Notes on a presentation to the Oxford Internet Institute on 15 May 2026 at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford. I had the pleasure of speaking at a celebration of the first twenty-five years of the Oxford Internet Institute (OII). I gave a talk followed by drinks and a dinner at Balliol College. I was … Continue reading Personal Reflections on Twenty-Five Years of the Oxford Internet Institute
Social Science Research
Meetings!
Bill Dutton with Dr. Ruth Shillair After reading one more litany of complaints about ‘meetings’, I must come to their defense. Harry Wallop’s article ‘Are meetings pointless?’ in The Sunday Times (12 August 2026) stirred me to answer his question. While balanced, his article basically calls into question the value of meetings. So let me … Continue reading Meetings!
Before you Demonize Social Media: Researchers are at Work
Not a day goes by when someone does not blame a problem on social media. A top journalist at The Financial Times wrote about the ‘social media ‘monster’’, in this case focusing on the use of mobile and social media can be addictive for some users (Thornhill 2025). Its squares with common sense, right? Our … Continue reading Before you Demonize Social Media: Researchers are at Work
Media Literacy and Access to Trusted Information during the War in Ukraine
A Internationally Collaborative Study UNESCO and the government of Japan are supporting a new project on media literacy and access to information about politics in Ukraine. The project, entitled 'Access to Information and Media Literacy about Politics and Elections: A Collaborative Study of Ukraine', seeks to enhance understanding of how the Ukrainian public accesses information … Continue reading Media Literacy and Access to Trusted Information during the War in Ukraine
The Importance of Media Literacy
Dear Colleagues of the ASEAN Regional Symposium in Bangkok, Thailand, Congratulations on the success of your ASEAN Regional Symposium on 20 March 2024, entitled ‘Unveiling Insights into the Region’s Digital Literacy’. I want to thank you again for inviting me. I enjoyed participating in the panel discussion you organized and am delighted to provide a … Continue reading The Importance of Media Literacy
Information is Powerful: Research on Ukraine
On the second anniversary of Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I want to acknowledge and thank the growing number of researchers who are exploring the incredibly wide range of issues tied to the war in Ukraine. Many academics at all levels of academia are contributing their skills and training to Ukraine in one of … Continue reading Information is Powerful: Research on Ukraine
Information, Communication, and Innovation Aspects of the War on Ukraine: A Meeting of Early Career Researchers
The Portulans Institute supported the conduct of an Oxford Forum on ‘The Implications of the Russian War in Ukraine for Global Information, Communication, and Cybersecurity’, which was held on 26 January 2024 in a Board Room of the Oxford Internet Institute (OII). It was conceived, organized, and chaired by an OII DPhil Candidate, Elizaveta (Lisa) … Continue reading Information, Communication, and Innovation Aspects of the War on Ukraine: A Meeting of Early Career Researchers
The Societal Costs of Attention Deficits
The attention of a goldfish?
Society and the Internet, AI, and All Things Digital
HIIG and its Advisory Council
Information Policy: An Unsettled Issue of the Digital Age
Information Policy: Broadening our Perspective on the Issue for the Digital Age There is widespread awareness that we are living in a post-industrial, information society, as we have learned from such seminal thinkers as Daniel Bell (1973). Given such an awareness, it is surprising to that the study of “information policy” is not more prominent. … Continue reading Information Policy: An Unsettled Issue of the Digital Age