage’s networking; 2) the influence of platform features on the production, circulation, and regulation of content; and 3) the strategies that platform administrators employ to protect marginalized users and/or reduce the presence of hate speech online.

Personal

In my free time, I enjoy hobbies such as graphic design, embroidery, reading, photography, and travel.

Keywords

communication studies, platform analysis, network analysis, hate speech, activism and resistance, embodiment