Alexandra Siegel
@aasiegel.bsky.social
Associate Prof. University of Colorado Boulder
MENA Politics & Computational Social Science
alexandra-siegel.com
MENA Politics & Computational Social Science
alexandra-siegel.com
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
Currently in FirstView: In “Measuring Media Criticism with ALC Word Embeddings,” @cbarrie.bsky.social, Neil Ketchley, @aasiegel.bsky.social, and Mossaab Bagdouri introduce a method for estimating media criticism using à la carte word embeddings which requires only minimal computational resources.
November 4, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Currently in FirstView: In “Measuring Media Criticism with ALC Word Embeddings,” @cbarrie.bsky.social, Neil Ketchley, @aasiegel.bsky.social, and Mossaab Bagdouri introduce a method for estimating media criticism using à la carte word embeddings which requires only minimal computational resources.
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
Can’t wait for our panel with @lisablaydes.bsky.social, @sharangrewal.bsky.social, @shalaby12.bsky.social, @aasiegel.bsky.social, Neil Ketchley, and me. We’ll discuss data scarcity in MENA and how to overcome it.
📅 Today, 2:00–3:30pm PDT
📍 VCC, West Level 1, Room 113 (or Zoom)
tinyurl.com/ymnyafts
📅 Today, 2:00–3:30pm PDT
📍 VCC, West Level 1, Room 113 (or Zoom)
tinyurl.com/ymnyafts
September 13, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Can’t wait for our panel with @lisablaydes.bsky.social, @sharangrewal.bsky.social, @shalaby12.bsky.social, @aasiegel.bsky.social, Neil Ketchley, and me. We’ll discuss data scarcity in MENA and how to overcome it.
📅 Today, 2:00–3:30pm PDT
📍 VCC, West Level 1, Room 113 (or Zoom)
tinyurl.com/ymnyafts
📅 Today, 2:00–3:30pm PDT
📍 VCC, West Level 1, Room 113 (or Zoom)
tinyurl.com/ymnyafts
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
Excited to share our new paper in Political Analysis co-authored with Neil Ketchley, @aasiegel.bsky.social and Mossaab Bagdouri! 📢
We introduce an open-source, computationally light method for measuring media criticism—a key marker of media freedom and democratization.
We introduce an open-source, computationally light method for measuring media criticism—a key marker of media freedom and democratization.
August 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Excited to share our new paper in Political Analysis co-authored with Neil Ketchley, @aasiegel.bsky.social and Mossaab Bagdouri! 📢
We introduce an open-source, computationally light method for measuring media criticism—a key marker of media freedom and democratization.
We introduce an open-source, computationally light method for measuring media criticism—a key marker of media freedom and democratization.
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
"The majority of the suspended accounts were 'university-associated activist accounts, basically sharing protest information, locations for students to go,' Yusuf Can, coordinator and analyst at the Wilson Center's Middle East Program, told POLITICO."
Elon Musk's social media platform X has suspended several accounts belonging to opposition figures in Turkey amid widespread civil unrest in the country.
Musk’s X suspends opposition accounts in Turkey amid civil unrest
Suspensions affect accounts spreading information about the widespread demonstrations.
www.politico.eu
March 22, 2025 at 10:37 AM
"The majority of the suspended accounts were 'university-associated activist accounts, basically sharing protest information, locations for students to go,' Yusuf Can, coordinator and analyst at the Wilson Center's Middle East Program, told POLITICO."
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
The hallmark of an effective repressive system is not that everybody is being repressed, but that a few people are targeted and everybody else learns to keep their mouth shut. Meet repression with solidarity and mobilization, not self-censorship. More here: tinyurl.com/37fdanve
How to Respond to Repression
On Solidarity and Rights Defense
tinyurl.com
March 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The hallmark of an effective repressive system is not that everybody is being repressed, but that a few people are targeted and everybody else learns to keep their mouth shut. Meet repression with solidarity and mobilization, not self-censorship. More here: tinyurl.com/37fdanve
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
How can researchers identify covert state propaganda campaigns in China? My co-authors Yin Yuan, Molly Roberts, Brandon Stewart @bstewart.bsky.social and myself are excited to share our new article in PNAS (@PNAS): doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
Thread below.
