Carolina Are
Department: Sociology
Email: Carolina.Are@city.ac.uk
PhD Title: Online Hate Speech on High Profile Criminal Cases: A Modus Operandi
Education
- City, University of London - Introductory Certificate for Academic Practice (2017-2018)
- University of Sydney – Master in Criminology (2016-2017)
- City, University of London – BA Journalism (2011-2014)
- Liceo Classico Antonio Gramsci, Olbia, Italy (2007-2011)
Research topic
My research aims at identifying the typical patterns of digitised hate speech by analysing the Twitter conversation around high profile criminal cases. My thesis is evolving into a blend of harassment, defamation and insults that tends to result in the sharing of conspiracy theories and misinformation.
The internet should not be a space for people to harass or threaten others without fear of punishment: that goes beyond our right to freedom of speech. In overlooking the importance of a safe, constructive online environment, we are not only doing hate speech and flaming victims a disservice – we are doing a disservice to our community as a whole. Furthermore, digitised hate speech, especially if targeting high profile criminal cases, does not only lower the tone of public debate, but also undermines the foundation of the Criminal Justice System. It can jeopardise one of democracy’s pillars, such as the concept of right to a fair trial, and bypass the media to share fabricated information that influences public decision-making.
Considering that digitised hate speech on high profile criminal cases often relates to the law, current affairs and the online sentiment mirroring the social issues of our times, this research hopes to define and understand what appears to be an ailment of society, a modern version of “anomie”, Durkheim’s theory of social malaise occurring as a result of economic, technological and societal changes within society, applying it to the social media age.
Supervisor
Eugene McLaughlin
Michael Saker
Research Interests
- Cyber harassment
- Social networks
- Conspiracy Theories
- Social media research ethics
- Freedom of expression
- Misinformation
- Censorship
- Social Media Law
Conferences:
- ECREA 2014
- International Journalism Festival 2015
- Data Natives 2018, City University, London, 28 April 2018
- Engage Europe's INsPIrE Academic Conference - Brussels, June 2018
- International Criminology Conference 2018, Washington DC, 12 October 2018
- RIPE 78, Reykjavík 20-24 May 2019
- Eurocrim 2019
Teaching
- Introduction to Criminal Justice, Spring 2018 (Criminology/Sociology)
- Key Issues in Criminology, Autumn 2018 (Criminology/Sociology)
- Online and Social Media Journalism, Spring 2019 (Journalism)
- Wordpress Workshop for the Refugee Journalism Project, London College of Communication, Spring 2019 (Journalism)
Publications
- Book chapter 'When two fan subcultures meet: The interpenetration of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Twin Peaks in “Fire Werk with Me."' - in 'RuPaul's Drag Race and Philosophy: Sissy That Thought (Popular Culture and Philosophy)'
- Indicators of Online Hate Speech and Why it Should be Regulated, RIPE78
- Book review: John Mair, Tor Clark, Neil Fowler, Raymond Snoddy and Richard Tait (eds) Anti-social media? The impact on journalism and society - in Journalism
- How do social media facilitate the spreading of conspiracy theories and fake news? A case study of flaming and #McCann - in Innovative educational and media practices for an inclusive and participatory Europe - ACADEMIC PAPERS
Features:
- The British Sociological Association (print feature): "Making Waves: PhD Students Write About Their Influential Research"
- SLEEK Magazine: Has RuPaul’s Drag Race’s toxic fandom gone too far?
- Times Higher Education: Research intelligence: how to promote your work online
- Euronews: How are people reacting to the latest Brexit plot twist? | #TheCube
- The i Paper: How no-show students could be killing the university lecture
- The Real Girl: Unsocial networks