Sophia A. Knight
PhD Candidate @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social - podcasts, political communication & computational social science
Research Lead in Civic & Democratic Participation Online at Responsible Innovation Centre, BBC R&D
Visiting Researcher @digitalgoodnet.bsky.social
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightThank you for an excellent #PfP✨London Showcase @thebristolcable.bsky.social @aendra.com @jeremiahlee.bsky.social @mozdatacollective.bsky.social 👏👏👏
- Reposted by Sophia A. Knight🗣️ Here's some coverage by @npr.org on our recent @goodauth.bsky.social post !
- Posts have been going viral on social media accusing TikTok's new owners of suppressing content, but eight academics examined the issue and found no evidence to support the claims. n.pr/3MhKyjQ
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightWas TikTok blocking certain political posts last week? We investigated & found no systematic evidence of political censorship on TT post-restructuring at this point. A server outage better explains the data. But the story isn't over, and platforms need to provide the public more transparency.
- Reposted by Sophia A. Knight🌐 📲 With international collaborators, the Observatory’s director @andreucasas.bsky.social revisited recent “TikTok censorship” claims after the TikTok USDS takeover ➡️ Detailed information about the analysis available: goodauthority.org/news/was-the... 🧵[1/5]
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightOur next webinar is tomorrow, with Łukasz Szulc, discussing the ethical challenges of archive research data from marginalised and minoritised people. Register here: luma.com/v4yext2v
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightStill time to apply: New Generation Thinkers 2026 AHRC is partnering with BBC Radio 4 to offer five early-career researchers the opportunity to work with programme makers, appear on air, and gain first-hand experience of how ideas make it to broadcast. Apply by 28 Jan 2026
- Strong recommendation for an anti-brainrot January! The series already features two of my personal heroes - Sor Juana Inés De La Cruz & Simone Weil 💛
- how incredibly lovely, from The Observer. Human Intelligence is "like a vitamin shot for the brain": observer.co.uk/culture/audi...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightThere's just over a month until our Digital Good Research Fund closes. We're looking for individuals (or small teams) to produce blueprints around what a good digital society looks like. Each one will focus on an aspect of social life or societal institution. digitalgood.net/call-for-app...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightHappy Wreath of Khan season to all who celebrate
- Holy mixed signals, Batman… 😵💫
- Reader, it was cancelled.
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightCheck out our newest piece on @goodauth.bsky.social! Especially if you are someone who thinks the left needs a "Joe Rogan of the left". Exciting analysis from our new podcast dataset👇. Huge kudos to project leads @melinamuch.bsky.social & Kylan Rutherford!
- Tracks with my MSc dissertation on Rogan back in 2022 - the “far right” characterisation never made much sense to me & obscures a lot of what is actually interesting about the popularity of the show
- Is Joe Rogan really just a voice of the right? Our new @csmapnyu.org piece for @goodauth.bsky.social shows he’s just as much a space for the left and the center, too. A look inside today’s surprisingly complicated podcast information ecosystem. 🎙️ goodauthority.org/news/podcast...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightEnjoyed this by @nickfthilton.bsky.social on what counts as a podcast. I wonder if we need a word like carcinisation, the tendency for organisms to become crabs, to reflect the many evolutionary paths to podcasts. Podcarcinisation doesn't make etymological sense but has a nice ring to it
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightTime to share some news I've been sitting on: starting in January, I will lead a @dfg.de Emmy Noether Group at @weizenbauminstitut.bsky.social! We will investigate how local public spheres are constituted under conditions of digitalization & globalization. www.weizenbaum-institut.de/en/research/...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightI wanted dinner recommendations so I scraped 13,000+ London restaurants and accidentally discovered Google Maps is running a shadow economy. Anyway here's a dashboard and a political economy thesis: open.substack.com/pub/laurenle...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightFabulous 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...
- 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...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightThis 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.
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightLLMs 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.🧵
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightExcited 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
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightWe 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. KnightPodcasts are now illegal in China
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightCalling 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
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightGreenEarth 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...
- 🟡 New blog post: What does meaningful civic participation look like in a world shaped by third-party platforms? ⬇️
- 🟡 Public spaces for accessing and debating information are vital for a healthy democracy. Yet, our digital public spaces are being shaped by profit-seeking incentives, not public interest.
- 🟡 The UK’s civic landscape is fracturing in the face of ongoing economic, social and political challenges. Finding safe and reliable spaces to access and debate information has become increasingly difficult.
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View full thread🟡 If you're interested in learning more, you can find the blog post and full report on PSM and Democracy in the Digital Age here: www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightIf any US tech journalists want to chat with @workersobservatory.org let us know. Could be funding here: omidyar.com/where-we-foc...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightWork!! 🚨 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...
- 🟡 My report on Public Service Media and Democracy in the Digital Age, ft. insights from leading thinkers @ethanz.bsky.social @idpiumass.bsky.social @publicspaces.net @angelquicksey.bsky.social @newpublic.org @vpro.nl @felixsimon.bsky.social @reutersinstitute.bsky.social @zizip.bsky.social 🟡
- 🔴🟢 My colleagues @bronwynjo.bsky.social on Responsible AI and Public Service Journalism downloads.bbc.co.uk/rd/responsib... & @helenljay.bsky.social on Public Service Media in an Age of Personalisation downloads.bbc.co.uk/rd/responsib... 🟢🔴
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View full threadThank you to all of our BBC R&D and Advisory colleagues who have supported this research and a huge shout out to @rhianne-j.bsky.social for her hard work setting up the Responsible Innovation Centre! It has been a busy and brilliant few months and I'm excited to share what comes next ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
- 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 👇
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightThe 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...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightWrote 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. KnightWe 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...
