Sophia A. Knight
@sophiaaknight.bsky.social
Research Lead in Civic & Democratic Participation Online at the UKRI-funded Responsible Innovation Centre, hosted by BBC R&D
Visiting Researcher at the ESRC Digital Good Network
Wrote my MSc dissertation on podcasts & politics
Visiting Researcher at the ESRC Digital Good Network
Wrote my MSc dissertation on podcasts & politics
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
Fabulous online seminar organized by @algosoc.org
Algorithmic Effects on #Elections: Using Social Media Data Donations to Study Elections
🗓️ Fri 12 Dec, 14:00–15:30 CET
@ernesto-deleon.com @favstats.eu @antmandan.bsky.social @simonchauchard.bsky.social
Registration ⬇️
algosoc.org/events/algos...
Algorithmic Effects on #Elections: Using Social Media Data Donations to Study Elections
🗓️ Fri 12 Dec, 14:00–15:30 CET
@ernesto-deleon.com @favstats.eu @antmandan.bsky.social @simonchauchard.bsky.social
Registration ⬇️
algosoc.org/events/algos...
AlgoSoc Seminar Series: Algorithmic Effects on Elections: Using Social Media Data Donations to Study Elections | AlgoSoc
algosoc.org
November 7, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Fabulous online seminar organized by @algosoc.org
Algorithmic Effects on #Elections: Using Social Media Data Donations to Study Elections
🗓️ Fri 12 Dec, 14:00–15:30 CET
@ernesto-deleon.com @favstats.eu @antmandan.bsky.social @simonchauchard.bsky.social
Registration ⬇️
algosoc.org/events/algos...
Algorithmic Effects on #Elections: Using Social Media Data Donations to Study Elections
🗓️ Fri 12 Dec, 14:00–15:30 CET
@ernesto-deleon.com @favstats.eu @antmandan.bsky.social @simonchauchard.bsky.social
Registration ⬇️
algosoc.org/events/algos...
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
📣 Online platforms shape what we know, how we connect, and who gets heard, yet researcher access to public platform data is shrinking, while platforms monetize this data. Our new report "Better Access" offers a framework for accessing this critical data: kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
November 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
📣 Online platforms shape what we know, how we connect, and who gets heard, yet researcher access to public platform data is shrinking, while platforms monetize this data. Our new report "Better Access" offers a framework for accessing this critical data: kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
This has been carried out by amazing Nicolò Pagan, with Chris Bail, Chris Barrie, and Anikó Hannák.
Paper (preprint): arxiv.org/abs/2511.04195
Happy to share prompts, configs, and analysis scripts.
Paper (preprint): arxiv.org/abs/2511.04195
Happy to share prompts, configs, and analysis scripts.
Computational Turing Test Reveals Systematic Differences Between Human and AI Language
Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used in the social sciences to simulate human behavior, based on the assumption that they can generate realistic, human-like text. Yet this assumption rem...
arxiv.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:13 AM
This has been carried out by amazing Nicolò Pagan, with Chris Bail, Chris Barrie, and Anikó Hannák.
Paper (preprint): arxiv.org/abs/2511.04195
Happy to share prompts, configs, and analysis scripts.
Paper (preprint): arxiv.org/abs/2511.04195
Happy to share prompts, configs, and analysis scripts.
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
LLMs are now widely used in social science as stand-ins for humans—assuming they can produce realistic, human-like text
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
Computational Turing Test Reveals Systematic Differences Between Human and AI Language
Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used in the social sciences to simulate human behavior, based on the assumption that they can generate realistic, human-like text. Yet this assumption rem...
arxiv.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:13 AM
LLMs are now widely used in social science as stand-ins for humans—assuming they can produce realistic, human-like text
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
Excited to share that together with @malojan.bsky.social we’ve published a research note in #partypolitics introducing PartySOME, a comprehensive dataset on political parties’ social media activity. A thread 🧵 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
November 5, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Excited to share that together with @malojan.bsky.social we’ve published a research note in #partypolitics introducing PartySOME, a comprehensive dataset on political parties’ social media activity. A thread 🧵 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Hits the nail on the head - “digital politics is driven not just by information, but by personality and performance”
Really enjoyed this thought-provoking in conversation with @profafinlayson.bsky.social renewal.org.uk/articles/the... which is very timely as we start to organise the first Society for Hopeful Technologists community events
The left (still) doesn't understand the internet
Renewal 33.2_Finlayson & JeffreyRenewal 33.2_Finlayson & Jeffrey.pdf161 KBdownload-circle
In June 2025, Nigel Farage boasted on Facebook and X that he had more TikTok subscribers than all other 649...
