sarah edwards's Avatar

sarah edwards

@seedwards.bsky.social

Assistant Professor of Media Studies, North Central College. Feminist media studies, influencer industry, platforms, labor, and tech. Formerly: UW-Madison Comm Arts, Social Media Collective. She/her.

1,501 Followers  |  228 Following  |  6 Posts  |  Joined: 11.07.2023  |  1.8289

Latest posts by seedwards.bsky.social on Bluesky

Preview
The Open-Source Software Saving the Internet From AI Bot Scrapers Anubis, which block AI scrapers from scraping websites to death, has been downloaded almost 200,000 times.

New from 404 Media: the open-source piece of software saving the internet from AI bot scrapers. Anubis has been downloaded almost 200,000 times. We spoke to the creator: www.404media.co/the-open-sou...

07.07.2025 13:24 β€” πŸ‘ 201    πŸ” 86    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 7
Post image

OPPOSITION TO AI workshop at #cscw2025 with @saysvera.bsky.social @richmondywong.bsky.social and more... ‬ Position papers due by July 1, details and CFP at oppositiontoai.wordpress.com

The resistance is growing --JOIN US!

21.06.2025 13:36 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

✨New publication! My article β€œThe limits of 'zero tolerance' policies for animated pornographic media” just got released in @pornstudiesjournal.bsky.social!! www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Reach out if you don’t have access and want a copy (preprint below) πŸ“©

🧡 of the findings πŸ‘‡

29.05.2025 16:00 β€” πŸ‘ 66    πŸ” 28    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 3
Preview
Big Tech takes a harder line against worker activism, political dissent A tighter labor market and lower corporate tolerance has stifled employee input on controversies over company policy, AI safety and the Israel-Gaza war.

I spoke to WaPo for this story and I think it overlooks the most interesting part. Yes tech corporations are taking a hard line (we’ve known that for a while), what’s surprising is people are still fighting back. And they will continue to do so.

www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

16.05.2025 14:24 β€” πŸ‘ 37    πŸ” 14    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Special issue on scams, fakes, and frauds in New Media & Society (2022) if you don't already have it on your list!

01.05.2025 17:28 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ”₯CFP HOT OFF THE PRESS!πŸ”₯ I'm really excited to be editing this special issue on Cultural Workers and Generative AI with @grohmannrafael.bsky.social and Daphne Idiz for AI & Society. Abstract submission deadline 30th June, get in touch with questions!

MORE INFO: link.springer.com/journal/146/...

09.04.2025 21:33 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Hello I've decided to use Blue Sky now. In unrelated news, my book 'Influencer Creep' will be published with University of California press in October 2025. It's about the ways influencer culture has transformed creative work.

Preorder here: www.ucpress.edu/books/influe...

13.04.2025 09:13 β€” πŸ‘ 151    πŸ” 28    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 3
Preview
When Social Media Influencers Were Women | Opinion Influencing's third decade marks a gendered difference in digital entrepreneurship as the industry strays from its roots in fashion and style. As the industry transforms, will we remember a time when ...

new essay with @brookeerinduffy.bsky.social out in @newsweek.com this morning!

we examine the influencer industry's oft-overlooked gender politics and what this oversight means for the future of digital work.

www.newsweek.com/when-social-...

28.03.2025 14:11 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 13    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
CCSN Chats: Archiving the Internet? Join us for CCSN Chats where we explore the practices and politics of archiving the internet and social media platforms.

Join us APRIL 14TH for #CCSNChats: "Archiving the Internet?" ft. Sakyra Abbitt, Camille Lawrence, Meredith Clark & Zakiya Collier!

These all-stars will discuss the practices & politics of archiving the internet in the volatile context of platforms πŸ”—πŸ§΅πŸ‘‡
www.eventbrite.com/e/ccsn-chats...

17.03.2025 18:07 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 3
The first page of my article. Includes title, author info, abstract, and first few paragraphs of intro.

The first page of my article. Includes title, author info, abstract, and first few paragraphs of intro.

Really excited to share my latest article, "Articulating algorithmic ableism: The suppression and surveillance of disabled TikTok creators," is now published in Journal of Gender Studies!

A beautiful conversation between disability + creator studies.

