1.
Goebel, Zane; Dewi, Udiana Puspa
14 Representing the Voices of Those Living with Seawater Incursion in Indonesia Book Chapter
In: Arnaut, Karel; Maly, Ico; Parkin, David; Spotti, Massimiliano (Ed.): Power, Mobility and Voice, pp. 272–290, Multilingual Matters, 2026, ISBN: 9781836682653.
@incollection{arnaut_14_2026,
title = {14 Representing the Voices of Those Living with Seawater Incursion in Indonesia},
author = {Zane Goebel and Udiana Puspa Dewi},
editor = {Karel Arnaut and Ico Maly and David Parkin and Massimiliano Spotti},
url = {https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.21832/9781836682653-017/html},
doi = {10.21832/9781836682653-017},
isbn = {9781836682653},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-12-01},
urldate = {2026-07-03},
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pages = {272\textendash290},
publisher = {Multilingual Matters},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
2.
Cohen, Tegan
Knowers and others: Indigenous representation in search (and answer) engines Journal Article
In: Media International Australia, pp. 1329878X261484730, 2026, ISSN: 1329-878X, 2200-467X.
@article{cohen_knowers_2026,
title = {Knowers and others: Indigenous representation in search (and answer) engines},
author = {Tegan Cohen},
url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1329878X261484730},
doi = {10.1177/1329878X261484730},
issn = {1329-878X, 2200-467X},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-09-01},
urldate = {2026-09-10},
journal = {Media International Australia},
pages = {1329878X261484730},
abstract = {Aboriginal knowers and knowledges have historically been sidelined in accounts of ‘authoritative’ information about us across a range of knowledge institutions. This epistemic exclusion catalysed struggles to self-represent and counter dominant images and stories, critically reread histories, and reframe the way issues that concern us are understood and discussed. Google is a powerful epistemic actor. Through design choices, Google can facilitate self-representation or reinforce the authority claimed by others to represent Aboriginal peoples. The integration of large language models into search systems is reshaping how users encounter and engage with information online, raising urgent questions about online visibility and representation. What representations are prioritised in Google's direct answers? Which knowers are treated as authoritative? What does this mean for Indigenous representation? This paper contributes to the empirical basis for reflection on these critical questions with a case study of Google AI overviews. Using thematic and close textual analysis of a corpus of question-direct answer pairs, the study offers insights into how AI overviews reinforce or accommodate challenges to dominant discourses, and more generally how ubiquitous, everyday applications of AI are affecting Aboriginal self-representation. The article argues that the shift to AI-generated search results severs links between knowers, knowledge and context in different and subtle ways, with serious implications for Indigenous representation, rereading and reframing.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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Aboriginal knowers and knowledges have historically been sidelined in accounts of ‘authoritative’ information about us across a range of knowledge institutions. This epistemic exclusion catalysed struggles to self-represent and counter dominant images and stories, critically reread histories, and reframe the way issues that concern us are understood and discussed. Google is a powerful epistemic actor. Through design choices, Google can facilitate self-representation or reinforce the authority claimed by others to represent Aboriginal peoples. The integration of large language models into search systems is reshaping how users encounter and engage with information online, raising urgent questions about online visibility and representation. What representations are prioritised in Google's direct answers? Which knowers are treated as authoritative? What does this mean for Indigenous representation? This paper contributes to the empirical basis for reflection on these critical questions with a case study of Google AI overviews. Using thematic and close textual analysis of a corpus of question-direct answer pairs, the study offers insights into how AI overviews reinforce or accommodate challenges to dominant discourses, and more generally how ubiquitous, everyday applications of AI are affecting Aboriginal self-representation. The article argues that the shift to AI-generated search results severs links between knowers, knowledge and context in different and subtle ways, with serious implications for Indigenous representation, rereading and reframing.
3.
Kasianenko, Kateryna; Gardam, Caroline; FitzGerald, Katherine M.; Nagappa, Ashwin; Bruns, Axel; Weinbrand, Shir; Angus, Daniel; Vilkins, Samantha; Obeid, Abdul Karim
Searching for the truth? search engines and their AI affordances’ responses to conspiratorial search practices Journal Article
In: Media International Australia, pp. 1329878X261481856, 2026, ISSN: 1329-878X, 2200-467X.
