Antisemitism and Digital Spaces: Social Media Influencers and University Leadership Responses in the Post-October 7th Era
Speaker Series
Distinguished Professor New Jersey Institute of Technology
Tuesday
12:00
July 1, 2025
Senate Building,
Room -136
(next to the Senate Hall)
This presentation examines the complex ecosystem of online antisemitism and the varied responses it generates across different levels of digital engagement. Beginning with an analysis of the current digital landscape surrounding antisemitic content, the presentation synthesizes findings from two complementary empirical studies that investigate how different actors—individual influencers and institutional leaders—navigate and respond to antisemitic discourse online. The first study employs qualitative analysis to examine strategic approaches used by social media influencers to combat antisemitic content, revealing patterns in effective counter-narrative techniques. The second study presents a systematic content analysis of institutional communications, specifically examining U.S. university presidential statements issued in response to the October 7, 2023 attacks and their aftermath. This analysis reveals how institutional leaders employ crisis communication strategies to address campus tensions while navigating competing stakeholder expectations. Through comparative analysis of these distinct yet interconnected response mechanisms, the research identifies critical themes in digital hate mitigation: the role of authentic voice in counter-messaging, and the tension between institutional neutrality and moral leadership The findings illuminate how individual and institutional actors operate within different constraints and opportunities when addressing online hate.
About the Speaker
Julie R. Ancis is a Distinguished Professor and former Interim Chair in the Department of Informatics and Founding Director of the Cyberpsychology Program at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Prior to her current position, Dr. Ancis served as the Associate Vice President for Institute Diversity at Georgia Institute of Technology and was affiliated with the School of Psychology. At Georgia Tech Dr. Ancis was Principal and Co-Principal Investigator of 6 million dollars in grant funding from the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation (NSF). She currently is PI and Co-PI on grant funding from NSF, the Academic Engagement Network, and other organizations. Dr. Ancis also served as a tenured Psychology Professor at Georgia State University. Dr. Ancis’ extensive scholarly publications include four books with a fifth in press, over 80 journal articles, book chapters, and technical reports; and over 200 professional presentations focused on cyberpsychology, diversity, and the legal system. She is co-PI on an NJIT-BGU grant on online antisemitism with Dr. Michael Fire.