Mert Can Bayar
@mertcanbayar.bsky.social
I work on #conspiracytheories and their impacts on #democracy. I am a postdoctoral scholar at University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public. From Lykia of Anatolia 🌄
Pinned
Mert Can Bayar
@mertcanbayar.bsky.social
· Apr 11
Election Rumors, Conspiracy Theories, and Democracy with Center for an Informed Public
YouTube video by UWImpact
youtu.be
If you’re into the politics behind conspiracy theories and misinformation, check out this talk I gave at UW Impact. I dig into how these beliefs aren’t just fringe—they’re often tied to calls for stronger presidents and even leanings toward authoritarianism.
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
What if conspiracy theories were taken to their logical endpoint and put into practice as a form of governance? @mertcanbayar.bsky.social and I explore this question in our new article on the conspiracist theory of power in @cogitatiopag.bsky.social.
www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandg...
www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandg...
The Conspiracist Theory of Power | Article | Politics and Governance
Mert Can Bayar, Scott Radnitz
www.cogitatiopress.com
August 20, 2025 at 7:42 PM
What if conspiracy theories were taken to their logical endpoint and put into practice as a form of governance? @mertcanbayar.bsky.social and I explore this question in our new article on the conspiracist theory of power in @cogitatiopag.bsky.social.
www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandg...
www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandg...
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
The open-access article, "The end of trust and safety?: Examining the future of content moderation and upheavals in professional online safety efforts," is available in the Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/...
The End of Trust and Safety?: Examining the Future of Content Moderation and Upheavals in Professional Online Safety Efforts | Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Syst...
dl.acm.org
April 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The open-access article, "The end of trust and safety?: Examining the future of content moderation and upheavals in professional online safety efforts," is available in the Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/...
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
The CIP researchers, Rachel Moran-Prestridge, @schafer.bsky.social, @mertcanbayar.bsky.social and @katestarbird.bsky.social, also examined current perspectives of content moderation and broader strategies for maintaining safe digital environments.
April 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The CIP researchers, Rachel Moran-Prestridge, @schafer.bsky.social, @mertcanbayar.bsky.social and @katestarbird.bsky.social, also examined current perspectives of content moderation and broader strategies for maintaining safe digital environments.
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
In a newly published research article in the Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, a team of @cip.uw.edu researchers interviewed trust and safety professionals and explored upheavals within the T&S industry.
April 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
In a newly published research article in the Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, a team of @cip.uw.edu researchers interviewed trust and safety professionals and explored upheavals within the T&S industry.
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
Thrilled to be at the CHI conference this week where PhD student @schafer.bsky.social will present our paper — co-authored w/ Rachel Moran (1st author) & @mertcanbayar.bsky.social — titled, "The End of Trust and Safety?" dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/...
The End of Trust and Safety?: Examining the Future of Content Moderation and Upheavals in Professional Online Safety Efforts | Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Syst...
dl.acm.org
April 27, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Thrilled to be at the CHI conference this week where PhD student @schafer.bsky.social will present our paper — co-authored w/ Rachel Moran (1st author) & @mertcanbayar.bsky.social — titled, "The End of Trust and Safety?" dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/...
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
This is amazing
To prevent deer from being hit by cars Finland has tried using reflective paint. (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/avoid-deer-strikes-finland-painting-deer-antlers-reflective-paint-180949792/)
File this under "solutions to modern problems that summon the old gods."
File this under "solutions to modern problems that summon the old gods."
April 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
This is amazing
There is a right-wing infrastructure online and it got to a point of relevance for policy making and international politics. Nawfal is part of this.
Here, you can also find a few quotes from me about our work on “newsbrokers” and how Nawfal is a prime example of a new class of elites around Musk.
Here, you can also find a few quotes from me about our work on “newsbrokers” and how Nawfal is a prime example of a new class of elites around Musk.
The Australian crypto entrepreneur now hosts chats with world leaders. "If [he] is sharing a story, there's a good chance that U.S. policymakers are reading it — and acting on it," said one analyst.
How Elon Musk's favorite news influencer is capitalizing on his clout
The Australian crypto entrepreneur now hosts chats with world leaders. "If [he] is sharing a story, there's a good chance that U.S. policymakers are reading it — and acting on it," said one analyst.
www.npr.org
April 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
There is a right-wing infrastructure online and it got to a point of relevance for policy making and international politics. Nawfal is part of this.
Here, you can also find a few quotes from me about our work on “newsbrokers” and how Nawfal is a prime example of a new class of elites around Musk.
Here, you can also find a few quotes from me about our work on “newsbrokers” and how Nawfal is a prime example of a new class of elites around Musk.
More information about suspensions by @bsky.app.
59 accounts are being censored by Turkish authorities due to reasons of “national security” and “public order.”
