Social media have truly become an integral part of our everyday lives. However, their effect on social and political life still remains debatable. The conventional narrative on social media has long portrayed them as tools for empowerment, social and political change, freedom, and democracy. These views were particularly fuelled by events such as the Arab Spring. And yet, this conventional wisdom has come under attack – new research on cooptation of social media by non-democratic regimes, terrorist recruitment, the unfolding of events in Ukraine, and other developments have cast doubt over the overwhelmingly positive interpretations. Hence, this conference-workshop calls for a balanced approach to social media and their contribution to everyday life.
The two-day event will comprise of paper presentations (day one) and workshop sessions chaired by academics and media professionals (day two).
The event is particularly aimed at doctoral candidates and early career academics.

Topics for conference papers may include, but are not limited to:
• Explorations of social media’s role in regime change
• The use of social media for community projects or civic initiatives
• Social media’s role in promoting equality, social justice etc.
• The use of social media by non-democratic regimes
• Terrorist recruitment on social media
• Social media, psychological operations, and information warfare
• Social media and Western cultural hegemony

The event is organised by the Public Communication Department at Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Selected papers will be considered for publication in a special issue of the Department’s peer-reviewed journal, ‘Media Transformations’.

Abstracts of 300 words should be sent to Ignas Kalpokas, Chair of the Organising Committee (i.kalpokas@pmdf.vdu.lt), by 31 January 2016. There is no participation fee.