Laia Castro
@laiacastro.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Political Science Department, University of Barcelona; Digital Media & Politics | https://www.laiacastro.com
Reposted by Laia Castro
Social media users adopt the toxic behaviors of ingroup members
An analysis of 7 million tweets from over 700,000 accounts finds that exposures to toxic behavior by ingroup members is the primary driver of contagious toxicity online academic.oup.com/jcmc/article...
An analysis of 7 million tweets from over 700,000 accounts finds that exposures to toxic behavior by ingroup members is the primary driver of contagious toxicity online academic.oup.com/jcmc/article...
October 22, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Social media users adopt the toxic behaviors of ingroup members
An analysis of 7 million tweets from over 700,000 accounts finds that exposures to toxic behavior by ingroup members is the primary driver of contagious toxicity online academic.oup.com/jcmc/article...
An analysis of 7 million tweets from over 700,000 accounts finds that exposures to toxic behavior by ingroup members is the primary driver of contagious toxicity online academic.oup.com/jcmc/article...
Reposted by Laia Castro
How common are “survey professionals” - people who take dozens of online surveys for pay - across online panels, and do they harm data quality?
Our paper, FirstView at @politicalanalysis.bsky.social, tackles this question using browsing data from three U.S. samples (Facebook, YouGov, and Lucid):
Our paper, FirstView at @politicalanalysis.bsky.social, tackles this question using browsing data from three U.S. samples (Facebook, YouGov, and Lucid):
October 7, 2025 at 6:49 PM
How common are “survey professionals” - people who take dozens of online surveys for pay - across online panels, and do they harm data quality?
Our paper, FirstView at @politicalanalysis.bsky.social, tackles this question using browsing data from three U.S. samples (Facebook, YouGov, and Lucid):
Our paper, FirstView at @politicalanalysis.bsky.social, tackles this question using browsing data from three U.S. samples (Facebook, YouGov, and Lucid):
Reposted by Laia Castro
How do people think different sectors’ use of generative AI will change their experience of interacting with them?
More optimists than pessimists for e.g. science and search engines, but more pessimists than optimists for news media, government, and – especially – politicians 1/3
More optimists than pessimists for e.g. science and search engines, but more pessimists than optimists for news media, government, and – especially – politicians 1/3
October 7, 2025 at 9:18 AM
How do people think different sectors’ use of generative AI will change their experience of interacting with them?
More optimists than pessimists for e.g. science and search engines, but more pessimists than optimists for news media, government, and – especially – politicians 1/3
More optimists than pessimists for e.g. science and search engines, but more pessimists than optimists for news media, government, and – especially – politicians 1/3
Reposted by Laia Castro
🧵 New publication: How do people feel about regulating #AI in election campaigns? 🧵
In a new article, @adrauc.bsky.social, @kunkakom.bsky.social, and I examine when and why people support stronger AI regulation in political competition.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
👇
In a new article, @adrauc.bsky.social, @kunkakom.bsky.social, and I examine when and why people support stronger AI regulation in political competition.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
👇
Explaining public preferences for regulating Artificial Intelligence in election campaigns: Evidence from the U.S. and Taiwan
The increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in election campaigns, such as AI-generated political ads, automated messaging, and the widespread …
www.sciencedirect.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:36 AM
🧵 New publication: How do people feel about regulating #AI in election campaigns? 🧵
In a new article, @adrauc.bsky.social, @kunkakom.bsky.social, and I examine when and why people support stronger AI regulation in political competition.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
👇
In a new article, @adrauc.bsky.social, @kunkakom.bsky.social, and I examine when and why people support stronger AI regulation in political competition.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
👇
Reposted by Laia Castro
New paper out with @dasalgon.bsky.social: “Far-Right Agenda Setting: How the Far Right influences the Political Mainstream” doi.org/10.1017/S1475676525100066 #openaccess in @ejprjournal.bsky.social🧵
October 7, 2025 at 7:14 AM
New paper out with @dasalgon.bsky.social: “Far-Right Agenda Setting: How the Far Right influences the Political Mainstream” doi.org/10.1017/S1475676525100066 #openaccess in @ejprjournal.bsky.social🧵
Reposted by Laia Castro
They say: once there’s a paper 📝, it’s real…
🎉 #MEDem in #EPS @ecpr.bsky.social
The paper outlines how MEDem will strengthen #OpenScience by making data #FAIR in #DemocracyResearch – and how scholars across Europe are joining forces to build a truly open #ResearchInfrastructure ⚙️
🎉 #MEDem in #EPS @ecpr.bsky.social
The paper outlines how MEDem will strengthen #OpenScience by making data #FAIR in #DemocracyResearch – and how scholars across Europe are joining forces to build a truly open #ResearchInfrastructure ⚙️
September 27, 2025 at 9:05 AM
They say: once there’s a paper 📝, it’s real…
🎉 #MEDem in #EPS @ecpr.bsky.social
The paper outlines how MEDem will strengthen #OpenScience by making data #FAIR in #DemocracyResearch – and how scholars across Europe are joining forces to build a truly open #ResearchInfrastructure ⚙️
🎉 #MEDem in #EPS @ecpr.bsky.social
The paper outlines how MEDem will strengthen #OpenScience by making data #FAIR in #DemocracyResearch – and how scholars across Europe are joining forces to build a truly open #ResearchInfrastructure ⚙️
Reposted by Laia Castro
Proud to be part of such a productive research group!