13 accounts and one post has been censored by @bsky.app. Such accounts cannot be viewed or accessed from Turkey.
59 accounts are being censored by Turkish authorities due to reasons of “national security” and “public order.”
13 accounts and one post has been censored by @bsky.app. Such accounts cannot be viewed or accessed from Turkey.
Bluesky sansürüne ilişkin olarak tespit ettiğimiz veriler:
• 59 hesap, millî güvenlik ve kamu düzeninin korunması gerekçesiyle çeşitli hakimlikler tarafından erişime engellendi.
• 13 hesap ve 1 paylaşım, @moderation-tr.bsky.app tarafından Türkiye'den görünmez kılındı.
ifade.org.tr/engelliweb/b...
• 59 hesap, millî güvenlik ve kamu düzeninin korunması gerekçesiyle çeşitli hakimlikler tarafından erişime engellendi.
• 13 hesap ve 1 paylaşım, @moderation-tr.bsky.app tarafından Türkiye'den görünmez kılındı.
ifade.org.tr/engelliweb/b...
April 17, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
CfP is out for the upcoming conference I co-organise with @bilgeyabanci.bsky.social & Sonia Alonso Sáenz de Oger in Bilbao this coming October.
Those working on radical right movements, conspiracy theories, and societal violence, send an abstract here 👇
agenda.deusto.es/en/conferenc...
Those working on radical right movements, conspiracy theories, and societal violence, send an abstract here 👇
agenda.deusto.es/en/conferenc...
Conference: Radical Right Narratives, Conspiracy Theories, and Vigilantism in an Age of Democratic DeclineConference: Radical Right Narratives, Conspiracy Theories, and Vigilantism in an Age of Democr...
agenda.deusto.es
April 7, 2025 at 1:46 PM
CfP is out for the upcoming conference I co-organise with @bilgeyabanci.bsky.social & Sonia Alonso Sáenz de Oger in Bilbao this coming October.
Those working on radical right movements, conspiracy theories, and societal violence, send an abstract here 👇
agenda.deusto.es/en/conferenc...
Those working on radical right movements, conspiracy theories, and societal violence, send an abstract here 👇
agenda.deusto.es/en/conferenc...
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
Well, that's disappointing. @bsky.app started banning accounts complying with Turkish government demands. Not the safe haven those who migrated from X was seeking, it seems.
"Bluesky merkeziyetsiz bir platform olduğu için erişime engellenemez, erişim engeli kararlarını da uygulamaz" diyenlere kötü haber:
Bluesky, Bluesky hesapları hakkında verilen erişim engeli kararlarını uygulamaya başladı. Üstelik ilgili kararları, hesabı engellenen kullanıcılarla da paylaşmıyor.
Bluesky, Bluesky hesapları hakkında verilen erişim engeli kararlarını uygulamaya başladı. Üstelik ilgili kararları, hesabı engellenen kullanıcılarla da paylaşmıyor.
April 15, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Well, that's disappointing. @bsky.app started banning accounts complying with Turkish government demands. Not the safe haven those who migrated from X was seeking, it seems.
“If Bluesky is going to cave to ‘local laws’ in authoritarian regimes and suspend accounts for political reasons, then what’s the point of migrating from X? @bsky.app @support.bsky.team @moderation.bsky.app — you have to know BETTER.
"Bluesky merkeziyetsiz bir platform olduğu için erişime engellenemez, erişim engeli kararlarını da uygulamaz" diyenlere kötü haber:
Bluesky, Bluesky hesapları hakkında verilen erişim engeli kararlarını uygulamaya başladı. Üstelik ilgili kararları, hesabı engellenen kullanıcılarla da paylaşmıyor.
Bluesky, Bluesky hesapları hakkında verilen erişim engeli kararlarını uygulamaya başladı. Üstelik ilgili kararları, hesabı engellenen kullanıcılarla da paylaşmıyor.
April 15, 2025 at 10:22 PM
“If Bluesky is going to cave to ‘local laws’ in authoritarian regimes and suspend accounts for political reasons, then what’s the point of migrating from X? @bsky.app @support.bsky.team @moderation.bsky.app — you have to know BETTER.
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
Very important study here! Congrats @mertcanbayar.bsky.social
I find that conspiracy theories gain mobilization potential when they evolve into elite-driven narratives and become embedded in a partisan platform. In other words, not all conspiracy theories are created equal—those backed by political elites are far more effective in driving participation.
April 11, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Very important study here! Congrats @mertcanbayar.bsky.social
🚨 Bluesky’a göç eden Türkiye ahalisi, hoş geldiniz!