Thread below.
The decade-long growth of government-authored news media in China under Xi Jinping | PNAS
Autocratic governments around the world use clandestine propaganda campaigns to influence
the media. We document a decade-long trend in China towar...
doi.org
March 11, 2025 at 7:05 PM
How can researchers identify covert state propaganda campaigns in China? My co-authors Yin Yuan, Molly Roberts, Brandon Stewart @bstewart.bsky.social and myself are excited to share our new article in PNAS (@PNAS): doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
Thread below.
Thread below.
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
"Outgroup Avoidance" w/ @aasiegel.bsky.social & Alex Scacco is conditionally accepted at @thejop.bsky.social! I am rly proud of this paper & I think it has important implications for folks studying prejudice reduction and depolarization! Check it out!
www.chagaiweiss.com/papers/inpro...
www.chagaiweiss.com/papers/inpro...
February 21, 2025 at 2:03 AM
"Outgroup Avoidance" w/ @aasiegel.bsky.social & Alex Scacco is conditionally accepted at @thejop.bsky.social! I am rly proud of this paper & I think it has important implications for folks studying prejudice reduction and depolarization! Check it out!
www.chagaiweiss.com/papers/inpro...
www.chagaiweiss.com/papers/inpro...
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
Thrilled to share this @goodauth.bsky.social analysis, and sneak peak of forthcoming research, with @aasiegel.bsky.social at such an incredible time for Syria. Activists, inside and outside the country, have been working for their cause and communities throughout a brutal war. 1/2
Groups in Syria and nearby have provided vital support to Syrians.
Syria's community-based, faith-based, and other organizations have been helping Syrians for over a decade, our research finds.
goodauthority.org
December 19, 2024 at 3:08 PM
Thrilled to share this @goodauth.bsky.social analysis, and sneak peak of forthcoming research, with @aasiegel.bsky.social at such an incredible time for Syria. Activists, inside and outside the country, have been working for their cause and communities throughout a brutal war. 1/2
Thanks to my @cuboulder.bsky.social Text as Data students for a great semester! Check out their final projects/research proposals!
Anna Kowalski used CEDAW treaties, dictionaries, and topic models to explore variation in how states comply with international treaties
Anna Kowalski used CEDAW treaties, dictionaries, and topic models to explore variation in how states comply with international treaties
December 17, 2024 at 10:14 PM
Thanks to my @cuboulder.bsky.social Text as Data students for a great semester! Check out their final projects/research proposals!
Anna Kowalski used CEDAW treaties, dictionaries, and topic models to explore variation in how states comply with international treaties
Anna Kowalski used CEDAW treaties, dictionaries, and topic models to explore variation in how states comply with international treaties
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
New paper in @apsrjournal.bsky.social with @andreasbeerli.bsky.social, Dominik Hangartner, and Dalston Ward about #immigration and voting for the #FarRight in #Switzerland
November 26, 2024 at 4:11 PM
New paper in @apsrjournal.bsky.social with @andreasbeerli.bsky.social, Dominik Hangartner, and Dalston Ward about #immigration and voting for the #FarRight in #Switzerland
congratulations to the amazing @kkaur.bsky.social
on her fantastic dissertation defense! 🎉🎉🎉 #PhDone!
on her fantastic dissertation defense! 🎉🎉🎉 #PhDone!
April 9, 2024 at 11:23 PM
congratulations to the amazing @kkaur.bsky.social
on her fantastic dissertation defense! 🎉🎉🎉 #PhDone!
on her fantastic dissertation defense! 🎉🎉🎉 #PhDone!