@article{kasianenko_searching_2026,
title = {Searching for the truth? search engines and their AI affordances’ responses to conspiratorial search practices},
author = {Kateryna Kasianenko and Caroline Gardam and Katherine M. FitzGerald and Ashwin Nagappa and Axel Bruns and Shir Weinbrand and Daniel Angus and Samantha Vilkins and Abdul Karim Obeid},
url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1329878X261481856},
doi = {10.1177/1329878X261481856},
issn = {1329-878X, 2200-467X},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-09-01},
urldate = {2026-09-03},
journal = {Media International Australia},
pages = {1329878X261481856},
abstract = {Search engines are a common pathway to conspiracy theories, and producers of conspiratorial narratives actively encourage users to search for particular terms. Understanding how search engines respond to different information-seeking practices is therefore essential for explaining the dynamics of online conspiracy theories. Existing audits of search engines rarely account for systematic variation in query formulation arising from users’ differing levels of engagement with conspiratorial beliefs, nor do they consider recently introduced AI-powered search features. To address this gap, we developed search query sets informed by conspiratorial and non-conspiratorial information-seeking practices of online forums, using the chemtrails and 15-minute cities conspiracy theories as case studies. We performed algorithmic audits of Google's first-page search results and AI Overview responses. Our findings show substantial differences in the information returned for queries representative of general public information seeking compared with those reflecting conspiratorial perspectives. These differences appear to arise partly from Google's efforts to moderate sensitive topics, but also from the limitations of those interventions in recognising and responding to conspiratorial modes of query formulation. AI Overviews likewise vary according to query framing and generally attempt to debunk conspiratorial claims. However, these responses are often brief, provide limited supporting evidence, and are less effective for the newer 15-minute cities conspiracy theory, suggesting that current AI-mediated search guardrails remain uneven and require further development.},
keywords = {},
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Search engines are a common pathway to conspiracy theories, and producers of conspiratorial narratives actively encourage users to search for particular terms. Understanding how search engines respond to different information-seeking practices is therefore essential for explaining the dynamics of online conspiracy theories. Existing audits of search engines rarely account for systematic variation in query formulation arising from users’ differing levels of engagement with conspiratorial beliefs, nor do they consider recently introduced AI-powered search features. To address this gap, we developed search query sets informed by conspiratorial and non-conspiratorial information-seeking practices of online forums, using the chemtrails and 15-minute cities conspiracy theories as case studies. We performed algorithmic audits of Google's first-page search results and AI Overview responses. Our findings show substantial differences in the information returned for queries representative of general public information seeking compared with those reflecting conspiratorial perspectives. These differences appear to arise partly from Google's efforts to moderate sensitive topics, but also from the limitations of those interventions in recognising and responding to conspiratorial modes of query formulation. AI Overviews likewise vary according to query framing and generally attempt to debunk conspiratorial claims. However, these responses are often brief, provide limited supporting evidence, and are less effective for the newer 15-minute cities conspiracy theory, suggesting that current AI-mediated search guardrails remain uneven and require further development.
4.
Chesher, Chris; Humphry, Justine
Mobile AI Service Robots and Everyday Politics of Space Journal Article
In: Mobile Media & Communication, pp. 20501579261476544, 2026, ISSN: 2050-1579, 2050-1587.
@article{chesher_mobile_2026,
title = {Mobile AI Service Robots and Everyday Politics of Space},
author = {Chris Chesher and Justine Humphry},
url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20501579261476544},
doi = {10.1177/20501579261476544},
issn = {2050-1579, 2050-1587},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-08-01},
urldate = {2026-08-25},
journal = {Mobile Media \& Communication},
pages = {20501579261476544},
abstract = {This article examines the rise of a new generation of mobile service robots that use AI for navigation and communication in public and semipublic spaces. Reviewing the state of the field of service robots and robot scholarship, this paper is a literature-informed commentary on mobile AI service robots as mobile media and their implications for human workers and the public, shared environments, and regulation in everyday spaces. We examine how mobile AI service robots are increasingly appearing in restaurants, hotels, university campuses, and public streets as service workers, tools, and social actors, introducing new modalities of communication, and reshaping spatial relationships, labour practices and power dynamics. These developments raise critical questions about the effect of robots’ communicative acts of movement, interfacing and emotional expression on others, the organisation of labour, and their role in the privatisation and surveillance of space. Ultimately, we argue that as mobile AI becomes embedded in ordinary life and work settings, it necessitates a renewed focus on who benefits, who is displaced, and how these increasingly agentic actors are governed as they become normalised in shared and public spaces.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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This article examines the rise of a new generation of mobile service robots that use AI for navigation and communication in public and semipublic spaces. Reviewing the state of the field of service robots and robot scholarship, this paper is a literature-informed commentary on mobile AI service robots as mobile media and their implications for human workers and the public, shared environments, and regulation in everyday spaces. We examine how mobile AI service robots are increasingly appearing in restaurants, hotels, university campuses, and public streets as service workers, tools, and social actors, introducing new modalities of communication, and reshaping spatial relationships, labour practices and power dynamics. These developments raise critical questions about the effect of robots’ communicative acts of movement, interfacing and emotional expression on others, the organisation of labour, and their role in the privatisation and surveillance of space. Ultimately, we argue that as mobile AI becomes embedded in ordinary life and work settings, it necessitates a renewed focus on who benefits, who is displaced, and how these increasingly agentic actors are governed as they become normalised in shared and public spaces.
5.
Sparrow, Robert
Slaves to the algorithms? Algocracy and republican liberty Journal Article
In: AI and Ethics, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 374, 2026, ISSN: 2730-5953, 2730-5961.
