Antisocial Media: How Social Media Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy

Cultural historian and media scholar Siva Vaidhyanathan will deliver the 2026 Richard Gelwick Endowed Lecture at 4 p.m. on Feb. 5 in the Rockwell Pavilion at M.D. Anderson Library. 

Vaidhyanathan will examine the impact of social media and AI on democracy, as well as the role of technology in recent elections and the broader political landscape. He will delve into how popular social media platforms have deviated from their original missions, analyzing their societal implications and contributions to the erosion of democracy. Vaidhyanathan argues the rise of technology has fostered security threats and propaganda, undermined journalism, eroded social trust and fostered doubts about science. His campus visit is part of the "Rebooting Our Relationship with Tech" lecture series hosted by the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership.  

Siva Vaidhyanathan is the Robertson Professor of Media Studies and director of the Center for Media and Citizenship at the University of Virginia. He is the author of "Antisocial Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy," "Intellectual Property: A Very Short Introduction," and "The Googlization of Everything: (And Why We Should Worry)." After five years as a professional journalist, he earned a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a fellow at the New York Institute for the Humanities and a faculty associate of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. He was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, and resides in Charlottesville, Virginia. 

The Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership's lecture series, "Rebooting Our Relationship with Tech," brings leading voices to the University of Houston campus to examine how digital tools, from smartphones and AI to algorithms and search engines, shape our connections, test our privacy and influence our democracy. The experts will challenge audiences to reflect on the ethical dimensions of technology's growth, convergence and potential for harm.

Off-campus guests can park in the Welcome Center Garage (4434 University Dr., Houston, TX 77204). Enter the Welcome Center Garage on Martin Luther King Blvd. The M.D. Anderson Library is near Cullen Performance Hall and Student Centers North and South. The Rockwell Pavilion is on the second floor.  

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