Webinar: Algorithmic Injustice, Redress and Resistance with Dr. Carolina Are

What happens when online spaces, often seen as tools for participation and social change, end up silencing the very voices pushing for change?

On 12 May at 17:00 CET, the You(th) CARE 4 Change Project will host the online webinar “Algorithmic Injustice, Redress and Resistance” with Dr. Carolina Are, digital criminologist at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

This webinar will explore how platform algorithms shape visibility online and how online activism, especially from marginalized communities, can be unfairly targeted by hidden forms of censorship.
Digital platforms are not neutral spaces. Algorithms influence what we see, what we engage with and what remains visible. While they are often presented as technical systems, they have strong social and political implications.
One of the most discussed phenomena is shadowbanning, a form of invisible restriction where content is made less visible without the user being clearly informed. This can significantly impact activists, content creators and communities working on social change, limiting their reach and participation.

The webinar “Algorithmic Injustice, Redress and Resistance” will offer an accessible and engaging session combining academic research, real-world examples and lived experience.
During the webinar, participants will explore how algorithms affect online visibility, why marginalized voices are often disproportionately impacted, what shadowbanning really means and how individuals and communities are pushing back against these dynamics.
The session will be led by Dr. Carolina Are, whose work focuses on the intersection of online harms, freedom of speech and digital rights. She conducted the first detailed study on shadowbanning and her research has been published in leading journals such as New Media & Society and Social Media + Society. Her work has also been featured in major international media including The Guardian, The New York Times, the BBC and Wired.
In addition to her academic work, Dr. Are is also an activist and content creator behind the @bloggeronpole project, actively engaging with platforms, governments, regulators and NGOs to improve digital governance and regulation.

This webinar is part of the You(th) CARE 4 Change Project, a European initiative co-funded by the European Union. The project promotes active citizenship, social justice and youth engagement, encouraging young people to critically engage with social and digital challenges.
Within this framework, addressing algorithmic injustice is essential. Digital spaces play a key role in shaping public discourse, and ensuring fair and inclusive participation online is a crucial step towards building more just and democratic societies.

Understanding how algorithms influence visibility means understanding how power operates online. It also means recognizing the importance of resisting systems that silence voices and limit participation.

The webinar “Algorithmic Injustice, Redress and Resistance” offers an opportunity to reflect on these issues and to better understand the relationship between technology, power and activism.

Event details:

Title: Algorithmic Injustice, Redress and Resistance
Speaker: Dr. Carolina Are (London School of Economics and Political Science)
Date: 12 May
Time: 17:00 CET
Format: Online
Project: You(th) CARE 4 Change Project
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/x0g0N5zdSdC1y8754v_Xmw