renewal.org.uk
November 4, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Hits the nail on the head - “digital politics is driven not just by information, but by personality and performance”
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
We are pleased that @sophiaaknight.bsky.social has joined the network as a Visiting Researcher, bringing her expertise in digital technologies and the ways they support and shape civic and democratic participation.
October 30, 2025 at 10:01 AM
We are pleased that @sophiaaknight.bsky.social has joined the network as a Visiting Researcher, bringing her expertise in digital technologies and the ways they support and shape civic and democratic participation.
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
Podcasts are now illegal in China
October 29, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Podcasts are now illegal in China
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
Calling ALL health data folk: Re UK Health Data Research Service.
The UK gov & Wellcome have pledged up to £600 million to create a HDRS.
Myself & an ace team have been tasked by Wellcome to assess the existing health data ecosystem & identify what is needed to support the HDRS 👇.
Get in touch
The UK gov & Wellcome have pledged up to £600 million to create a HDRS.
Myself & an ace team have been tasked by Wellcome to assess the existing health data ecosystem & identify what is needed to support the HDRS 👇.
Get in touch
October 28, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Calling ALL health data folk: Re UK Health Data Research Service.
The UK gov & Wellcome have pledged up to £600 million to create a HDRS.
Myself & an ace team have been tasked by Wellcome to assess the existing health data ecosystem & identify what is needed to support the HDRS 👇.
Get in touch
The UK gov & Wellcome have pledged up to £600 million to create a HDRS.
Myself & an ace team have been tasked by Wellcome to assess the existing health data ecosystem & identify what is needed to support the HDRS 👇.
Get in touch
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
GreenEarth is creating open source AI-driven recommender infrastructure for BlueSky. Type a prompt, see your feed change. We are here for the users, the builders, the dreamers. Join us.
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
Introducing GreenEarth
We're building advanced open source algorithms for social media
greenearthsocial.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:08 AM
GreenEarth is creating open source AI-driven recommender infrastructure for BlueSky. Type a prompt, see your feed change. We are here for the users, the builders, the dreamers. Join us.
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
🟡 New blog post: What does meaningful civic participation look like in a world shaped by third-party platforms? ⬇️
October 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
🟡 New blog post: What does meaningful civic participation look like in a world shaped by third-party platforms? ⬇️
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
If any US tech journalists want to chat with @workersobservatory.org let us know. Could be funding here:
omidyar.com/where-we-foc...
omidyar.com/where-we-foc...
Tech Journalism Fund - Omidyar Network
omidyar.com
October 19, 2025 at 8:20 PM
If any US tech journalists want to chat with @workersobservatory.org let us know. Could be funding here:
omidyar.com/where-we-foc...
omidyar.com/where-we-foc...
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
Work!! 🚨
We are looking for a #postdoc in our AI, media and Democracy Lab @aimediademlab.bsky.social
Dynamic position, great team, nice colleagues 💥
Profile: communication/ poli sci/ computational social sci
🗓️ DL November 1
Spread the word 📣
werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...
We are looking for a #postdoc in our AI, media and Democracy Lab @aimediademlab.bsky.social
Dynamic position, great team, nice colleagues 💥
Profile: communication/ poli sci/ computational social sci
🗓️ DL November 1
Spread the word 📣
werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...
Vacancy — Postdoctoral researcher Communication Science at AI, Media & Democracy Lab
Do you want to be part of the AI, Media & Democracy Lab? We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher with a profile in communication science.
werkenbij.uva.nl
October 19, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Work!! 🚨
We are looking for a #postdoc in our AI, media and Democracy Lab @aimediademlab.bsky.social
Dynamic position, great team, nice colleagues 💥
Profile: communication/ poli sci/ computational social sci
🗓️ DL November 1
Spread the word 📣
werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...
