Influencer Ethnography Research Lab (IERLab) at Curtin University is thrilled to host an in-person masterclass on 03 July 2024 (9am-12pm). In this masterclass, world-leading media scholar Dr Jing Zeng from the University of Zurich will present an introductory class on “Computational Approach to Researching Visual Social Media”.

Computational Approach to Researching Visual Social Media: An Introduction

Computational methods are becoming increasingly relevant in visual social media research, offering powerful tools to collect and analyse multimodal data. This masterclass provides an introduction for researchers interested in exploring how computational tools can be used to study visual content on social media platforms. A variety of tools used to analyse multimodal data from social media, (e.g. Instagram pots, TikTok videos) will be covered. The talk will explore key questions such, how machines "see" images, how generative AI can be integrated into visual media research, and the limitations and potential of these methods. Through demonstrations, participants will gain a practical understanding of these approaches. The masterclass will feature hands-on exercises, giving participants the opportunity to apply visual analysis tools.

Dr Jing Zeng is a digital media researcher. Jing has written extensively on topics such as misinformation, online activism, and short video platforms. She also specializes in computational methods for digital media research. Jing is an Assistant Professor of Computational Communication Science at the Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Switzerland.

There will also be casual meet-and-greet and social networking opportunities for participants during the event. We encourage HDRs to join us.

The event is not catered, but tea and instant coffee will be available.

This is a free event, but space is limited to 20 participants. RSVP is required.