Social Media as an Historical Source: Methods, Challenges, Ethics

Description

Convened by: Dr Laura Carter (SESC) and Dr Anne Alexander (CDH Learning) 

This advanced workshop is a collaboration between the ESRC project 'Secondary education and social change in the UK since 1945' (SESC), based in the History Faculty, and Cambridge Digital Humanities’ Learning Programme. It will explore the possibilities and challenges of using vernacular material posted on social media websites, such as Facebook, as an historical source for the period since 1945.

We will consider the use of conversations and personal testimonies on social media in relation to both oral history and social science and survey data, presenting work-in-progress of this nature from the SESC project. We will also host a mock ethics panel and workshop ideas for new projects using social media in this way from ECRs and PhD students participating in the workshop. After you sign up and nearer the time, we’ll get in touch about the pre-circulation of materials for the interactive elements of the workshop

A sandwich lunch will be provided with vegetarian and vegan options. Please notify Michelle Maciejewska by 10 June if you have any specific dietary requirements.