Social Media in American Elections and How to Spot the Trolls: A Webinar with Clemson University Faculty

South Carolina Humanities and Clemson University are pleased to present “Social Media in American Elections and How to Spot the Trolls,” one of eleven virtual programs in the South Carolina Humanities Electoral Initiative. On Thursday, October 29, 2020, three faculty members from Clemson University hosted a live webinar. Dr. Jeff Fine (Political Science), Dr. Darren Linvill (Communications), and Dr. Patrick Warren (Economics) discussed social media election content and their nationally recognized “spot the troll tool.” The webinar was recorded and is now available to view on-demand. Click here to view the webinar recording. If you view the webinar, please click here to take our 3-question survey

The South Carolina Humanities Electoral Initiative is part of a national initiative entitled “Why It Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation” administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Through “Why It Matters,” 43 humanities councils will explore the history, importance, and impact of the American electoral process.

Dr. Jeff Fine is a Professor in the Clemson University Political Science Department. He teaches courses in American politics and research methods, including courses on the U.S. Congress and elections. Dr. Fine’s research largely focuses on the U.S. Congress, including questions of representation, how Congress interacts with other actors, and how social media is used by political elites.

Dr. Darren Linvill is an Associate Professor in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences at Clemson University. Dr. Linvill’s research explores state-sponsored social media disinformation and its influence on civil discourse (in and out of the classroom). In addition to his academic publications, Dr. Linvill has written for The Washington Post and Rolling Stone.

Dr. Patrick Warren is an Associate Professor of Economics at Clemson University. He investigates the operation of organizations in the economy—for-profit and non-profit firms, bureaucracies, political parties, and even armies. Dr. Warren has written numerous peer-reviewed articles in top economics and law journals, and currently serves as an associate editor of Public Finance Review.

The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 20-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.