Project News Consumption on Visual Social Media Platforms Program Individual Research & Mentoring Opportunities Term Spring 2025 Status Accepted Research Area Communication, Social Media, Computer Science Description This project invites applications for a position of undergraduate research assistant. Our research focuses on the intersection of news, social media, and democracy. We investigate how people encounter political information in the social and digital environment and the consequences that information has for our political attitudes and behaviors. Specifically, this project will use a simulated social media feed to examine how people consume image- and video-based news content on visually-oriented social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, etc.). Terms: Spring/Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026. Research credit may be available for the Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026 semesters. Supervisor Jessica Renee Collier Mentor Type of work required The main responsibilities for the Research Assistant Developer (RAD) include:
- Assist in coding the simulated social media feed to mimic real-world platforms (e.g., implement user interactions such as liking, commenting, sharing)
- Maintain clear and organized documentation for the code, procedures, and development of simulated tools
- Assist in developing methods for tracking and storing user interactions in a structured format
- Offer input on the experimental design and implementation based on personal understanding of user behavior and platform dynamics Websites Qualifications Experience with coding/programming languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript, or similar) | Familiarity with social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram | Basic understanding of data management systems for tracking user interactions | 4 hours of availability on a weekly basis Credit Hours 0 Weekly Hours 4 (estimated)