🔎Looking for a panel survey? Feel free to use ours!
🔎Looking for a panel survey? Feel free to use ours!
From the research group @dec-gr.bsky.social, we are glad to share our new Scientific Data article presenting the release of the first 12 waves of the Spanish Political Attitudes Panel (POLAT).
rdcu.be/eIkms
rdcu.be/eIkms
The Spanish Political Attitudes Panel (12 waves)
Scientific Data - The Spanish Political Attitudes Panel (12 waves)
rdcu.be
September 29, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Proud to be part of such a productive research group!
🔎Looking for a panel survey? Feel free to use ours!
🔎Looking for a panel survey? Feel free to use ours!
Reposted by Laia Castro
New publication with @abovet.bsky.social @esserfrank.bsky.social @laiacastro.bsky.social
With today’s political environment becoming increasingly complex, how can political selective exposure be measured beyond the traditional ‘left vs. right’ lens?
Read more:
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
With today’s political environment becoming increasingly complex, how can political selective exposure be measured beyond the traditional ‘left vs. right’ lens?
Read more:
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
A multilevel network approach to revealing patterns of online political selective exposure
Selective exposure, individuals’ inclination to seek out information that supports their beliefs while avoiding information that contradicts them, plays an important role in the emergence of polarizat...
journals.plos.org
September 26, 2025 at 9:21 PM
New publication with @abovet.bsky.social @esserfrank.bsky.social @laiacastro.bsky.social
With today’s political environment becoming increasingly complex, how can political selective exposure be measured beyond the traditional ‘left vs. right’ lens?
Read more:
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
With today’s political environment becoming increasingly complex, how can political selective exposure be measured beyond the traditional ‘left vs. right’ lens?
Read more:
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Reposted by Laia Castro
🚨Call for papers for the 2026 Inequality conference in Konstanz. I'm co-organizing it and we welcome submissions from Computational Social Science. The deadline is approaching quickly!
inequality-conference.de
inequality-conference.de
In_equality Conference 2026
The "Politics of Inequality” research center invites interdisciplinary & international researchers to Konstanz, Germany, for the In_equality Conference, 15-17 April 2026.
inequality-conference.de
September 25, 2025 at 9:45 AM
🚨Call for papers for the 2026 Inequality conference in Konstanz. I'm co-organizing it and we welcome submissions from Computational Social Science. The deadline is approaching quickly!
inequality-conference.de
inequality-conference.de
Reposted by Laia Castro
🧲 We are hiring!
✨ PhD position to join @dec-gr.bsky.social
🏁 4-year FPI contract
🎓 Pol Sci / Social Sci background + Master’s + English
📧 Send expression of interest with CV and motivation letter to gr.dec@uab.cat
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc3epmv2
✨ PhD position to join @dec-gr.bsky.social
🏁 4-year FPI contract
🎓 Pol Sci / Social Sci background + Master’s + English
📧 Send expression of interest with CV and motivation letter to gr.dec@uab.cat
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc3epmv2
Call for expressions of interest for a PhD scholarship within the project GPOL – Democracy, Elections and Citizenship
tinyurl.com
September 17, 2025 at 9:22 AM
🧲 We are hiring!