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
📢 CSMaP is hiring a Researcher! The role will focus on two main areas:
1️⃣ Writing compelling grant proposals for research projects 2️⃣ Working as a research data scientist supporting quantitive research projects
More info + apply 👇
apply.interfolio.com/140966
1️⃣ Writing compelling grant proposals for research projects 2️⃣ Working as a research data scientist supporting quantitive research projects
More info + apply 👇
apply.interfolio.com/140966
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
February 13, 2024 at 6:14 PM
📢 CSMaP is hiring a Researcher! The role will focus on two main areas:
1️⃣ Writing compelling grant proposals for research projects 2️⃣ Working as a research data scientist supporting quantitive research projects
More info + apply 👇
apply.interfolio.com/140966
1️⃣ Writing compelling grant proposals for research projects 2️⃣ Working as a research data scientist supporting quantitive research projects
More info + apply 👇
apply.interfolio.com/140966
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
⚠️ Update: Live metrics show the internet blackout in the #Gaza Strip has now passed 96 hours; the disruption is the longest sustained telecoms disruption on record since the onset of the conflict, with most residents unable to contact the outside world since 12 January 📉
January 16, 2024 at 2:21 PM
⚠️ Update: Live metrics show the internet blackout in the #Gaza Strip has now passed 96 hours; the disruption is the longest sustained telecoms disruption on record since the onset of the conflict, with most residents unable to contact the outside world since 12 January 📉
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
Can searching for false news increase belief in misinformation? Yes, by approximately 20 percent, according to our new paper, out today in @natureportfolio.bsky.social. In addition, this phenomenon is concentrated among individuals for whom search engines return lower quality information.
👇🧵1/
👇🧵1/
Online searches to evaluate misinformation can increase its perceived veracity - Nature
Searching online to evaluate the truthfulness of false news articles increases the probability of believing the false news articles.
www.nature.com
December 20, 2023 at 4:56 PM
Can searching for false news increase belief in misinformation? Yes, by approximately 20 percent, according to our new paper, out today in @natureportfolio.bsky.social. In addition, this phenomenon is concentrated among individuals for whom search engines return lower quality information.
👇🧵1/
👇🧵1/
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
Are you researching TikTok? Or do you want to? Major update to #rstats `traktok`: search and download videos with just a regular account or use the full Research API: www.johannesbgruber.eu/post/2023-12...
Re-Release: `traktok` | Johannes B. Gruber
I’m happy to announce that traktok, my package to get content from TikTok, has returned from the dead. That’s slightly exaggerated, because it actually always worked in some shape or form, but up ...
www.johannesbgruber.eu
December 4, 2023 at 2:19 PM
Are you researching TikTok? Or do you want to? Major update to #rstats `traktok`: search and download videos with just a regular account or use the full Research API: www.johannesbgruber.eu/post/2023-12...
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
I am looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join my team at the Chair of Digital Governance, Technical University of Munich.
- 3 years
- Focus: online toxicity, experiments, causal inference
- Deadline: January 7
- Starting: April 2024
polisky Commsky csssky
More portal.mytum.de/jobs/wissens...
- 3 years
- Focus: online toxicity, experiments, causal inference
- Deadline: January 7
- Starting: April 2024
polisky Commsky csssky
More portal.mytum.de/jobs/wissens...
December 4, 2023 at 3:50 PM
I am looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join my team at the Chair of Digital Governance, Technical University of Munich.
- 3 years
- Focus: online toxicity, experiments, causal inference
- Deadline: January 7
- Starting: April 2024
polisky Commsky csssky
More portal.mytum.de/jobs/wissens...
- 3 years
- Focus: online toxicity, experiments, causal inference
- Deadline: January 7
- Starting: April 2024
polisky Commsky csssky
More portal.mytum.de/jobs/wissens...
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
My book “Repression in the Digital Age” is out tomorrow with
OUP! ✨✨✨
You can order it here (and there is a lil' savings code in the picture they sent me 😊): global.oup.com/academic/pro...
OUP! ✨✨✨
You can order it here (and there is a lil' savings code in the picture they sent me 😊): global.oup.com/academic/pro...
November 30, 2023 at 3:27 PM
My book “Repression in the Digital Age” is out tomorrow with
OUP! ✨✨✨
You can order it here (and there is a lil' savings code in the picture they sent me 😊): global.oup.com/academic/pro...
