Martin Lukk
@martinlukk.bsky.social
Postdoctoral Research Fellow @ Data Sciences Institute, University of Toronto.
Politics, inequality, and the internet. Author of GoFailMe: The Unfulfilled Promise of Digital Crowdfunding (Stanford University Press). www.martinlukk.com
Politics, inequality, and the internet. Author of GoFailMe: The Unfulfilled Promise of Digital Crowdfunding (Stanford University Press). www.martinlukk.com
Pinned
Disrupting Philanthropy? A Reality Check for Digital Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding promised to revolutionize philanthropy by using digital technology to make charitable giving cheaper, easier, and more accessible. Has this been realized in practice? We highlight three ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Has crowdfunding really "disrupted" philanthropy?
My new article w/ @kenworthy.bsky.social, @jsnyder.bsky.social & E. Schneiderhan argues that CF's benefits are overstated. Rather than disrupting, CF reproduces old charity models, promotes misinfo & undermines public health. doi.org/10.1002/nvsm...
My new article w/ @kenworthy.bsky.social, @jsnyder.bsky.social & E. Schneiderhan argues that CF's benefits are overstated. Rather than disrupting, CF reproduces old charity models, promotes misinfo & undermines public health. doi.org/10.1002/nvsm...
Has crowdfunding really "disrupted" philanthropy?
My new article w/ @kenworthy.bsky.social, @jsnyder.bsky.social & E. Schneiderhan argues that CF's benefits are overstated. Rather than disrupting, CF reproduces old charity models, promotes misinfo & undermines public health. doi.org/10.1002/nvsm...
My new article w/ @kenworthy.bsky.social, @jsnyder.bsky.social & E. Schneiderhan argues that CF's benefits are overstated. Rather than disrupting, CF reproduces old charity models, promotes misinfo & undermines public health. doi.org/10.1002/nvsm...
Disrupting Philanthropy? A Reality Check for Digital Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding promised to revolutionize philanthropy by using digital technology to make charitable giving cheaper, easier, and more accessible. Has this been realized in practice? We highlight three ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Has crowdfunding really "disrupted" philanthropy?
My new article w/ @kenworthy.bsky.social, @jsnyder.bsky.social & E. Schneiderhan argues that CF's benefits are overstated. Rather than disrupting, CF reproduces old charity models, promotes misinfo & undermines public health. doi.org/10.1002/nvsm...
My new article w/ @kenworthy.bsky.social, @jsnyder.bsky.social & E. Schneiderhan argues that CF's benefits are overstated. Rather than disrupting, CF reproduces old charity models, promotes misinfo & undermines public health. doi.org/10.1002/nvsm...
Reposted by Martin Lukk
When a man hijacked a bus in Hamilton, Ontario, on Tuesday, the potentially catastrophic scenario ended happily. It turns out he was a pretty decent bus driver. He made regular stops to pick up passengers, the police reported. At one point someone tried to board with an expired bus pass. No dice.
A Man Took a Bus for a Joyride. Turns Out, He’s Not a Bad Driver.
The incident in Hamilton, Ontario, ended safely with an arrest and no injuries (and all fares paid).
nyti.ms
November 13, 2025 at 4:50 PM
When a man hijacked a bus in Hamilton, Ontario, on Tuesday, the potentially catastrophic scenario ended happily. It turns out he was a pretty decent bus driver. He made regular stops to pick up passengers, the police reported. At one point someone tried to board with an expired bus pass. No dice.
Reposted by Martin Lukk
@martinlukk.bsky.social @kenworthy.bsky.social, Erik Schneiderhan, and I pull together threads from our recent books on donation-based crowdfunding in the Journal of Philanthropy. We argue that rather than being a disruptive new force for good, crowdfunding's benefits have been greatly overstated.
Disrupting Philanthropy? A Reality Check for Digital Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding promised to revolutionize philanthropy by using digital technology to make charitable giving cheaper, easier, and more accessible. Has this been realized in practice? We highlight three ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:49 PM
@martinlukk.bsky.social @kenworthy.bsky.social, Erik Schneiderhan, and I pull together threads from our recent books on donation-based crowdfunding in the Journal of Philanthropy. We argue that rather than being a disruptive new force for good, crowdfunding's benefits have been greatly overstated.
Was just notified by U.N. Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter that my research features in his report on how economic insecurity has fueled far-right politics, presented to the U.N. General Assembly yesterday.
Study available @sociusjournal.bsky.social journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Study available @sociusjournal.bsky.social journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Today I will present my new report to UN General Assembly #UNGA80: Far-right populism and the future of social protection
As I told @theguardian.com it’s not by accident that we are seeing the rise of the far right
Full report & link to presentation (9PM CET): www.srpoverty.org/2025/10/01/f...
As I told @theguardian.com it’s not by accident that we are seeing the rise of the far right
Full report & link to presentation (9PM CET): www.srpoverty.org/2025/10/01/f...
Welfare cuts have fuelled rise of far right and populism, top UN expert says
October 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Was just notified by U.N. Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter that my research features in his report on how economic insecurity has fueled far-right politics, presented to the U.N. General Assembly yesterday.
Study available @sociusjournal.bsky.social journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Study available @sociusjournal.bsky.social journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Martin Lukk
Wow. Harvard nuking its PhD programs
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
Harvard FAS Cuts Ph.D. Seats By More Than Half Across Next Two Admissions Cycles | News | The Harvard Crimson
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences slashed the number of Ph.D. student admissions slots for the Science division by more than 75 percent and for the Arts & Humanities division by about 60 percent for th...
www.thecrimson.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Wow. Harvard nuking its PhD programs
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
Reposted by Martin Lukk
📢𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻!📢
We’re now accepting applications for the 𝗞𝗼𝗵𝗹𝗶 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center @wzb.bsky.social
Apply via our online portal:
kohlifoundation.eu/programs-koh...
📆 Deadline 16 November 2025
We’re now accepting applications for the 𝗞𝗼𝗵𝗹𝗶 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center @wzb.bsky.social
Apply via our online portal:
kohlifoundation.eu/programs-koh...
📆 Deadline 16 November 2025
October 15, 2025 at 2:27 PM
📢𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻!📢
We’re now accepting applications for the 𝗞𝗼𝗵𝗹𝗶 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center @wzb.bsky.social
Apply via our online portal:
kohlifoundation.eu/programs-koh...
📆 Deadline 16 November 2025
We’re now accepting applications for the 𝗞𝗼𝗵𝗹𝗶 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center @wzb.bsky.social
Apply via our online portal:
kohlifoundation.eu/programs-koh...
📆 Deadline 16 November 2025
Delighted to see findings from my book discussed in Sara Herschander's thoughtful @vox.com piece on the grim realities of digital crowdfunding and how to live with them. @stanfordpress.bsky.social www.vox.com/future-perfe...
What to do when every crisis needs your $20
Everyone needs help on GoFundMe. So how do we give?
www.vox.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Delighted to see findings from my book discussed in Sara Herschander's thoughtful @vox.com piece on the grim realities of digital crowdfunding and how to live with them. @stanfordpress.bsky.social www.vox.com/future-perfe...
"Interpretations of Topbot as measuring perceived income decile or subjective social status ... are untenable, and empirical claims made on these bases should be revisited."
Important intervention relevant to many ppl studying the origins of political party support.
Important intervention relevant to many ppl studying the origins of political party support.
NEW: Anderson, "An Unreliable Ladder: Top–Bottom Self-Placement, Subjective Social Status, and Political Preferences sociologicalscience.com/articles-v12...
sociologicalscience.com
September 17, 2025 at 1:32 AM
"Interpretations of Topbot as measuring perceived income decile or subjective social status ... are untenable, and empirical claims made on these bases should be revisited."
Important intervention relevant to many ppl studying the origins of political party support.
Important intervention relevant to many ppl studying the origins of political party support.
Reposted by Martin Lukk
📶 Who’s still offline in a wired world?
A new #Socius data visualization by @spencerallen.bsky.social (@um-psc.bsky.social) tracks #BroadbandAccess in the U.S. from 2013–2023—showing gaps by #Race, #Education & #Poverty have narrowed, but persist.
Read: doi.org/10.1177/2378...
A new #Socius data visualization by @spencerallen.bsky.social (@um-psc.bsky.social) tracks #BroadbandAccess in the U.S. from 2013–2023—showing gaps by #Race, #Education & #Poverty have narrowed, but persist.
Read: doi.org/10.1177/2378...
August 19, 2025 at 8:33 AM
📶 Who’s still offline in a wired world?
A new #Socius data visualization by @spencerallen.bsky.social (@um-psc.bsky.social) tracks #BroadbandAccess in the U.S. from 2013–2023—showing gaps by #Race, #Education & #Poverty have narrowed, but persist.
Read: doi.org/10.1177/2378...
A new #Socius data visualization by @spencerallen.bsky.social (@um-psc.bsky.social) tracks #BroadbandAccess in the U.S. from 2013–2023—showing gaps by #Race, #Education & #Poverty have narrowed, but persist.
Read: doi.org/10.1177/2378...
Reposted by Martin Lukk
Another outstanding @asapolisoc.bsky.social panel on Electoral Politics. #asa2025
August 11, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Another outstanding @asapolisoc.bsky.social panel on Electoral Politics. #asa2025
Reposted by Martin Lukk
Bocconi University in Milan is hiring in sociology at any level (open rank). Ideal candidate might focus on inequality, social policy, computational, labor markets, or similar. Happy to answer questions about my time there for anyone considering applying. More details: jobmarket.unibocconi.eu
July 31, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Bocconi University in Milan is hiring in sociology at any level (open rank). Ideal candidate might focus on inequality, social policy, computational, labor markets, or similar. Happy to answer questions about my time there for anyone considering applying. More details: jobmarket.unibocconi.eu
Reposted by Martin Lukk
I’m delighted to share that the August 2025 special issue of Sociological Methods & Research on Generative AI is out now. Along with my co-editor, Daniel Karell, we put together this issue to build on the conference we organized last year.
Here's a thread on each of the ten papers:
Here's a thread on each of the ten papers:
August 1, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I’m delighted to share that the August 2025 special issue of Sociological Methods & Research on Generative AI is out now. Along with my co-editor, Daniel Karell, we put together this issue to build on the conference we organized last year.
Here's a thread on each of the ten papers:
Here's a thread on each of the ten papers:
Reposted by Martin Lukk
Attn: the special issue of SMR on Generative AI in Sociology is now online. The whole issue is fire, but the introduction by @thomasdavidson.bsky.social and Danny Karell is a must read, covering prompting, measurement, and simulations. It's a road map for soc sci research in the genAI era. +
Integrating Generative Artificial Intelligence into Social Science Research: Measurement, Prompting, and Simulation - Thomas Davidson, Daniel Karell, 2025
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) offers new capabilities for analyzing data, creating synthetic media, and simulating realistic social interactions. This...
journals.sagepub.com
May 26, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Attn: the special issue of SMR on Generative AI in Sociology is now online. The whole issue is fire, but the introduction by @thomasdavidson.bsky.social and Danny Karell is a must read, covering prompting, measurement, and simulations. It's a road map for soc sci research in the genAI era. +
Reposted by Martin Lukk
So I don't have the energy to redo the entire thread about the papal conclave but I will redo the part about the Latin nerdery: the announcement of a new pope is always in Latin, and uses a very traditional form.
May 7, 2025 at 4:51 AM
So I don't have the energy to redo the entire thread about the papal conclave but I will redo the part about the Latin nerdery: the announcement of a new pope is always in Latin, and uses a very traditional form.
Reposted by Martin Lukk
RCT suggests smartphones make adults dumb cc @paulgp.com @novosad.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
March 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
RCT suggests smartphones make adults dumb cc @paulgp.com @novosad.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Reposted by Martin Lukk
OAG data shows that passenger bookings on Canada–U.S. routes are currently down by 70% compared to last year. www.airwaysmag.com/new-post/boo...
OAG: Bookings on Canada–U.S. Air Routes Down by 70%
OAG data shows that passenger bookings on Canada–U.S. routes are currently down by 70% compared to last year.
www.airwaysmag.com
March 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
OAG data shows that passenger bookings on Canada–U.S. routes are currently down by 70% compared to last year. www.airwaysmag.com/new-post/boo...
Reposted by Martin Lukk
Because Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's "Abundance" is less a book than a discourse-generating machine (by design), I'm going to review the *reviews* (I also have a review of the actual book coming, I'm not a total weirdo).
Roughly from worst to best:
Roughly from worst to best:
March 18, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Because Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's "Abundance" is less a book than a discourse-generating machine (by design), I'm going to review the *reviews* (I also have a review of the actual book coming, I'm not a total weirdo).
Roughly from worst to best:
Roughly from worst to best:
Hello, #ESS2025! I'll be presenting tomorrow, Friday at the "From Polarization to Solidarity" mini-conference. Whittier, 4th floor @ 8AM.
Come to find out what this map tells us about territorial identification in contemporary Europe!
Come to find out what this map tells us about territorial identification in contemporary Europe!
March 7, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Hello, #ESS2025! I'll be presenting tomorrow, Friday at the "From Polarization to Solidarity" mini-conference. Whittier, 4th floor @ 8AM.
Come to find out what this map tells us about territorial identification in contemporary Europe!
Come to find out what this map tells us about territorial identification in contemporary Europe!
Reposted by Martin Lukk
As reported, the entire staff of 538 was laid off this morning. This is a severe blow to political data journalism, and I feel for my colleagues. Readers note: As we were instructed not to publish any new content, all planned updates to polls data and averages are canceled indefinitely. Huge loss :(
March 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
As reported, the entire staff of 538 was laid off this morning. This is a severe blow to political data journalism, and I feel for my colleagues. Readers note: As we were instructed not to publish any new content, all planned updates to polls data and averages are canceled indefinitely. Huge loss :(
The tech story no one is talking about #clubhouse
December 9, 2024 at 5:44 AM
The tech story no one is talking about #clubhouse
PSA: Grad students can sign up for a GitHub Education account and get free unlimited access to GitHub Co-Pilot. It plugs in directly to RStudio and is extremely handy. #rstats
Students - GitHub Education
GitHub is where people build software. More than 100 million people use GitHub to discover, fork, and contribute to over 420 million projects.
github.com
November 25, 2024 at 9:15 PM
PSA: Grad students can sign up for a GitHub Education account and get free unlimited access to GitHub Co-Pilot. It plugs in directly to RStudio and is extremely handy. #rstats
💰 🌨 Is your GoFundMe campaign doomed to fail?
My new piece in @us.theconversation.com (with Erik Schneiderhan) discusses the unsuccesful campaigns and disappointed users the platform doesn't tell you about and what this says about the problems of for-profit philanthropy in an algorithmic age.
My new piece in @us.theconversation.com (with Erik Schneiderhan) discusses the unsuccesful campaigns and disappointed users the platform doesn't tell you about and what this says about the problems of for-profit philanthropy in an algorithmic age.
What GoFundMe conceals: The campaigns that fail
Most people are left refreshing the page and coming up empty-handed.
theconversation.com
July 26, 2024 at 4:53 PM
💰 🌨 Is your GoFundMe campaign doomed to fail?
My new piece in @us.theconversation.com (with Erik Schneiderhan) discusses the unsuccesful campaigns and disappointed users the platform doesn't tell you about and what this says about the problems of for-profit philanthropy in an algorithmic age.
My new piece in @us.theconversation.com (with Erik Schneiderhan) discusses the unsuccesful campaigns and disappointed users the platform doesn't tell you about and what this says about the problems of for-profit philanthropy in an algorithmic age.
💡Why does income inequality matter for the success of far-right politics?
My new article in Socius argues that inequality is a social status threat that consolidates group boundaries & promotes ethnonationalism, which draws voters to the far right.
See journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
My new article in Socius argues that inequality is a social status threat that consolidates group boundaries & promotes ethnonationalism, which draws voters to the far right.
See journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Politics of Boundary Consolidation: Income Inequality, Ethnonationalism, and Radical-Right Voting - Martin Lukk, 2024
Scholars have linked income inequality to the recent success of radical-right parties and movements. Yet research shows that inequality reduces participation am...
journals.sagepub.com
June 20, 2024 at 4:08 PM
💡Why does income inequality matter for the success of far-right politics?
My new article in Socius argues that inequality is a social status threat that consolidates group boundaries & promotes ethnonationalism, which draws voters to the far right.
See journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
My new article in Socius argues that inequality is a social status threat that consolidates group boundaries & promotes ethnonationalism, which draws voters to the far right.
See journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Check out Daniela Zuzunaga Zegarra's (Queen's University) new review of my book GoFailMe: The Unfulfilled Promise of Digital Crowdfunding (@stanfordpress.bsky.social) in @hnetreviews.bsky.social!
networks.h-net.org/group/review...
networks.h-net.org/group/review...
June 12, 2024 at 12:34 AM
Check out Daniela Zuzunaga Zegarra's (Queen's University) new review of my book GoFailMe: The Unfulfilled Promise of Digital Crowdfunding (@stanfordpress.bsky.social) in @hnetreviews.bsky.social!
networks.h-net.org/group/review...
networks.h-net.org/group/review...