“We need social media”: Interview with Christina Varvia

To start off the Contentious Narratives conference, Christina Varvia presented her work on spatial analysis with Forensic Architecture in combination with human rights groups around the world. She argues social media and open source media are important for human rights organizations as they try to combat misinformation by powerful actors.

Varvia ties in the history of the media sphere and the invention of the radio as journalists and academics seek to understand the misinformation and propaganda associated with the rise of social media. If given the time to adjust to new technologies and the truths they claim to bring, the societies utilizing the technologies will be be better equipped to react to misinformation. She suggests new information-communication technologies provide an opportunity for the democratization of information as long as users provide enough time to adjust to the new media landscape.

For more information on Christina Varvia, visit our conference page.