We are looking for a #postdoc in our AI, media and Democracy Lab @aimediademlab.bsky.social
Dynamic position, great team, nice colleagues 💥
Profile: communication/ poli sci/ computational social sci
🗓️ DL November 1
Spread the word 📣
werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...
📚 The Responsible Innovation Centre for Public Media Future's six-part scoping report series is out now! 📚
We've drawn on insights of over 100 experts to set out some of the biggest challenges & opportunities for public media in digital technology and innovation, including...
We've drawn on insights of over 100 experts to set out some of the biggest challenges & opportunities for public media in digital technology and innovation, including...
October 17, 2025 at 3:29 PM
📚 The Responsible Innovation Centre for Public Media Future's six-part scoping report series is out now! 📚
We've drawn on insights of over 100 experts to set out some of the biggest challenges & opportunities for public media in digital technology and innovation, including...
We've drawn on insights of over 100 experts to set out some of the biggest challenges & opportunities for public media in digital technology and innovation, including...
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
📣 New Publication - 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐁𝐂
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝: Conducted 22 expert interviews & a workshop in London to explore the principles-to-practices gap of responsible AI at the BBC. 🧵 with some findings 👇
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝: Conducted 22 expert interviews & a workshop in London to explore the principles-to-practices gap of responsible AI at the BBC. 🧵 with some findings 👇
October 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM
📣 New Publication - 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐁𝐂
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝: Conducted 22 expert interviews & a workshop in London to explore the principles-to-practices gap of responsible AI at the BBC. 🧵 with some findings 👇
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝: Conducted 22 expert interviews & a workshop in London to explore the principles-to-practices gap of responsible AI at the BBC. 🧵 with some findings 👇
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
The British Podcast Awards featured a strange “glitch” that everyone found amusing; but has interesting implications. Most of the winners were upstairs in the cheap balcony seats, meaning there was a few minutes’ delay on almost EVERY award as the winners went down the back stairs to the stage. >>
October 3, 2025 at 7:42 AM
The British Podcast Awards featured a strange “glitch” that everyone found amusing; but has interesting implications. Most of the winners were upstairs in the cheap balcony seats, meaning there was a few minutes’ delay on almost EVERY award as the winners went down the back stairs to the stage. >>
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
"While we heard throughout the research that people value the role of local news, the word 'journalism' can evoke partisanship or elitism for some audiences, while 'media' sounds like entertainment to many people." www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/dont...
Don’t dwell on “democracy,” and other new findings about how to market local news
"Here’s the paradox: 93% of people believe reliable local news is necessary for democracy, yet many of these same people react negatively to explicit 'democracy' messaging."
www.niemanlab.org
October 2, 2025 at 8:24 PM
"While we heard throughout the research that people value the role of local news, the word 'journalism' can evoke partisanship or elitism for some audiences, while 'media' sounds like entertainment to many people." www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/dont...
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
Wrote something for @powertochange.org.uk about the fact that government policy must include a new category - digital social policy - to address the social impacts of technologies. Tech policy has to be more than cutting-edge innovation and growth www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and...
October 2, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Wrote something for @powertochange.org.uk about the fact that government policy must include a new category - digital social policy - to address the social impacts of technologies. Tech policy has to be more than cutting-edge innovation and growth www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and...
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
We have heard about how the welfare system treats those that depend on it, including poor communication, limited transparency, delays, and long waiting times.
But a welfare system is possible 🗣️
Read the latest blog from @j-hancock.bsky.social: demos.co.uk/blogs/puttin...
But a welfare system is possible 🗣️
Read the latest blog from @j-hancock.bsky.social: demos.co.uk/blogs/puttin...
Putting humanity at the heart of welfare
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 7:49 AM
We have heard about how the welfare system treats those that depend on it, including poor communication, limited transparency, delays, and long waiting times.
But a welfare system is possible 🗣️
Read the latest blog from @j-hancock.bsky.social: demos.co.uk/blogs/puttin...
But a welfare system is possible 🗣️
Read the latest blog from @j-hancock.bsky.social: demos.co.uk/blogs/puttin...