✨ PhD position to join @dec-gr.bsky.social
🏁 4-year FPI contract
🎓 Pol Sci / Social Sci background + Master’s + English
📧 Send expression of interest with CV and motivation letter to gr.dec@uab.cat
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc3epmv2
✨ PhD position to join @dec-gr.bsky.social
🏁 4-year FPI contract
🎓 Pol Sci / Social Sci background + Master’s + English
📧 Send expression of interest with CV and motivation letter to gr.dec@uab.cat
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc3epmv2
Reposted by Laia Castro
📣 We’re launching the London Social Media Observatory! 🎉
➡️ We are a new multidisciplinary research centre, directed by @andreucasas.bsky.social & funded by the @ukri.org Future Leaders Fellowship
🧵 [1/4]
➡️ We are a new multidisciplinary research centre, directed by @andreucasas.bsky.social & funded by the @ukri.org Future Leaders Fellowship
🧵 [1/4]
September 16, 2025 at 8:37 AM
📣 We’re launching the London Social Media Observatory! 🎉
➡️ We are a new multidisciplinary research centre, directed by @andreucasas.bsky.social & funded by the @ukri.org Future Leaders Fellowship
🧵 [1/4]
➡️ We are a new multidisciplinary research centre, directed by @andreucasas.bsky.social & funded by the @ukri.org Future Leaders Fellowship
🧵 [1/4]
Reposted by Laia Castro
Radical right accommodation really does not work.
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
September 5, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Radical right accommodation really does not work.
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
Reposted by Laia Castro
How much can we blame social media for our polarized political climate?
@danwphilosophy.bsky.social argues that the narrative that the platforms cause polarization “overlooks deeper political and institutional problems that are reflected on social media, not created by it.”
@danwphilosophy.bsky.social argues that the narrative that the platforms cause polarization “overlooks deeper political and institutional problems that are reflected on social media, not created by it.”
Scapegoating the Algorithm—Asterisk
America’s epistemic challenges run deeper than social media.
asteriskmag.com
August 14, 2025 at 4:26 PM
How much can we blame social media for our polarized political climate?
@danwphilosophy.bsky.social argues that the narrative that the platforms cause polarization “overlooks deeper political and institutional problems that are reflected on social media, not created by it.”
@danwphilosophy.bsky.social argues that the narrative that the platforms cause polarization “overlooks deeper political and institutional problems that are reflected on social media, not created by it.”
Reposted by Laia Castro
To all the #DSA experts and data access enthusiast out there, before you go on holiday, sign up & save the date for the #dsa40 data access days in Berlin, September 25 & 26!
2 days with keynotes, panels, expert insights and practical guidance 👉 dsa40collaboratory.eu/data-access-...
2 days with keynotes, panels, expert insights and practical guidance 👉 dsa40collaboratory.eu/data-access-...
July 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
To all the #DSA experts and data access enthusiast out there, before you go on holiday, sign up & save the date for the #dsa40 data access days in Berlin, September 25 & 26!
2 days with keynotes, panels, expert insights and practical guidance 👉 dsa40collaboratory.eu/data-access-...
2 days with keynotes, panels, expert insights and practical guidance 👉 dsa40collaboratory.eu/data-access-...
Reposted by Laia Castro
🚨 Big News for European Political Science 🚨
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the European Political Science Society (EPSS): a new, member-led, not-for-profit association built to support our scholarly community.
🔗 epssnet.org
Here’s a thread with everything you need to know.
🧵
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the European Political Science Society (EPSS): a new, member-led, not-for-profit association built to support our scholarly community.
🔗 epssnet.org
Here’s a thread with everything you need to know.
🧵
June 26, 2025 at 5:07 PM
🚨 Big News for European Political Science 🚨
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the European Political Science Society (EPSS): a new, member-led, not-for-profit association built to support our scholarly community.
🔗 epssnet.org
Here’s a thread with everything you need to know.
🧵
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the European Political Science Society (EPSS): a new, member-led, not-for-profit association built to support our scholarly community.
🔗 epssnet.org
Here’s a thread with everything you need to know.
🧵
Reposted by Laia Castro
Our Digital News Report 2025 is out!
📊48 markets
🌏Almost 100K respondents
📰Key headline: Audiences lean into video news and influencers, raising misinformation concerns and new dilemmas for publishers
📱Explore now buff.ly/xLP67Tg
🧵Findings in thread #DNR25
📊48 markets
🌏Almost 100K respondents
📰Key headline: Audiences lean into video news and influencers, raising misinformation concerns and new dilemmas for publishers
📱Explore now buff.ly/xLP67Tg
🧵Findings in thread #DNR25
June 17, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Our Digital News Report 2025 is out!
📊48 markets
🌏Almost 100K respondents
📰Key headline: Audiences lean into video news and influencers, raising misinformation concerns and new dilemmas for publishers
📱Explore now buff.ly/xLP67Tg
🧵Findings in thread #DNR25
📊48 markets
🌏Almost 100K respondents
📰Key headline: Audiences lean into video news and influencers, raising misinformation concerns and new dilemmas for publishers
📱Explore now buff.ly/xLP67Tg
🧵Findings in thread #DNR25
Reposted by Laia Castro
Thrilled to share the program for the III Yale-UB HPE Workshop — a joint initiative bringing together HPE researchers across continents and disciplines. Huge thanks to our sponsors, presenters, and discussants. Can’t wait for a great conference!
cc @cescamat.bsky.social (UB co-host)
cc @cescamat.bsky.social (UB co-host)
June 18, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Thrilled to share the program for the III Yale-UB HPE Workshop — a joint initiative bringing together HPE researchers across continents and disciplines. Huge thanks to our sponsors, presenters, and discussants. Can’t wait for a great conference!
cc @cescamat.bsky.social (UB co-host)
cc @cescamat.bsky.social (UB co-host)
Reposted by Laia Castro
Scholar, journalist, policy maker, NGO working on digital technologies and democracy topics?
Check out this exciting Fellowship program at the @ddc-sdu.bsky.social.
Flexible conditions, inspiring environment, great colleagues.
🗓️ DL: September 15 (check instructions ⬇️)
www.sdu.dk/en/forskning...
Check out this exciting Fellowship program at the @ddc-sdu.bsky.social.
Flexible conditions, inspiring environment, great colleagues.
🗓️ DL: September 15 (check instructions ⬇️)
www.sdu.dk/en/forskning...
Digital Democracy Fellowship x TrygFonden Fellowship Program
Digital Democracy Fellowship x TrygFonden Fellowship Program
www.sdu.dk
June 18, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Scholar, journalist, policy maker, NGO working on digital technologies and democracy topics?
Check out this exciting Fellowship program at the @ddc-sdu.bsky.social.
Flexible conditions, inspiring environment, great colleagues.
🗓️ DL: September 15 (check instructions ⬇️)
www.sdu.dk/en/forskning...
Check out this exciting Fellowship program at the @ddc-sdu.bsky.social.
Flexible conditions, inspiring environment, great colleagues.
🗓️ DL: September 15 (check instructions ⬇️)
www.sdu.dk/en/forskning...
Reposted by Laia Castro
From Bluesky to the Guardian!
In my new op-Ed, I argue that the “male glaze” of media and politics is empirically, normative, and politically wrong and that progressives should focus more on the left turn of young women.
In my new op-Ed, I argue that the “male glaze” of media and politics is empirically, normative, and politically wrong and that progressives should focus more on the left turn of young women.
The real story isn’t young men supposedly voting far right. It’s what young women are up to | Cas Mudde
There is an opportunity staring centre-left parties in the face – if they reject the male gaze distorting our politics, says political scientist Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
May 21, 2025 at 10:48 AM
From Bluesky to the Guardian!
In my new op-Ed, I argue that the “male glaze” of media and politics is empirically, normative, and politically wrong and that progressives should focus more on the left turn of young women.
In my new op-Ed, I argue that the “male glaze” of media and politics is empirically, normative, and politically wrong and that progressives should focus more on the left turn of young women.
Reposted by Laia Castro
Special issue on Democratic Listening forthcoming @polcommjournal.bsky.social. 9 excellent articles using experimental, observational, & philosophical methods to study this key component of political comm. Check out the TOC + intro essay by Michael Neblo & myself: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
May 30, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Special issue on Democratic Listening forthcoming @polcommjournal.bsky.social. 9 excellent articles using experimental, observational, & philosophical methods to study this key component of political comm. Check out the TOC + intro essay by Michael Neblo & myself: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Laia Castro
🚨 We're hiring! Join us at @LMU_Muenchen for the DFG-funded project "Democratic Persuasion: How to Make the Case for Democracy."
Interested in making scholarly & societal impact?
We’re looking for:
🔹 1 Postdoc (100%)
🔹 1 PhD researcher (70%)
Starting: Oct 2025 | Apply by: July 8
More info ⬇️ (1/7)
Interested in making scholarly & societal impact?
We’re looking for:
🔹 1 Postdoc (100%)
🔹 1 PhD researcher (70%)
Starting: Oct 2025 | Apply by: July 8
More info ⬇️ (1/7)
May 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
🚨 We're hiring! Join us at @LMU_Muenchen for the DFG-funded project "Democratic Persuasion: How to Make the Case for Democracy."
Interested in making scholarly & societal impact?
We’re looking for:
🔹 1 Postdoc (100%)
🔹 1 PhD researcher (70%)
Starting: Oct 2025 | Apply by: July 8
More info ⬇️ (1/7)
Interested in making scholarly & societal impact?