Read here β†ͺ️ shorturl.at/ft5

10.03.2025 13:08 β€” πŸ‘ 77    πŸ” 29    πŸ’¬ 12    πŸ“Œ 4
Hands off! Our healthcare, research, jobs

National strategy call - Feb 13
National day of action - Feb 19
Rally + Press Conference - Feb 25, Washington DC

Hands off! Our healthcare, research, jobs National strategy call - Feb 13 National day of action - Feb 19 Rally + Press Conference - Feb 25, Washington DC

Hot take: education is a Good Thingβ„’ and net positive for society. I guess that's why the techno-fascists are hell-bent on destroying it. Fuck 'em

#HigherEd #LaborForHigherEd

On W Feb 19 there are lots of actions planed at campuses and capitols across the nation. More info at:

labor4highered.org

18.02.2025 02:57 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Platforms aren't forever, but I predict the TikTok ban is going to hurt those who rely on the app the most: millions of American creators & small business owners as they navigate economic uncertainty and inflation.

A highly unregulated economy just became much more precarious.

17.01.2025 15:28 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
CCSN The Content Creator Scholars Network

πŸŽ‰ The CCSN is now on Bluesky! πŸŽ‰ The Content Creator Scholars Network: Your community for critical studies on digital creators, platform economies & cultures. Join us for resources, events, blogs, and collaborative knowledgeβ€”there’s something for everyone interested in creator culture www.ccsn.site

18.12.2024 16:57 β€” πŸ‘ 22    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 3
Post image

🚨 The CCSN is coming to ICA! 🚨 If you're exploring creator culture, don't forget to submit your work and join us (due - Jan 31) for our full-day pre-conf packed with insightful speakers, workshops & research talks. Check out the full CFP on our website and follow our newsletter! πŸ‘‡ ccsn.site/ica

18.12.2024 09:00 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 4
Preview
Spotify (Un)wrapped: how ordinary users critically reflect on Spotify’s datafication of the self within creative workshops Each year, Spotify nudges users to share aesthetically pleasing data stories β€˜wrapped’ and repackaged from their listening behavior. This article approaches Spotify Wrapped as an annual algorithmic...

Publication news! 🎺 It’s Wrapped season… and Taylor’s (@taylorannabell.bsky.social) and my article on our Spotify (Un)wrapped project is now out in the Journal of Gender Studies. The article outlines how creative workshops can be used to critically analyse β€˜algorithmic events’ like Wrapped.

26.11.2024 20:56 β€” πŸ‘ 50    πŸ” 17    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 2

Yay!!! So excited to see this out 🀩

27.11.2024 18:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Standing In as a Famed, Diverse Virtual Influencer: Proxy Labor and Identity Construction in Computer-Generated Influencer Production | The Velvet Light Trap This article examines issues of labor and representation in computer-generated influencer production. I explore the implications of this production for behind-the-scene workers and identity constructi...

⚠️New Publication Alert⚠️ My article "Standing in as a Famed, Diverse Virtual Influencer : Proxy Labor and Identity Construction in Computer-Generated Influencer Production" is out, as part of the Velvet Light Trap Fall 2024 Special Issue on Creative Labor and Precacity. doi.org/10.7560/VLT9...

27.11.2024 18:34 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
The abstract for Jess and Jess's article on influencer snark

The abstract for Jess and Jess's article on influencer snark

my latest with @jessmaddox.bsky.social is out this morning in @femmediastudies.bsky.social! We propose influencer snark as a feminist media practice to address concerns of credibility, authenticity, and representation in the influencer industry.

please share!!!

www.tandfonline.com/eprint/XZSZD...

19.11.2024 13:47 β€” πŸ‘ 123    πŸ” 47    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 6
Preview
VLT 94 CFP β€”Β Labor and Precarity CFP: Creative Labor and Precarity The Velvet Light Trap, Issue 94 (to be published Fall 2024) Special Issue Theme Work in the media industries has always been characterized by precarity and instabili...

Deadline extended for the Velvet Light Trap's CFP on Creative Labor and Precarity πŸ’«! New submission deadline is October 1, 2023. Read more about the CFP here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

05.09.2023 16:58 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The Velvet Light Trap is a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal of film+television+new media. Graduate students at UW-Madison and UT-Austin coordinate issues in alternation, and each issue is devoted to a particular theme. Learn more here: https://utpress.utexas.edu/journals/the-velvet-light-trap/

07.08.2023 23:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

We’re excited to share the latest CFP for the Velvet Light Trap! This issue, we’re looking for papers that examine creative labor and precarity, broadly construed. Read more about it in the full CFP: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XoUNV_aL4RlUqZJgTu9Q_B2YBKDz_FkiOudislq0Y8Y/edit

07.08.2023 23:40 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

πŸͺ©βœ¨πŸŽ‰

26.07.2023 19:46 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@seedwards is following 20 prominent accounts