OUP! ✨✨✨
You can order it here (and there is a lil' savings code in the picture they sent me 😊): global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
NEW: We analyzed hundreds of posts with misinformation about the Israel-Gaza conflict carrying Community Notes. We found that X has transformed from a flawed but policy-driven system to a free-for-all where falsehoods are prominently served up to users. tinyurl.com/yc5vaj7s
How Musk’s X Is Failing To Stem the Surge of Misinformation About Israel and Gaza
A Bloomberg analysis reveals that X’s Community Notes solution fact-checks information about the war slowly and inconsistently, letting false posts spread fast while global tensions are high.
tinyurl.com
November 21, 2023 at 2:52 PM
NEW: We analyzed hundreds of posts with misinformation about the Israel-Gaza conflict carrying Community Notes. We found that X has transformed from a flawed but policy-driven system to a free-for-all where falsehoods are prominently served up to users. tinyurl.com/yc5vaj7s
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
I couldn't find a tutorial I liked to get students who know R up and running with Python, so I wrote my own! Part 1 is here: andrewhalterman.com/post/python_...
(And if you have a tutorial you like, please let me know!)
(And if you have a tutorial you like, please let me know!)
November 8, 2023 at 7:09 PM
I couldn't find a tutorial I liked to get students who know R up and running with Python, so I wrote my own! Part 1 is here: andrewhalterman.com/post/python_...
(And if you have a tutorial you like, please let me know!)
(And if you have a tutorial you like, please let me know!)
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
Great coverage of the ongoing challenge of researcher data access on Twitter! Thanks @sheiladang.bsky.social for the great piece!
www.reuters.com/technology/e...
www.reuters.com/technology/e...
Elon Musk's X restructuring curtails disinformation research, spurs legal fears | Reuters
Social media researchers have canceled, suspended or changed more than 100 studies about X, formerly Twitter, as a result of actions taken by Elon Musk that limit access to the social media platform, ...
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2023 at 5:43 PM
Great coverage of the ongoing challenge of researcher data access on Twitter! Thanks @sheiladang.bsky.social for the great piece!
www.reuters.com/technology/e...
www.reuters.com/technology/e...
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
"According to a "survey of 167 academic and civil society researchers conducted at Reuters' request in Sept, more than 100 studies about X have been canceled, suspended, or switched to focus on another platform since Elon Musk began limiting researchers' access to X data last February." 1/
100+ researchers say they stopped studying X, fearing Elon Musk might sue them
Affected studies were tracking hate speech, child safety, and misinformation.
arstechnica.com
November 7, 2023 at 10:26 PM
"According to a "survey of 167 academic and civil society researchers conducted at Reuters' request in Sept, more than 100 studies about X have been canceled, suspended, or switched to focus on another platform since Elon Musk began limiting researchers' access to X data last February." 1/
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
Just finished my first skim of this paper showing the effects of "copaganda." The paper is incredibly creative and rigorous--and more than that, it's just important.
ungated: t.co/5bzHCTdmR2
ungated: t.co/5bzHCTdmR2
November 7, 2023 at 10:31 PM
Just finished my first skim of this paper showing the effects of "copaganda." The paper is incredibly creative and rigorous--and more than that, it's just important.
ungated: t.co/5bzHCTdmR2
ungated: t.co/5bzHCTdmR2
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
✨Do you study online safety in non-Western countries? Apply for up to $15,000 for your research. cyber.fsi.stanford.edu/io/news/call...
Call for Proposals: Expanding Online Trust & Safety Research
A new research initiative offers funding to researchers studying trust and safety in the majority world. Applications due January 30, 2024
cyber.fsi.stanford.edu
November 6, 2023 at 10:13 PM
✨Do you study online safety in non-Western countries? Apply for up to $15,000 for your research. cyber.fsi.stanford.edu/io/news/call...
Reposted by Alexandra Siegel
During a 34-hour internet blackout, Palestinians, journalists, and aid workers in Gaza tried various means to connect to the outside world. Blackouts impede access to life-saving services and interrupt the necessary documentation of the ongoing conflict.
@laylam.bsky.social's latest:
@laylam.bsky.social's latest:
How information travels during Gaza’s communications blackouts
People in Gaza turn to eSIMS and other solutions amid cellular and internet outages
dfrlab.org
November 6, 2023 at 5:29 PM
During a 34-hour internet blackout, Palestinians, journalists, and aid workers in Gaza tried various means to connect to the outside world. Blackouts impede access to life-saving services and interrupt the necessary documentation of the ongoing conflict.
@laylam.bsky.social's latest:
@laylam.bsky.social's latest: