Brooke Welles Associate Professor of Communication Studies b.welles@neu.edu 617.373.7043 Expertise children/adolescents & media, computational social science, computer-mediated communication, design research, social network analysis Brooke Foucault Welles in the Press Article InStyle How to Take Your Activism Offline and Be an Ally in Real Life University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Sarah Jackson, Northeastern University professors Dr. Moya Bailey, and Dr. Brooke Foucault Welles, authors of Hashtag Activism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice, argue that virtual activism can mash-up “the speed of communication on the internet with careful organizing,” which lets organizers build “inclusive, connected movements.” Article Mashable How to ensure your online activism has an offline impact Forthcoming research from three professors focused on digital media, identity, and social change — University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Sarah Jackson, Northeastern University professors Dr. Moya Bailey, and Dr. Brooke Foucault Welles — can offer some advice. Article Medium Hear us roar: High schoolers are more supportive of the First Amendment over time, but girls and students of color are less enthusiastic than others Now we are publishing a trend analysis of these studies—developed by Northeastern University media and communications professors John Wihbey and Brooke Welles — that examines how student views have changed over the past 15 years. Article KPCC Generation Z job-seekers turn to smartphones for help That “annoying” focus on the phone might worry some older parents or mentors about the fate of Gen Z in the workplace, but professor Brooke Foucault Welles of Northeastern University says it shouldn’t. “I understand why people can get frustrated that they’re always looking at their phones, but I don’t think that that’s a signal […] Article The Christian Science Monitor #Ferguson: How Twitter helped empower ordinary residents “We hypothesized that people who got in early on who were not elites had an influence in shaping the story,” says Sarah Jackson, an assistant professor of communication who co-authored a paper looking at the Twitter networks spreading information during the first days of the Ferguson protests. It was published last month in the journal […] Article Move over, millennials. Gen Z is new target audience To the older consumers, it’s more obvious a product is being advertised when brands post content on social media. But teens do not see it this way, said Northeastern University communications professor Brooke Foucault Welles, who researches high schoolers’ social media habits. Gen Z sees the content as experiences they want to remake. “They really […] Article The age of never-ending internet chats Yet if in this instance I confused conversation with action, I can name dozens more times when online exchanges have helped me be brave. Often Phoebe and I message each other just before we’re about to do something scary. We give each other the nudge we need to swing from contemplation into deed, to buy […] Brooke Foucault Welles for Northeastern Global News On Twitter, journalists and politicians have more credibility on vaccines than medical experts, study finds On Twitter, journalists and politicians have more credibility on vaccines than medical experts, study finds Black, Indigenous, and other non-white people in the United States are more likely to turn to sources within their own communities for information about the pandemic and the coronavirus vaccine, finds a new study of Twitter users led by researchers from Northeastern. Race, gender, shape high school students’ support for First Amendment protections Race, gender, shape high school students’ support for First Amendment protections Boys and white students are less inclined than girls and students of color to agree with the statement: “The First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees,” researchers at Northeastern and the Knight Foundation found. Social media spotlight: Brooke Foucault Welles Social media spotlight: Brooke Foucault Welles Twitter is deeply intertwined with Welles’ academic work. We asked her about how she approaches using the social media platform for her research and teaching, what lessons she’s learned along the way, and about that time Michelle Obama tweeted at her. 3Qs: Trapped in social media ‘echo chambers’ 3Qs: Trapped in social media ‘echo chambers’ Social media has become a go-to platform for people to express their opinions on the hot topics of the day. But in many cases, people are sharing those thoughts with those who have similar opinions. Here, assistant professor Brooke Foucault Welles explains how this trend correlates to offline debates. 3Qs: Professors weigh in on SCOTUS decision, free speech on social media 3Qs: Professors weigh in on SCOTUS decision, free speech on social media On Monday, the Supreme Court for the first time addressed the implications of free speech on social media. In the case Elonis v. United States, the court reversed the conviction of a Pennsylvanian man accused of making threats on Facebook against his estranged wife. In the decision, the court held that while threatening communication—a “true […] Looking ahead: Social movements in 2015 Looking ahead: Social movements in 2015 Marches and demonstrations aimed at shaping the conversation around race and social inequalities captured the nation's attention in 2014. Here, Northeastern assistant professor Sarah Jackson talks about what we've learned from recent activism and what we might expect in 2015. Social networks’ hidden resources Social networks’ hidden resources Assistant professor Brooke Foucault Welles is studying how people can better understand and leverage their social networks to identify valuable and previously unnoticed connections or resources. She says this work could be particularly valuable for the military. 3Qs: A closer look at hashtag activism 3Qs: A closer look at hashtag activism Social media activism can be a powerful tool to raise awareness about an issue, says Brooke Foucault Welles, an assistant professor of communication studies whose research looks at how social networks shape and constrain behavior. 3Qs: The social impact of social networks 3Qs: The social impact of social networks Though some have argued the opposite, social media actually makes us more social, says assistant professor of communication studies Brooke Foucault Welles.
Article InStyle How to Take Your Activism Offline and Be an Ally in Real Life University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Sarah Jackson, Northeastern University professors Dr. Moya Bailey, and Dr. Brooke Foucault Welles, authors of Hashtag Activism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice, argue that virtual activism can mash-up “the speed of communication on the internet with careful organizing,” which lets organizers build “inclusive, connected movements.”
Article Mashable How to ensure your online activism has an offline impact Forthcoming research from three professors focused on digital media, identity, and social change — University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Sarah Jackson, Northeastern University professors Dr. Moya Bailey, and Dr. Brooke Foucault Welles — can offer some advice.
Article Medium Hear us roar: High schoolers are more supportive of the First Amendment over time, but girls and students of color are less enthusiastic than others Now we are publishing a trend analysis of these studies—developed by Northeastern University media and communications professors John Wihbey and Brooke Welles — that examines how student views have changed over the past 15 years.
Article KPCC Generation Z job-seekers turn to smartphones for help That “annoying” focus on the phone might worry some older parents or mentors about the fate of Gen Z in the workplace, but professor Brooke Foucault Welles of Northeastern University says it shouldn’t. “I understand why people can get frustrated that they’re always looking at their phones, but I don’t think that that’s a signal […]
Article The Christian Science Monitor #Ferguson: How Twitter helped empower ordinary residents “We hypothesized that people who got in early on who were not elites had an influence in shaping the story,” says Sarah Jackson, an assistant professor of communication who co-authored a paper looking at the Twitter networks spreading information during the first days of the Ferguson protests. It was published last month in the journal […]
Article Move over, millennials. Gen Z is new target audience To the older consumers, it’s more obvious a product is being advertised when brands post content on social media. But teens do not see it this way, said Northeastern University communications professor Brooke Foucault Welles, who researches high schoolers’ social media habits. Gen Z sees the content as experiences they want to remake. “They really […]
Article The age of never-ending internet chats Yet if in this instance I confused conversation with action, I can name dozens more times when online exchanges have helped me be brave. Often Phoebe and I message each other just before we’re about to do something scary. We give each other the nudge we need to swing from contemplation into deed, to buy […]