We’re looking for:
🔹 1 Postdoc (100%)
🔹 1 PhD researcher (70%)
Starting: Oct 2025 | Apply by: July 8
More info ⬇️ (1/7)
Reposted by Laia Castro
Kicked off our #Fuel2Fire 🔥 project in Hamburg!
In this cross-country collaboration, we're studying polarization across Europe — from meta discourse to polarizing topics & practices — with partners from Spain, Sweden, Poland & @netzwerkrecherche.org.
#Polarization #Journalism
In this cross-country collaboration, we're studying polarization across Europe — from meta discourse to polarizing topics & practices — with partners from Spain, Sweden, Poland & @netzwerkrecherche.org.
#Polarization #Journalism
May 20, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Kicked off our #Fuel2Fire 🔥 project in Hamburg!
In this cross-country collaboration, we're studying polarization across Europe — from meta discourse to polarizing topics & practices — with partners from Spain, Sweden, Poland & @netzwerkrecherche.org.
#Polarization #Journalism
In this cross-country collaboration, we're studying polarization across Europe — from meta discourse to polarizing topics & practices — with partners from Spain, Sweden, Poland & @netzwerkrecherche.org.
#Polarization #Journalism
Reposted by Laia Castro
Out now at @poqjournal.bsky.social! Do election forecasts set realistic election expectations? doi.org/10.1093/poq/... 🧵 (w/ @mbarnfield.bsky.social, @florianstoeckel.bsky.social, @benlyons.bsky.social, @vittoriomerola.bsky.social, @jasonreifler.bsky.social and other awesome BlueSky-less colleagues)
The Effects of Forecasts on the Accuracy and Precision of Expectations
Abstract. Quantitative forecasts have become increasingly prominent as tools for aiding public understanding of sociopolitical trends. But how much, and wh
doi.org
May 12, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Out now at @poqjournal.bsky.social! Do election forecasts set realistic election expectations? doi.org/10.1093/poq/... 🧵 (w/ @mbarnfield.bsky.social, @florianstoeckel.bsky.social, @benlyons.bsky.social, @vittoriomerola.bsky.social, @jasonreifler.bsky.social and other awesome BlueSky-less colleagues)
Reposted by Laia Castro
▶️ Do far-right wins fuel disinformation fears? 😮
@kgattermann.bsky.social, @elskevdhoogen.bsky.social and @claesdevreese.bsky.social show that strong far-right showings in the 2024 EP elections heighten public concern about disinformation 👇
@kgattermann.bsky.social, @elskevdhoogen.bsky.social and @claesdevreese.bsky.social show that strong far-right showings in the 2024 EP elections heighten public concern about disinformation 👇
The role of far-right party performance in shaping disinformation concerns of European voters: evidence from the 2024 European Parliament elections
Concerns about the risk of disinformation in the 2024 European Parliament elections were widespread in European capitals. Simultaneously, the far-right – often linked to the spread of disinformatio...
www.tandfonline.com
April 25, 2025 at 7:10 AM
▶️ Do far-right wins fuel disinformation fears? 😮
@kgattermann.bsky.social, @elskevdhoogen.bsky.social and @claesdevreese.bsky.social show that strong far-right showings in the 2024 EP elections heighten public concern about disinformation 👇
@kgattermann.bsky.social, @elskevdhoogen.bsky.social and @claesdevreese.bsky.social show that strong far-right showings in the 2024 EP elections heighten public concern about disinformation 👇
Reposted by Laia Castro
📣 GESIS Fall Seminar in Computational Social Science 2025
The program of the #GESISfallseminar is out & registration is open!
🗓️ 01 - 26 Sep 2025
Venue (depending on course):
🏢 GESIS Mannheim
💻 Online
More info & registration at gesis.org/fallseminar
The program of the #GESISfallseminar is out & registration is open!
🗓️ 01 - 26 Sep 2025
Venue (depending on course):
🏢 GESIS Mannheim
💻 Online
More info & registration at gesis.org/fallseminar
April 8, 2025 at 1:24 PM
📣 GESIS Fall Seminar in Computational Social Science 2025
The program of the #GESISfallseminar is out & registration is open!
🗓️ 01 - 26 Sep 2025
Venue (depending on course):
🏢 GESIS Mannheim
💻 Online
More info & registration at gesis.org/fallseminar
The program of the #GESISfallseminar is out & registration is open!
🗓️ 01 - 26 Sep 2025
Venue (depending on course):
🏢 GESIS Mannheim
💻 Online
More info & registration at gesis.org/fallseminar