Research Topic

Social Solidarity in the Age of Algorithmic Communication

Drawing on themes from cultural sociology, urban studies, media studies, and moral philosophy, Jun Yu's research project aims to explore the potential contradiction between the condition of communication under which we live today and social solidarity - a concept that has long been considered as a crucial precondition for different people to live and enjoy a communal, social life together. The primary goal of his project is to investigate how social solidarity can be articulated within the transition to a data-rich environment, with a special focus on the effect of 'algorithmic personalization' that powers the operation of most major digital platforms.

Jun's general research interests are broad and interdisciplinary, but they generally fall into the two following areas. The first concerns: social and democratic theories; justice and ethics; civil society and public sphere; and urban studies. The other focuses on Big Data analytics; dataveillance, privacy, and freedom; datafied education; and algorithmic culture.

Supervisors: Professor Nick Couldry and Professor Myria Georgiou

Biography

Jun was first trained as a philosopher, but ended up completing his Bachelor's degree in Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London. He worked as a researcher for an international news agency in London, and then as a research associate for an overseas government-approved media regulatory authority. He holds two Master's degrees: one in Sociology from the University of Cambridge, and the other in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is currently working with Professor Nick Couldry on the project The Price of Connection.