“As someone who came of professional age in this climate and is deeply enmeshed in academic micro-celebrity processes, I have some experience with orchestrated outrage and social media attacks on academic legitimacy. As an assistant professor, I have some experiences with institutional cultures during such campaigns, although not as much as my more senior colleagues. I have also consulted with organizations and academic offices on various forms of social media training, including organizational analysis and crisis management. This draws on my work experience in corporate marketing, my academic experience with colleagues at the Microsoft Social Media Collective and Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. Finally, I occasionally study status, internet cultures, and organizations.
Here are some take-aways from my experience:”
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Dr. McMillan Cottom is an assistant professor in the department of sociology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her work includes key contributions to understanding how inequality leads to the productions of particular technologies and digital media.