UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Natalie Bazarova, professor of communication, director of the Social Media Lab and associate vice provost for research at Cornell University, will present “Fostering Healthier Digital Ecosystems Through Prosocial Design and Digital Literacy Interventions” at 12:10 p.m. on April 9 in E208 Westgate Building at Penn State University Park.
The talk is hosted by the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) as part of its Distinguished Lecture Series, which connects researchers, experts and thought leaders with the Penn State community to share perspectives and insights on topics at the frontier of information sciences and technology. Bazarova was invited by Kelley Cotter, assistant professor in IST's Department of Human-Centered Computing and Social Informatics and affiliate faculty member with the Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence and the Social Science Research Institute.
Bazarova studies how people communicate and behave in online communities. Her research explores how technology shapes our relationships, well-being and everyday interactions. She uses these insights to develop tools and programs that promote digital and artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, online safety and more positive online behavior.
In this talk, she will discuss “upstanding,” which refers to people speaking up to support others in the face of online harassment. Drawing on studies that recreate realistic social media environments, Bazarova explores what helps people move from silence to action. She identifies barriers that hold people back and highlights ways that platform design, social norms and digital literacy efforts can encourage more positive behavior. The talk also considers the growing role of AI as a tool that can help people respond to harmful content and support healthier online communities.
IST’s Distinguished Lecture Series aims to enrich the educational experiences of attendees, inspire thought-provoking conversations and collaborations and showcase a diverse array of people, backgrounds and ideas in the information sciences and related fields.
The lecture is free and open to the Penn State community.
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