Komplo teorilerine ilginiz varsa, bu yayında tam da bu inançların siyasal boyutuna dalıyoruz. Kim neden inanıyor? Ve neden bu inançlar güçlü lider arzusu ve otoriter rejim tercihiyle bu kadar iç içe? Akademik ama yormayan bir sohbet 🤞🏼
Komplo teorilerine ilginiz varsa, bu yayında tam da bu inançların siyasal boyutuna dalıyoruz. Kim neden inanıyor? Ve neden bu inançlar güçlü lider arzusu ve otoriter rejim tercihiyle bu kadar iç içe? Akademik ama yormayan bir sohbet 🤞🏼
Dünyayı Yöneten 5 Aile - Dış MihraX 20
YouTube video by FluTV
www.youtube.com
April 11, 2025 at 12:25 AM
🚨 Bluesky’a göç eden Türkiye ahalisi, hoş geldiniz!
Komplo teorilerine ilginiz varsa, bu yayında tam da bu inançların siyasal boyutuna dalıyoruz. Kim neden inanıyor? Ve neden bu inançlar güçlü lider arzusu ve otoriter rejim tercihiyle bu kadar iç içe? Akademik ama yormayan bir sohbet 🤞🏼
Komplo teorilerine ilginiz varsa, bu yayında tam da bu inançların siyasal boyutuna dalıyoruz. Kim neden inanıyor? Ve neden bu inançlar güçlü lider arzusu ve otoriter rejim tercihiyle bu kadar iç içe? Akademik ama yormayan bir sohbet 🤞🏼
If you’re into the politics behind conspiracy theories and misinformation, check out this talk I gave at UW Impact. I dig into how these beliefs aren’t just fringe—they’re often tied to calls for stronger presidents and even leanings toward authoritarianism.
Election Rumors, Conspiracy Theories, and Democracy with Center for an Informed Public
YouTube video by UWImpact
youtu.be
April 11, 2025 at 12:16 AM
If you’re into the politics behind conspiracy theories and misinformation, check out this talk I gave at UW Impact. I dig into how these beliefs aren’t just fringe—they’re often tied to calls for stronger presidents and even leanings toward authoritarianism.
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
Fantastic paper by @mertcanbayar.bsky.social, a postdoc at the UW Center for an Informed Public, examining how conspiracy theories drive political action in the U.S. and Turkey — and revealing key differences between partisan vs. non-partisan conspiracy theories.
🚨 My first solo-authored piece is out in Electoral Studies! 👽
I examine when and how conspiracy theories become participatory, increasing political mobilization. Using the United States and Turkey as cases of a most-different-systems design, I explore how conspiracy theories drive political action.
I examine when and how conspiracy theories become participatory, increasing political mobilization. Using the United States and Turkey as cases of a most-different-systems design, I explore how conspiracy theories drive political action.
Partisan and non-partisan conspiracy theories’ diverging effects on political participation
What role do conspiracy theories play in mobilizing political action? Both historical and contemporary accounts have written on the role of conspiracy…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 10, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Fantastic paper by @mertcanbayar.bsky.social, a postdoc at the UW Center for an Informed Public, examining how conspiracy theories drive political action in the U.S. and Turkey — and revealing key differences between partisan vs. non-partisan conspiracy theories.
🚨 @bsky.app #Türkiye app store’da en çok indirilen uygulama olmuş durumda.
Bluesky became the #1st app in #Turkey’s app store!
Looks like X’s decision to suspend opposition accounts in favor of Erdoğan is backfiring. How great to see this platform becoming a hub for democratic voices all over 🌍
Bluesky became the #1st app in #Turkey’s app store!
Looks like X’s decision to suspend opposition accounts in favor of Erdoğan is backfiring. How great to see this platform becoming a hub for democratic voices all over 🌍
April 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
I am looking for a post-bac (Dartmouth language for a pre-doc) researcher to join our team studying elections and democracy. If you (or someone you know) have expertise in data science or political science, please apply or share this opportunity!
polarizationresearchlab.org/hiring/
polarizationresearchlab.org/hiring/
Hiring
Visit the post for more.
polarizationresearchlab.org
March 31, 2025 at 11:28 PM
I am looking for a post-bac (Dartmouth language for a pre-doc) researcher to join our team studying elections and democracy. If you (or someone you know) have expertise in data science or political science, please apply or share this opportunity!
polarizationresearchlab.org/hiring/
polarizationresearchlab.org/hiring/
🚨 My first solo-authored piece is out in Electoral Studies! 👽
I examine when and how conspiracy theories become participatory, increasing political mobilization. Using the United States and Turkey as cases of a most-different-systems design, I explore how conspiracy theories drive political action.
I examine when and how conspiracy theories become participatory, increasing political mobilization. Using the United States and Turkey as cases of a most-different-systems design, I explore how conspiracy theories drive political action.
