New PhD thesis in Computer Science about social media interactions

29 August 2024

Marie Beckman

In June, Alireza Mohammadinodooshan at the Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA) successfully defended his thesis on understanding user engagement with news on social media platforms.

vector illustration of people following news on social media

Congratulations on your PhD! What was your background when you started your PhD?

"I received my Master's in IT about ten years before starting my PhD studies. During this time, I worked as a developer in the industry and as a lecturer and faculty member in academia, gaining valuable experience that bridged practical and theoretical knowledge."

What is it like to be a PhD student at IDA?

"Being a PhD student at IDA is a rewarding experience filled with opportunities for growth and learning. However, PhD studies inherently come with moments of uncertainty and stress. During these times, having access to the expertise of dedicated researchers makes a significant difference. At IDA, I was fortunate to receive continuous guidance from a knowledgeable supervisor, Niklas Carlsson, who invested considerable time to ensure I stayed focused to overcome challenges."

What do you want to do next?

"Right after finishing my PhD studies, I have started my new position as a postdoctoral researcher with WASP, Wallenberg AI autonomous systems and software program.This time, I did not need to wait another ten years to decide, thanks to the support and encouragement I received during my PhD."

A summary of the thesis by Alireza Mohammadinodooshan

Social media platforms have become primary sources of news for many users, but not all news shared is reliable. False and biased news can significantly shape public opinion, amplify polarisation, and influence societal debates. This makes understanding how users interact with news on social media crucial.

In his doctoral thesis, Alireza Mohammadinodooshan has studied the dynamics of user engagement with different classes of news on social media. His studies analyzed how users interact with news content categorised by political bias and reliability. This research introduces several innovations and tackles some key challenges. One innovation is the comprehensive, multi-platform analysis, which includes both public and private engagement metrics. The study also uses advanced methodologies to control for content variations and exposure factors, providing more accurate insights. The findings benefit multiple stakeholders, enabling news publishers, policymakers, and individual users to develop targeted strategies to promote reliable information and healthy online discourse.

To the thesis: Data-driven Contributions to Understanding User Engagement Dynamics on Social Media

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Doctoral studies in computer and information science

Doctoral studies in Computer Science

Computer Science is an interdisciplinary subject area, covering everything from basic studies of algorithms, computational processes, and knowledge representation to informatics and computer linguistics.

Doctoral Studies at the Department of Computer and Information Science

Doctoral studies at the Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA) are organised to cross traditional subject boundaries, and is common to the whole department.

Organisation

Database and Information Techniques (ADIT)

The division Database and Information Techniques is part of the Department of Computer and Information Science. The division consists of several research groups, each of which has its own research profile.

Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA)

The Department of Computer and Information Science is one of the largest departments in northern Europe in its field. Research activity covers artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, software and computer systems, and data science.

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