Social Media Lab

The Stanford Social Media Lab works on understanding psychological and interpersonal processes in social media. The team specializes in using computational linguistics and behavioral experiments to understand how the words we use can reveal psychological and social dynamics, such as deception and trust, emotional dynamics, and relationships.

OPEN NOW: Social Media Lab Fellowships

Two new Social Media Lab fellowship applications are open now, through December 4th, 2024. Stanford Social Media Lab postdocs will pursue research on communication, psychological, HCI, political, social, and policy perspectives of social technology.

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Zoom Burnout Is Real and It's Worse for Women

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Older Adults, Social Technologies, and the Coronavirus Pandemic: Challenges, Strengths, and Strategies for Support

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Experience with Social Distancing Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States: Implications for Public Health Messaging

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Initiatives from the Stanford Social Media Lab

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Digital Strength Initiative

The Digital Strength Initiative teaches people how to “flex” their digital strength by empowering them with the skills and autonomy to determine the authenticity of online information sources.

Jeff Hancock

Director, Social Media Lab

Professor in the Department of Communication

Jeff Hancock is founding director of the Stanford Social Media Lab and is a Professor in the Department of Communication at Stanford University. Professor Hancock and his group work on understanding psychological and interpersonal processes in social media.

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cover link https://cyber.fsi.stanford.edu/people/sunny-xun-liu

Sunny Xun Liu

Associate Director at Stanford Social Media Lab

Social Science Research Scientist

Sunny Xun Liu is a Social Science Research Scientist and Associate Director at Stanford Social Media Lab. Liu earned her Ph.D. in Mass Communication and Media from Michigan State University. Her research focuses on the social and psychological effects of social media and AI, social media and well-being, and how the design of social robots impact psychological perceptions.

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Researchers and Scholars