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
📢 New Journal Article: AI & Deliberation 📢
What impact does #AI have on democratic deliberation? Together with @adrauc.bsky.social, I explore this question in a new article in Government Information Quarterly. Findings in the thread 🧵👇
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
(1/7)
What impact does #AI have on democratic deliberation? Together with @adrauc.bsky.social, I explore this question in a new article in Government Information Quarterly. Findings in the thread 🧵👇
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
(1/7)
Artificial Intelligence in deliberation: The AI penalty and the emergence of a new deliberative divide
Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) promise help for democratic deliberation, such as processing information, moderating discussion, and fact-che…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 29, 2025 at 12:21 PM
📢 New Journal Article: AI & Deliberation 📢
What impact does #AI have on democratic deliberation? Together with @adrauc.bsky.social, I explore this question in a new article in Government Information Quarterly. Findings in the thread 🧵👇
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
(1/7)
What impact does #AI have on democratic deliberation? Together with @adrauc.bsky.social, I explore this question in a new article in Government Information Quarterly. Findings in the thread 🧵👇
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
(1/7)
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
“AI sovereignty, as it currently plays out outside of the U.S.-China vacuum, is not a banner‐waving claim to territorial control; rather, it manifests itself as the quiet right to decide what counts as knowledge & how that knowledge shows up in the world.”
— @digitaldang.bsky.social
#ai #aistacks
— @digitaldang.bsky.social
#ai #aistacks
A Third Path For AI Beyond The US-China Binary | NOEMA
What if the future of AI isn’t defined by Washington or Beijing, but by improvisation elsewhere?
www.noemamag.com
September 16, 2025 at 6:39 PM
“AI sovereignty, as it currently plays out outside of the U.S.-China vacuum, is not a banner‐waving claim to territorial control; rather, it manifests itself as the quiet right to decide what counts as knowledge & how that knowledge shows up in the world.”
— @digitaldang.bsky.social
#ai #aistacks
— @digitaldang.bsky.social
#ai #aistacks
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
Delighted that @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social has identified the same problem. Digital ID compounds smartphone dystopia
www.thetimes.com/article/bcc1...
www.thetimes.com/article/bcc1...
Digital ID compounds smartphone dystopia
Just as the world is understanding how damaging they are for our brains and souls, this plan makes them compulsory
www.thetimes.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Delighted that @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social has identified the same problem. Digital ID compounds smartphone dystopia
www.thetimes.com/article/bcc1...
www.thetimes.com/article/bcc1...
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
I’ve worked on and off on digital identity for a decade. I have plenty of thoughts about the UK govt proposal.
Right now though, based on my work with 14-24 year olds I’m curious how a compulsory DIGITAL ID will help with extricating young people from mobile devices? 🤷🏻♀️
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Right now though, based on my work with 14-24 year olds I’m curious how a compulsory DIGITAL ID will help with extricating young people from mobile devices? 🤷🏻♀️
www.gov.uk/government/n...
New digital ID scheme to be rolled out across UK
A new digital ID scheme will help combat illegal working while making it easier for the vast majority of people to use vital government services. Digital ID will be mandatory for Right to Work checks ...
www.gov.uk
September 26, 2025 at 1:20 PM
I’ve worked on and off on digital identity for a decade. I have plenty of thoughts about the UK govt proposal.
Right now though, based on my work with 14-24 year olds I’m curious how a compulsory DIGITAL ID will help with extricating young people from mobile devices? 🤷🏻♀️
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Right now though, based on my work with 14-24 year olds I’m curious how a compulsory DIGITAL ID will help with extricating young people from mobile devices? 🤷🏻♀️
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
I'd like to see UK data centre plan developed with net zero goals, community health and opportunity, and local renewal in mind. What is the upside of living and working near to a data centre? And if there isn't one, govt needs to *create* one.
September 25, 2025 at 7:15 AM
I'd like to see UK data centre plan developed with net zero goals, community health and opportunity, and local renewal in mind. What is the upside of living and working near to a data centre? And if there isn't one, govt needs to *create* one.
Reposted by Sophia A. Knight
📣 NEW: How can we validate claims about AI? Many AI companies often base their testing on specific tasks but overstate their overall capabilities. Our latest policy brief presents a three-step validation framework for separating legitimate from unsupported claims. hai.stanford.edu/policy/valid...
September 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
📣 NEW: How can we validate claims about AI? Many AI companies often base their testing on specific tasks but overstate their overall capabilities. Our latest policy brief presents a three-step validation framework for separating legitimate from unsupported claims. hai.stanford.edu/policy/valid...