Partisan and non-partisan conspiracy theories’ diverging effects on political participation
What role do conspiracy theories play in mobilizing political action? Both historical and contemporary accounts have written on the role of conspiracy…
www.sciencedirect.com
March 21, 2025 at 12:44 AM
🚨 My first solo-authored piece is out in Electoral Studies! 👽
I examine when and how conspiracy theories become participatory, increasing political mobilization. Using the United States and Turkey as cases of a most-different-systems design, I explore how conspiracy theories drive political action.
I examine when and how conspiracy theories become participatory, increasing political mobilization. Using the United States and Turkey as cases of a most-different-systems design, I explore how conspiracy theories drive political action.
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
Masnick brings the receipts in this detailed “fact-check” of Zuckerberg’s interview by Joe Rogan, where the duo pushed a twisted narrative about the Biden admin pressuring Meta, and ignored how Zuck’s recent moves come after and in response to open threats by Trump.
www.techdirt.com/2025/01/16/r...
www.techdirt.com/2025/01/16/r...
Rogan Misses The Mark: How Zuck’s Misdirection On Gov’t Pressure Goes Unchallenged
If you only remember two things about the government pressure campaign to influence Mark Zuckerberg’s content moderation decisions, make it these: Donald Trump directly threatened to throw Zuck in …
www.techdirt.com
January 17, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Masnick brings the receipts in this detailed “fact-check” of Zuckerberg’s interview by Joe Rogan, where the duo pushed a twisted narrative about the Biden admin pressuring Meta, and ignored how Zuck’s recent moves come after and in response to open threats by Trump.
www.techdirt.com/2025/01/16/r...
www.techdirt.com/2025/01/16/r...
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
Two things can be true at once.
1. Meta has long had a real problem of excessive moderation and censorship, mostly caused by its own automated systems, not fact-checkers
2. Zuckerberg is ending fact-checking now because it's the politically expedient thing to do for him and Meta
1. Meta has long had a real problem of excessive moderation and censorship, mostly caused by its own automated systems, not fact-checkers
2. Zuckerberg is ending fact-checking now because it's the politically expedient thing to do for him and Meta
January 7, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Two things can be true at once.
1. Meta has long had a real problem of excessive moderation and censorship, mostly caused by its own automated systems, not fact-checkers
2. Zuckerberg is ending fact-checking now because it's the politically expedient thing to do for him and Meta
1. Meta has long had a real problem of excessive moderation and censorship, mostly caused by its own automated systems, not fact-checkers
2. Zuckerberg is ending fact-checking now because it's the politically expedient thing to do for him and Meta
Meta was by far the biggest funder of fact-checking till this week. Probably, most of these third party fact-checking companies will vanish soon. This is a huge development for the information environment. It was not unexpected since the latest trends in content moderation at Meta or elsewhere.
Meta is dropping its support for fact-checking, which, in addition to degrading users’ ability to verify content, will essentially defund all of the little companies that worked to identify false content online. But our FB feeds are basically just AI slop at this point, so?
Fact-checking wasn’t “biased” against conservatives. Conservatives just shared more false content. If there’s a sportsball game and one team fouls four times as much, it’s not “biased” for the ref to call four times as many fouls against that team.
January 7, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Meta was by far the biggest funder of fact-checking till this week. Probably, most of these third party fact-checking companies will vanish soon. This is a huge development for the information environment. It was not unexpected since the latest trends in content moderation at Meta or elsewhere.
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
It may seem strange to folks outside of academia, but there has been a line of prominent research within it arguing that misinformation isn't a problem. This paper pushes back, noting how those arguments often rely on poor definitions & operationalizations of what misinformation is & how it works.
In this new article in American Psychologist we respond to critics in detail and clarify two key points for the field;
(1) The prevalence of misinformation in society is substantial when properly defined.
(2) Misinformation causally impacts attitudes and behaviors.
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
(1) The prevalence of misinformation in society is substantial when properly defined.
(2) Misinformation causally impacts attitudes and behaviors.
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
December 26, 2024 at 5:23 PM
It may seem strange to folks outside of academia, but there has been a line of prominent research within it arguing that misinformation isn't a problem. This paper pushes back, noting how those arguments often rely on poor definitions & operationalizations of what misinformation is & how it works.
Reposted by Mert Can Bayar
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CIP News & Insights Newsletter | December 2024
This is the web version of the December 2024 edition of the Center for an Informed Public‘s News & Insights newsletter that was originally sent out on December 19, 2024.
www.cip.uw.edu
December 23, 2024 at 5:51 PM
If you aren't subscribed to the @cip.uw.edu News & Insights newsletter you can read the most recent edition here: www.cip.uw.edu/2024/12/19/c...
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