Cogent Social Sciences

In the context of an increasingly algorithmic, datafied and platformised world, most areas in life – at least in the global North/‘West’ – are fast becoming digital by default. Part of this process has also meant the social mediatisation of digital infrastructures (e.g. logging into a service via social media, the need to interact and collect data through online social networks), where digital engagement and social engagement have become almost synonymous.

These techno-social developments can be exciting, innovative, and even crucial at times, as the recent global digital responses to the COVID-19 pandemic proved. But what are the social, cultural, political, ethical, economic and environmental implications of our increasingly digital and social mediatised life? Can we uncouple the digital from the social? Such questions become even more pertinent as AI and non-human actors are entering our digital-social sphere.

We welcome theoretical and/or empirical contributions that explore the following themes in any relevant area (e.g. education, politics, consumer culture, health, entertainment, law, social policy, economy, environment, etc.):

• Digital (in)equality and power (especially those between the global North/South)
• Identity, intersectionality, representation
• Technology/smart technology and design
• Digital intimacy, sexuality and love
• Virtual spaces and communities
• Algorithmic/AI decision-making
• Politics of refusal, digital disengagement/disconnection/reduction
• Digital rights, justice and ethics (e.g. surveillance, consent, privacy and data-mining)
• New digital and platform economies

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Dr. Esperanza Miyake is a Chancellor’s Fellow in Journalism, Media and Communication at the University of Strathclyde. Specialising in the critical analysis of gender, race and technology, Esperanza has published a wide range of articles and books in the areas of digital, media and cultural studies, focusing on issues relating to inequality and the oppression of those marginalised. Esperanza has worked with the Scottish Government on issues relating to public data and its ethical use, and also written for international media outlets such as The New York Times and Newsweek Japan.

Institutional page: https://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/miyakeesperanzadr/

Disclosure Statement: Dr. Miyake has no conflict of interest to disclose.

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All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member). Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 1 July 2024.

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