@article{sparrow_slaves_2026,
title = {Slaves to the algorithms? Algocracy and republican liberty},
author = {Robert Sparrow},
url = {https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s43681-026-01171-7},
doi = {10.1007/s43681-026-01171-7},
issn = {2730-5953, 2730-5961},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-08-01},
urldate = {2026-08-25},
journal = {AI and Ethics},
volume = {6},
number = {4},
pages = {374},
abstract = {Abstract
Increasingly, governments are relying on artificial intelligence to make, or inform, important decisions\textemdasha phenomenon that John Danaher has styled, “algocracy”. Republicanism implies that there are at least four different reasons to be concerned about algocracy. First, decisions made using AI will often be impossible for citizens to contest because the reasons for the decisions will be inscrutable, which calls into question the legitimacy of these decisions. Second, the inability of citizens to contest the outcomes of government decisions made using AI and/or the justification for the use of AI will render these arbitrary and inimical to liberty on a republican account. Third, overreliance on AI is likely to undermine civic virtues that are necessary to the defence of liberty. Fourth, AI is such a powerful technology that it may free governments from any fear of revolution. If we wish to benefit from the use of AI in government without sacrificing liberty, we must: ensure that decisions made by AI can be publicly contested; investigate ways to mitigate the impact of algocracy on the political culture of democracies; and resist the temptation to develop AI for applications that would grant governments too much power over their citizens.},
keywords = {},
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Abstract
Increasingly, governments are relying on artificial intelligence to make, or inform, important decisions—a phenomenon that John Danaher has styled, “algocracy”. Republicanism implies that there are at least four different reasons to be concerned about algocracy. First, decisions made using AI will often be impossible for citizens to contest because the reasons for the decisions will be inscrutable, which calls into question the legitimacy of these decisions. Second, the inability of citizens to contest the outcomes of government decisions made using AI and/or the justification for the use of AI will render these arbitrary and inimical to liberty on a republican account. Third, overreliance on AI is likely to undermine civic virtues that are necessary to the defence of liberty. Fourth, AI is such a powerful technology that it may free governments from any fear of revolution. If we wish to benefit from the use of AI in government without sacrificing liberty, we must: ensure that decisions made by AI can be publicly contested; investigate ways to mitigate the impact of algocracy on the political culture of democracies; and resist the temptation to develop AI for applications that would grant governments too much power over their citizens.
Increasingly, governments are relying on artificial intelligence to make, or inform, important decisions—a phenomenon that John Danaher has styled, “algocracy”. Republicanism implies that there are at least four different reasons to be concerned about algocracy. First, decisions made using AI will often be impossible for citizens to contest because the reasons for the decisions will be inscrutable, which calls into question the legitimacy of these decisions. Second, the inability of citizens to contest the outcomes of government decisions made using AI and/or the justification for the use of AI will render these arbitrary and inimical to liberty on a republican account. Third, overreliance on AI is likely to undermine civic virtues that are necessary to the defence of liberty. Fourth, AI is such a powerful technology that it may free governments from any fear of revolution. If we wish to benefit from the use of AI in government without sacrificing liberty, we must: ensure that decisions made by AI can be publicly contested; investigate ways to mitigate the impact of algocracy on the political culture of democracies; and resist the temptation to develop AI for applications that would grant governments too much power over their citizens.
6.
Kuai, Joanne; Karlsson, Michael
The Great Wall of the Press: Layered Boundary Work of AI-Integrated Journalism Journal Article
In: Media and Communication, vol. 14, pp. 12504, 2026, ISSN: 2183-2439.
@article{kuai_great_2026,
title = {The Great Wall of the Press: Layered Boundary Work of AI-Integrated Journalism},
author = {Joanne Kuai and Michael Karlsson},
url = {https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/12504},
doi = {10.17645/mac.12504},
issn = {2183-2439},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-08-01},
urldate = {2026-08-21},
journal = {Media and Communication},
volume = {14},
pages = {12504},
abstract = {As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in journalistic practice, debates often frame it as either a disruptive force or a tool for efficiency. This study moves beyond this dichotomy by examining how journalists themselves interpret, negotiate, and position AI within journalism. Drawing on 19 in-depth interviews with Chinese journalists, and informed by boundary work and boundary object perspectives, the study analyses how AI is selectively integrated, justified, and governed across journalistic processes. The findings show that AI is primarily confined to routine and low-risk tasks, while being excluded from core editorial functions involving judgement, meaning-making, and accountability. The study argues that AI intensifies journalistic boundary work because it challenges journalism not only operationally, but also epistemically and infrastructurally. Journalists therefore engage in layered forms of boundary negotiation that operate across task, discursive, and structural dimensions. At the same time, AI functions as a boundary object mediating relationships among journalists, technology companies, and governance institutions under conditions of asymmetric platform dependency and institutional control.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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}
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in journalistic practice, debates often frame it as either a disruptive force or a tool for efficiency. This study moves beyond this dichotomy by examining how journalists themselves interpret, negotiate, and position AI within journalism. Drawing on 19 in-depth interviews with Chinese journalists, and informed by boundary work and boundary object perspectives, the study analyses how AI is selectively integrated, justified, and governed across journalistic processes. The findings show that AI is primarily confined to routine and low-risk tasks, while being excluded from core editorial functions involving judgement, meaning-making, and accountability. The study argues that AI intensifies journalistic boundary work because it challenges journalism not only operationally, but also epistemically and infrastructurally. Journalists therefore engage in layered forms of boundary negotiation that operate across task, discursive, and structural dimensions. At the same time, AI functions as a boundary object mediating relationships among journalists, technology companies, and governance institutions under conditions of asymmetric platform dependency and institutional control.