- 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)
- 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
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightDelighted that @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social has identified the same problem. Digital ID compounds smartphone dystopia www.thetimes.com/article/bcc1...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightI’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...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightI'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...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightThis free digi inclusion booklet will be distributed in libraries and community venues in Liverpool 😍 It covers a wide range of topics including how to apply for jobs, manage money, avoid scams, and spot misinformation 👉 api.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/wp-content/u... #localgov @dxw.com
- Reposted by Sophia A. Knight“Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.” Wayne Gretzky 🏒 (also New_ Public) We’re looking for a short-term Research Fellow to help us identify emerging trends and explore how the growth of AI is impacting digital public spaces.
- Reposted by Sophia A. Knight🏘️ "We're losing our neighborhoods" w/ @caseyrandazzo.bsky.social et al. 8 months post-Hurricane Ida: Online groups (organizing/informal) & town halls (formal/structured) discussed similar topics. Crisis effects extend far beyond emergency response. #CrisisInformatics; arxiv.org/abs/2503.07892
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightRESEARCH: Participating in local conversations can strengthen your connection to your community, online & off. A study found active, long-term participants in their local subreddit were more likely to be civically involved & report a higher sense of belonging. journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
- Excellent, vital work! 👏
- Always a bit awkward to do these posts but I was delighted to learn at the Future of Journalism Conference last week that I won @digitaljournalism.bsky.social's Outstanding Article of the Year Award for my paper on how AI reshapes the news' dependency on platforms companies.
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightThe internet is not a monolith. But what I have felt the entire week (and what I felt last week writing about the MN shooter's viral video) is that so many people are dedicated to having the highest stakes conversations and fights about crucially important things in the worst possible venues.
- Small correction - correct handle for LGA is @local.gov.uk 😅
- We’ve just launched a paper I wrote as a freelancer for the Independent Commision on Neighbourhoods! Thank you all of the brilliant interviewees, including @helenmilner.bsky.social @goodthingsfdn.bsky.social, @learnforlife.bsky.social, @localgovernment.bsky.social & more ⭐️
- We’ve just launched a paper I wrote as a freelancer for the Independent Commision on Neighbourhoods! Thank you all of the brilliant interviewees, including @helenmilner.bsky.social @goodthingsfdn.bsky.social, @learnforlife.bsky.social, @localgovernment.bsky.social & more ⭐️
- For the government to achieve its digital ambitions, they need to embed digital inclusion by creating the conditions throughout the system to empower community-led initiatives at a neighbourhood level 👩🏻💻👨🏽💻
- That means supporting those working on the frontlines to build trust with people who are currently disconnected from digital society, in their own communities 🏡
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View full threadRead the full report here ➡️ www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/hyper...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightEvery Star Trek episode that was derided as "unrealistic", where Kirk argues a computer into destroying itself, is vindicated.
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightAt long last, I can post my team's summer project: applied modules to teach how ML/AI tools are changing social science and humanities research: ubcecon.github.io/praxis-ubc/ Highlights: LegalBERT to analyze anti/pro-immigrant sentiment in 19th c. BC law: ubcecon.github.io/praxis-ubc/d... 🧵1
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightGood to feel seen
- Reposted by Sophia A. Knight“The last decade has made clear that we aren’t going to fact-check or inoculate our way toward a healthier civic culture.” — @zevesanderson.com & Scott Babwah Brennen #misinformation #disinformation #democracy
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightWhat a paragraph
- Reposted by Sophia A. Knight"In short, every trend of what is happening with online ads is the opposite of what it would in a world in which ever-better data is improving their targeting and relevance year-on-year. Companies can’t target ads, no-one can track who’s being shown what, and the public hates what we see."
- Reposted by Sophia A. Knight📣Job alert! We're hiring a Policy Researcher. Join us to work on projects looking at how AI governance, including regulations, assurance and standards, helps ensure that AI works for people and society. Closing: 9:30am BST, Monday 15 September. www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/job/policy-r...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightReading list from the talk! I.e., the references slide
- A nice discovery today: #ic2s2 keynotes are on Youtube! In particular, I think the papers listed by @lauraknelson.bsky.social in her keynote could form a great list for a CSS reading group. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXYg...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightGreat piece from @himself.bsky.social about his new paper with @hahrie.bsky.social for our AI & Democratic Freedoms series - link below. www.programmablemutter.com/p/the-ai-dem...
- Reposted by Sophia A. KnightWhat if one solution to winning back the public's trust is...to trust the public? Weekend Essay for @newstatesman.com on the labour movement's long history of working with communities to make life a bit better, based on my paper for @iconeighbours.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
- Reposted by Sophia A. Knight🇪🇺 What could a sovereign, independent European digital infrastructure look like? A workshop organised with @algosoc.org & ASCA brought together leading voices from various academic disciplines and the media industry to reflect on alternatives to current digital infrastructures. 🪡 Findings thread:
