This week, I am virtually attending the annual Association of Internet Researchers Conference (#AoIR2021). I’ve been an active member of AoIR since 2014, and decided that since this year’s event is virtual again and more accessible, I would not submit a lead/solo piece but instead focus on mentoring my mentees and students. It’s my first non-presenting AoIR, but also the first AoIR for many of my collaborators, which makes me very happy! Below is a list of the papers I had the opportunity to contribute to, including Open Access links to our conference proceedings and links to the brief 3-minute versions of talks on YouTube. Enjoy <3

*

With my (now-graduated) postgraduate research intern Chen (Ann) Guo, sharing research from her stint with me: “Liziqi and Chinese Rural YouTube Videos: Scoping a Genre”.
–A full version of the paper is forthcoming in a journal.
–Read the conference proceeding here.
–Watch the talk here.

*

With my PhD Student Rachel Anne Berryman, together with co-supervisor Tama Leaver, sharing some preliminary research from her PhD: “A Topography of Virtual Influencers”.
–Read the conference proceeding here.
–Watch the talk here.
–Learn more about Rachel’s research on Twitter and her website.
–Learn more about Tama’s research on Twitter and this website.

*

With my (now-graduated) long-time research assistant Poh Yu Ting, sharing research from one of our collaborative projects as she commences an Adjunct Research Fellowship with me: “Douyin and TikTok: A Cross-language Systematic Review of Academic Scholarship on Sister Apps”.
–A full version of the paper is forthcoming in a journal.
–Read the conference proceeding here.
–Watch the talk here.
–Learn more about Yu Ting’s research on Twitter.

*

With my Visiting PhD Student Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú, sharing research from one of two projects completed during her stint: “Cross-cultural storytelling approaches in TikTok’s music challenges”.
–A full version of the paper is forthcoming in a journal.
–Read the conference proceeding here.
–Watch the talk here.
–Learn more about Arantxa’s research on Twitter and her website.

*

With my friend and trusty collaborator Zhao Xinyu (Andy), sharing research from one of our several TikTok projects as part of the TikTok Cultures Research Network: “TikTok’s ‘Fox Eye’ Trend and Everyday Activism: Gen Z Agency in an Audiovisual Narrative Case study”.
–A full version of the paper is forthcoming in a journal.
–Read the conference proceeding here.
–Watch the talk here.
–Learn more about Xinyu (Andy)’s research on Twitter.

*

And finally, with several close friends and colleagues, a bunch of us are presenting a panel featuring discussions on how to research platforms, based on our newly published books: “Platform Specificities: The Platform Books Panel”.
–Read the conference proceeding here.
–Watch the talk here.
–Read the tumblr book by Katrin Tiidenberg, Natalie Ann Hendry, and myself here.
–Read the Instagram book by Tama Leaver, Tim Highfield, and myself here, and learn more via the book’s Twitter and Instagram.
–Panel also features talks on a forthcoming TikTok book by D. Bondy Valdovinos Kaye, Jing (Meg) Zeng, Patrik Wikström; a Facebook book by Taina Bucher; and a WeChat book by Jack Linchuan Qiu, Julie Yujie Chen, Zhifei Mao.

*

Take care + Keep well,
/C