7.
Rose, Megan Catherine; Lupton, Deborah
Stimming and support assemblages: autistic improvisation, sensory worlds and wellbeing Journal Article
In: Disability & Society, pp. 1–25, 2026, ISSN: 0968-7599, 1360-0508.
@article{catherine_rose_stimming_2026,
title = {Stimming and support assemblages: autistic improvisation, sensory worlds and wellbeing},
author = {Megan Catherine Rose and Deborah Lupton},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687599.2026.2715012},
doi = {10.1080/09687599.2026.2715012},
issn = {0968-7599, 1360-0508},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-08-01},
urldate = {2026-08-21},
journal = {Disability \& Society},
pages = {1\textendash25},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
8.
Tang, Jiaru; Yu, Xiaoting; Wikström, Patrik; Pappalardo, Kylie
Behind the “AI slop”: exploring the AI-generated viral short video production in China Journal Article
In: AI & SOCIETY, 2026, ISSN: 0951-5666, 1435-5655.
@article{tang_behind_2026,
title = {Behind the “AI slop”: exploring the AI-generated viral short video production in China},
author = {Jiaru Tang and Xiaoting Yu and Patrik Wikstr\"{o}m and Kylie Pappalardo},
url = {https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00146-026-03254-9},
doi = {10.1007/s00146-026-03254-9},
issn = {0951-5666, 1435-5655},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-08-01},
urldate = {2026-08-19},
journal = {AI \& SOCIETY},
abstract = {Abstract
As generative AI becomes embedded in platform-based cultural production, new forms of creative labour are emerging that challenge established understandings of what it means to be a “creator.” This article examines AI slop creators in China, a group that uses generative tools to benchmark viral content, test formats, operate matrix account systems, and formalise production, transforming virality from an unpredictable outcome into an object of systematic management. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted between 2023 and 2025 in China, this study shows AI enables a cohort of “Internet entrepreneurs” to enter cultural production, driven by a “money hustling culture” that encourages formerly idle and low-skilled individuals to pursue rapid monetisation. The findings suggest that AI slop creators organise production less around authorship, identity and aspiration, and more around operational mastery, strategic disposability, and algorithmic opportunism. Rather than cultivating personal brands, they prioritise speed, scale and adaptability, pointing toward a post-creator mode of cultural labour in contemporary platform economies.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Abstract
As generative AI becomes embedded in platform-based cultural production, new forms of creative labour are emerging that challenge established understandings of what it means to be a “creator.” This article examines AI slop creators in China, a group that uses generative tools to benchmark viral content, test formats, operate matrix account systems, and formalise production, transforming virality from an unpredictable outcome into an object of systematic management. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted between 2023 and 2025 in China, this study shows AI enables a cohort of “Internet entrepreneurs” to enter cultural production, driven by a “money hustling culture” that encourages formerly idle and low-skilled individuals to pursue rapid monetisation. The findings suggest that AI slop creators organise production less around authorship, identity and aspiration, and more around operational mastery, strategic disposability, and algorithmic opportunism. Rather than cultivating personal brands, they prioritise speed, scale and adaptability, pointing toward a post-creator mode of cultural labour in contemporary platform economies.
As generative AI becomes embedded in platform-based cultural production, new forms of creative labour are emerging that challenge established understandings of what it means to be a “creator.” This article examines AI slop creators in China, a group that uses generative tools to benchmark viral content, test formats, operate matrix account systems, and formalise production, transforming virality from an unpredictable outcome into an object of systematic management. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted between 2023 and 2025 in China, this study shows AI enables a cohort of “Internet entrepreneurs” to enter cultural production, driven by a “money hustling culture” that encourages formerly idle and low-skilled individuals to pursue rapid monetisation. The findings suggest that AI slop creators organise production less around authorship, identity and aspiration, and more around operational mastery, strategic disposability, and algorithmic opportunism. Rather than cultivating personal brands, they prioritise speed, scale and adaptability, pointing toward a post-creator mode of cultural labour in contemporary platform economies.
9.
Unexpected Encounters With Spot in the Wild: Sensemaking as Communicative Boundary Work With Robots Journal Article
In: Human-Machine Communication, vol. 13, pp. 7–43, 2026, ISSN: 2638602X, 26386038.
@article{markham_unexpected_2026,
title = {Unexpected Encounters With Spot in the Wild: Sensemaking as Communicative Boundary Work With Robots},
url = {https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hmc/vol13/iss1/1/},
doi = {10.30658/hmc.13.1},
issn = {2638602X, 26386038},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-01},
urldate = {2026-09-17},
journal = {Human-Machine Communication},
volume = {13},
pages = {7\textendash43},
abstract = {As near-autonomous and AI-embedded robots continue to appear in public settings, their sociality and interactivity is a critical part of the social fabric. This article presents emerging themes from a large-scale ethnographic study of granular-level public interactions between more than 400 people who have an unexpected encounter with Boston Dynamics’ robot “Spot” in a public square in Melbourne. Conceptualizing Spot as a boundary object enables us to highlight patterns of sensemaking as people grapple with ontological disruptions through micro-level interactions; within the self, with other people, or between the self and the robot. Based on thematic analysis of multimedia data collected from this field study, we characterize and offer interpretive vignettes to illustrate this boundary work, including forming and maintaining bodily boundaries, mimicry and mirroring the robot, and testing different ontological frames. A key finding is that this interactive boundary work becomes most evident not in the swift resolution of Spot as a robot or a dog, but in moments of indecision and friction, when people oscillate or struggle with plausible interpretations. By foregrounding sensemaking and the ethnographically inspired question of “How does it happen, when it happens?”, this study extends existing accounts of how embodied and interactive human-machine communication builds relational meaning, engaging with the unexpected moment in public spaces, to enrich our scholarly understanding of the granular aspects of ontologizing in the human-machine communication process.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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}
As near-autonomous and AI-embedded robots continue to appear in public settings, their sociality and interactivity is a critical part of the social fabric. This article presents emerging themes from a large-scale ethnographic study of granular-level public interactions between more than 400 people who have an unexpected encounter with Boston Dynamics’ robot “Spot” in a public square in Melbourne. Conceptualizing Spot as a boundary object enables us to highlight patterns of sensemaking as people grapple with ontological disruptions through micro-level interactions; within the self, with other people, or between the self and the robot. Based on thematic analysis of multimedia data collected from this field study, we characterize and offer interpretive vignettes to illustrate this boundary work, including forming and maintaining bodily boundaries, mimicry and mirroring the robot, and testing different ontological frames. A key finding is that this interactive boundary work becomes most evident not in the swift resolution of Spot as a robot or a dog, but in moments of indecision and friction, when people oscillate or struggle with plausible interpretations. By foregrounding sensemaking and the ethnographically inspired question of “How does it happen, when it happens?”, this study extends existing accounts of how embodied and interactive human-machine communication builds relational meaning, engaging with the unexpected moment in public spaces, to enrich our scholarly understanding of the granular aspects of ontologizing in the human-machine communication process.
10.
Andrejevic, Mark
The critical conscience of cultural studies Journal Article
In: Media International Australia, vol. 200, no. 1, pp. 15–20, 2026, ISSN: 1329-878X, 2200-467X.
@article{andrejevic_critical_2026,
title = {The critical conscience of cultural studies},
author = {Mark Andrejevic},
url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1329878X261456769},
doi = {10.1177/1329878X261456769},
issn = {1329-878X, 2200-467X},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-01},
urldate = {2026-09-10},
journal = {Media International Australia},
volume = {200},
number = {1},
pages = {15\textendash20},
abstract = {To suggest that, for those influenced by his work, Graeme modeled the critical conscience of cultural studies is to highlight these key themes in his approach: the relation of theory to meaningful practice, an abiding concern with the power relations that shape everyday life, the intellectual, ethical-moral, and civic role of higher education, and, above all, a contribution to the public good. His contributions are monumental and remain an inspiration to those who share his version of cultural studies and its commitments. There is much work still to do, but we are all better off\textemdashand profoundly grateful\textemdashfor having been fortunate enough to share the place with him for a while.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
To suggest that, for those influenced by his work, Graeme modeled the critical conscience of cultural studies is to highlight these key themes in his approach: the relation of theory to meaningful practice, an abiding concern with the power relations that shape everyday life, the intellectual, ethical-moral, and civic role of higher education, and, above all, a contribution to the public good. His contributions are monumental and remain an inspiration to those who share his version of cultural studies and its commitments. There is much work still to do, but we are all better off—and profoundly grateful—for having been fortunate enough to share the place with him for a while.
11.
Ma, Chenglong; Wanyan, Xinye; Hettiachchi, Danula; Xu, Ziqi; Ren, Yongli; Chan, Jeffrey
Verifiable User Simulation for Search and Recommendation Systems Conference Paper
In: Proceedings of the 49th International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval, pp. 5340–5343, ACM, Melbourne VIC Australia, 2026, ISBN: 9798400725999.
@inproceedings{ma_verifiable_2026,
title = {Verifiable User Simulation for Search and Recommendation Systems},
author = {Chenglong Ma and Xinye Wanyan and Danula Hettiachchi and Ziqi Xu and Yongli Ren and Jeffrey Chan},
url = {https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3805712.3808645},
doi = {10.1145/3805712.3808645},
isbn = {9798400725999},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-01},
urldate = {2026-09-03},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 49th International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval},
pages = {5340\textendash5343},
publisher = {ACM},
address = {Melbourne VIC Australia},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
12.
Onq, Nuha Abu; Ma, Chenglong; Sanderson, Mark; Scholer, Falk
Understanding and Modeling Heterogeneous Search Behavior Conference Paper
In: Proceedings of the 49th International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval, pp. 4–16, ACM, Melbourne VIC Australia, 2026, ISBN: 9798400725999.
@inproceedings{abu_onq_understanding_2026,
title = {Understanding and Modeling Heterogeneous Search Behavior},
author = {Nuha Abu Onq and Chenglong Ma and Mark Sanderson and Falk Scholer},
url = {https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3805712.3809618},
doi = {10.1145/3805712.3809618},
isbn = {9798400725999},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-01},
urldate = {2026-09-03},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 49th International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval},
pages = {4\textendash16},
publisher = {ACM},
address = {Melbourne VIC Australia},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
13.
Wanyan, Xinye; Ma, Chenglong; Hettiachchi, Danula; Xu, Ziqi; Chan, Jeffrey
Task-Aware Automated User Profile Generation for Recommendation Simulation Using Large Language Models Conference Paper
In: Proceedings of the 49th International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval, pp. 1937–1947, ACM, Melbourne VIC Australia, 2026, ISBN: 9798400725999.
@inproceedings{wanyan_task-aware_2026,
title = {Task-Aware Automated User Profile Generation for Recommendation Simulation Using Large Language Models},
author = {Xinye Wanyan and Chenglong Ma and Danula Hettiachchi and Ziqi Xu and Jeffrey Chan},
url = {https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3805712.3809707},
doi = {10.1145/3805712.3809707},
isbn = {9798400725999},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-01},
urldate = {2026-09-03},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 49th International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval},
pages = {1937\textendash1947},
publisher = {ACM},
address = {Melbourne VIC Australia},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
14.
Ji, Xiaolu; Kuai, Joanne; Zamith, Rodrigo
In: Journalism in Transition, pp. 230–247, Routledge, London, 2026, ISBN: 9781042009404.
@incollection{mellado_scrutinizing_2026,
title = {Scrutinizing Algorithms: Assessing Journalistic Role Performance in Chinese News Media's Coverage of Artificial Intelligence},
author = {Xiaolu Ji and Joanne Kuai and Rodrigo Zamith},
url = {https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781042009404/chapters/10.4324/9781042009404-14},
doi = {10.4324/9781042009404-14},
isbn = {9781042009404},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-01},
urldate = {2026-09-01},
booktitle = {Journalism in Transition},
pages = {230\textendash247},
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address = {London},
edition = {1},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
15.
Kasianenko, Kateryna
Foregrounding user agency in digital discourse studies Journal Article
In: Journal of Multicultural Discourses, pp. 1–7, 2026, ISSN: 1744-7143, 1747-6615.
@article{kasianenko_foregrounding_2026,
title = {Foregrounding user agency in digital discourse studies},
author = {Kateryna Kasianenko},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17447143.2026.2708291},
doi = {10.1080/17447143.2026.2708291},
issn = {1744-7143, 1747-6615},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-01},
urldate = {2026-07-31},
journal = {Journal of Multicultural Discourses},
pages = {1\textendash7},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
16.
Mamaev, Bogdan; Angus, Daniel; Lawrence, Amanda; Sinnott, Richard
Building National Research Infrastructure for Digital Platform Observability at Scale Journal Article
In: Media and Communication, vol. 14, pp. 12090, 2026, ISSN: 2183-2439.
@article{mamaev_building_2026,
title = {Building National Research Infrastructure for Digital Platform Observability at Scale},
author = {Bogdan Mamaev and Daniel Angus and Amanda Lawrence and Richard Sinnott},
url = {https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/12090},
doi = {10.17645/mac.12090},
issn = {2183-2439},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-01},
urldate = {2026-07-30},
journal = {Media and Communication},
volume = {14},
pages = {12090},
abstract = {Digital platforms have fundamentally transformed public communication, yet the capacity to study them is increasingly threatened by restricted data access, opaque algorithmic architectures, and complex legal barriers. Addressing these challenges requires a paradigm shift from isolated, project-based solutions toward shared, national-scale research infrastructures. We present the Australian Internet Observatory (AIO) as a case study of a multi-year initiative designed to facilitate digital media platform observability at scale. The AIO integrates access to computational resources, data governance frameworks, and diverse data sourcing methods, ranging from platform-centric API-harvesting to user-focused data donations. The AIO addresses methodological challenges, ethics, the technical skills gap, and the complexities of regulatory compliance. We argue that shared infrastructures function as vital institutional interventions to ensure independent, reproducible, and ethical digital media research in a continuously evolving media environment},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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}
Digital platforms have fundamentally transformed public communication, yet the capacity to study them is increasingly threatened by restricted data access, opaque algorithmic architectures, and complex legal barriers. Addressing these challenges requires a paradigm shift from isolated, project-based solutions toward shared, national-scale research infrastructures. We present the Australian Internet Observatory (AIO) as a case study of a multi-year initiative designed to facilitate digital media platform observability at scale. The AIO integrates access to computational resources, data governance frameworks, and diverse data sourcing methods, ranging from platform-centric API-harvesting to user-focused data donations. The AIO addresses methodological challenges, ethics, the technical skills gap, and the complexities of regulatory compliance. We argue that shared infrastructures function as vital institutional interventions to ensure independent, reproducible, and ethical digital media research in a continuously evolving media environment
17.
Choucair, Tariq; Esau, Katharina; Curato, Nicole; Vilkins, Samantha; Svegaard, Sebastian
Deliberation and Destructive Polarisation in Social Media Book Chapter
In: The Routledge Companion to Social Media and Politics, pp. 65–83, Routledge, 2026.
@incollection{choucair_deliberation_2026,
title = {Deliberation and Destructive Polarisation in Social Media},
author = {Tariq Choucair and Katharina Esau and Nicole Curato and Samantha Vilkins and Sebastian Svegaard},
url = {https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003359524-6/deliberation-destructive-polarisation-social-media-tariq-choucair-katharina-esau-nicole-curato-samantha-vilkins-sebastian-svegaard},
doi = {10.4324/9781003359524-6},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-01},
urldate = {2026-07-15},
booktitle = {The Routledge Companion to Social Media and Politics},
pages = {65\textendash83},
publisher = {Routledge},
abstract = {Deliberation is a constructive communication process where speakers and listeners engage in a reciprocal, reasoned, and reflexive exchange. While it can lead to consensus, its primary democratic function is clarifying differences and fostering coexistence. Though not explicitly designed to uphold deliberative ideals, social media platforms still serve as valuable tools in parts of the process (e.g., by amplifying the voices of specific communities and facilitating at least some deliberative qualities, such as reciprocity). However, deliberation on social media faces significant challenges when opposing groups not only disagree but also view each other as illegitimate or morally reprehensible. While some polarisation can be inherent and even conducive to democracy, its destructive form undermines democratic deliberation by (a) eroding discursive relationships, (b) fragmenting deliberative arenas, and (c) weakening democracy's epistemic capacity. This chapter examines how these dynamics unfold in social media environments, where platform affordances and communicative practices intensify polarisation and limit opportunities for meaningful democratic engagement.},
keywords = {},
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}
Deliberation is a constructive communication process where speakers and listeners engage in a reciprocal, reasoned, and reflexive exchange. While it can lead to consensus, its primary democratic function is clarifying differences and fostering coexistence. Though not explicitly designed to uphold deliberative ideals, social media platforms still serve as valuable tools in parts of the process (e.g., by amplifying the voices of specific communities and facilitating at least some deliberative qualities, such as reciprocity). However, deliberation on social media faces significant challenges when opposing groups not only disagree but also view each other as illegitimate or morally reprehensible. While some polarisation can be inherent and even conducive to democracy, its destructive form undermines democratic deliberation by (a) eroding discursive relationships, (b) fragmenting deliberative arenas, and (c) weakening democracy's epistemic capacity. This chapter examines how these dynamics unfold in social media environments, where platform affordances and communicative practices intensify polarisation and limit opportunities for meaningful democratic engagement.
18.
Boichak, Olga; Kasianenko, Kateryna
Playful digital citizenship in wartime: Civic practices and algorithmic imaginaries in the North Atlantic Fella Organization Journal Article
In: New Media & Society, vol. 28, no. 7, pp. 3004–3028, 2026, ISSN: 1461-4448, 1461-7315.
@article{boichak_playful_2026,
title = {Playful digital citizenship in wartime: Civic practices and algorithmic imaginaries in the North Atlantic Fella Organization},
author = {Olga Boichak and Kateryna Kasianenko},
url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14614448261445078},
doi = {10.1177/14614448261445078},
issn = {1461-4448, 1461-7315},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-01},
urldate = {2026-07-09},
journal = {New Media \& Society},
volume = {28},
number = {7},
pages = {3004\textendash3028},
abstract = {This article articulates strategies citizens engage in to reclaim their agency in an increasingly fragmented and unmoderated algorithmic public sphere. Drawing on the case of the North Atlantic Fella Organization (NAFO), we demonstrate how playful,
allegorithmic
civic practices constitute a participatory response to disinformation at the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Capitalising on their algorithmic literacy, algorithmic resistance, and algorithmic becoming,
allegorithmic citizens
may find alternative ways to challenge the status quo in wartime, mobilising resources to support communities in crisis when traditional governance mechanisms fail. With the growing interest in harms from online humour and memes in democratic societies, NAFO’s playful reclaiming of the notions of algorithm extends understanding of civic participatory practices. But on a more fundamental level, these
allegorithmic
citizenship acts foster social cohesion and solidarity among social media users who question the ethical responsibilities that come with witnessing a distant war unfold on their feed.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This article articulates strategies citizens engage in to reclaim their agency in an increasingly fragmented and unmoderated algorithmic public sphere. Drawing on the case of the North Atlantic Fella Organization (NAFO), we demonstrate how playful,
allegorithmic
civic practices constitute a participatory response to disinformation at the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Capitalising on their algorithmic literacy, algorithmic resistance, and algorithmic becoming,
allegorithmic citizens
may find alternative ways to challenge the status quo in wartime, mobilising resources to support communities in crisis when traditional governance mechanisms fail. With the growing interest in harms from online humour and memes in democratic societies, NAFO’s playful reclaiming of the notions of algorithm extends understanding of civic participatory practices. But on a more fundamental level, these
allegorithmic
citizenship acts foster social cohesion and solidarity among social media users who question the ethical responsibilities that come with witnessing a distant war unfold on their feed.
allegorithmic
civic practices constitute a participatory response to disinformation at the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Capitalising on their algorithmic literacy, algorithmic resistance, and algorithmic becoming,
allegorithmic citizens
may find alternative ways to challenge the status quo in wartime, mobilising resources to support communities in crisis when traditional governance mechanisms fail. With the growing interest in harms from online humour and memes in democratic societies, NAFO’s playful reclaiming of the notions of algorithm extends understanding of civic participatory practices. But on a more fundamental level, these
allegorithmic
citizenship acts foster social cohesion and solidarity among social media users who question the ethical responsibilities that come with witnessing a distant war unfold on their feed.
19.
Wilken, Rowan; Thomas, Julian
When Maps Make Decisions: Mobile AI, Navigation Apps, and the Mobilization of Mobile Data Journal Article
In: Mobile Media & Communication, pp. 20501579261465218, 2026, ISSN: 2050-1579, 2050-1587.
@article{wilken_when_2026,
title = {When Maps Make Decisions: Mobile AI, Navigation Apps, and the Mobilization of Mobile Data},
author = {Rowan Wilken and Julian Thomas},
url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20501579261465218},
doi = {10.1177/20501579261465218},
issn = {2050-1579, 2050-1587},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-01},
urldate = {2026-07-09},
journal = {Mobile Media \& Communication},
pages = {20501579261465218},
abstract = {Contemporary maps are creatures of “mobile AI,” the linkage of machine learning with communication and mobility, which we now think of as a significant “next phase” of digital communication. In this article, we address this AI-driven “next phase” by examining the current AI-facilitated developments that are reshaping mobile maps and navigational apps. We consider how AI tools are changing the maps that we have (how maps are made), how we interact with mobile maps and navigation services (how maps are used), and their purposes (what maps are doing). By analyzing mobile maps at the intersection of geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI), platformization, and mobile AI, this article shows how the automation of navigation reorganizes everyday mobility, redistributes decision-making, and generates new political, economic, and social questions. Mobile maps offer a particularly revealing case for understanding how AI is being embedded into mobile media, how value is extracted from movement, and how infrastructural decisions are increasingly delegated to platform systems.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Contemporary maps are creatures of “mobile AI,” the linkage of machine learning with communication and mobility, which we now think of as a significant “next phase” of digital communication. In this article, we address this AI-driven “next phase” by examining the current AI-facilitated developments that are reshaping mobile maps and navigational apps. We consider how AI tools are changing the maps that we have (how maps are made), how we interact with mobile maps and navigation services (how maps are used), and their purposes (what maps are doing). By analyzing mobile maps at the intersection of geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI), platformization, and mobile AI, this article shows how the automation of navigation reorganizes everyday mobility, redistributes decision-making, and generates new political, economic, and social questions. Mobile maps offer a particularly revealing case for understanding how AI is being embedded into mobile media, how value is extracted from movement, and how infrastructural decisions are increasingly delegated to platform systems.
20.
Nagappa, Ashwin; Dehghan, Ehsan
Alt-Platformisation Evolution of Fringe Communication and Political Discourses Through and with the Web Book Chapter
In: Bruns, Axel; Enli, Gunn; Larsson, Anders Olof; Robinson, Jessica Yarin; Bosch, Tanja; Kasianenko, Kateryna (Ed.): The Routledge Companion to Social Media and Politics, Routledge, London, 2026, ISBN: 9781003359524.
@incollection{nagappa_alt-platformisation_2026,
title = {Alt-Platformisation
Evolution of Fringe Communication and Political Discourses Through and with the Web},
author = {Ashwin Nagappa and Ehsan Dehghan},
editor = {Axel Bruns and Gunn Enli and Anders Olof Larsson and Jessica Yarin Robinson and Tanja Bosch and Kateryna Kasianenko},
url = {https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003359524},
doi = {10.4324/9781003359524},
isbn = {9781003359524},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-06-01},
urldate = {2026-08-07},
booktitle = {The Routledge Companion to Social Media and Politics},
publisher = {Routledge},
address = {London},
edition = {2},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}