Axel Bruns

@snurb.info

11K followers 2.1K following 3.1K posts

Australian Laureate Fellow and Professor at @qutdmrc, researching news, politics, partisanship, polarisation in digital and social media.

He/his | Progressive Rock | Hannover 96 🖤🤍💚 | 🇦🇺🇩🇪🇪🇺

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Axel Bruns is a German-Australian media scholar. He is a Professor of Communication and Media Studies at QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, and a Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society. .. more

Communication & Media Studies 59%

Political science 14%

Posts Replies Media Videos

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Axel Bruns @snurb.info · Apr 25

💡 NEW ARTICLE ALERT 💡

My article with @qutdmrc.bsky.social colleagues @kkasianenko.bsky.social, @vishneww.bsky.social, @essideh.com, and @voddenlaura.bsky.social is now out in Social Media + Society.

We introduce a new analytics method: #PracticeMapping.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Untangling the Furball: A Practice Mapping Approach to the Analysis of Multimodal Interactions in Social Networks - Axel Bruns, Kateryna Kasianenko, Vish Padinjaredath Suresh, Ehsan Dehghan, Laura Vod...

This article introduces the analytical approach of practice mapping, using vector embeddings of network actions and interactions to map commonalities and disjun...

journals.sagepub.com

Reposted by Timothy Graham

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 10h

🇮🇹 Oh look what just arrived in the office – I guess I’ve been published in Italian again ! Congratulations on a fine collection, @gboccia.bsky.social (and what a cover !)…

Guess now we know how many Zs it takes to translate “destructive polarisation” into Italian, too (‘polarizzazione’ 😲).

Cover of

Democrazia ai Margini: Disinformazione e Manipolazione dell’Opinione Pubblica nell’Era Digitale

Edited by Giovanni Boccia Artieri

Title page of

Spiegazioni Semplici in un Mondo Complesso: Dall’Iperconnettività alla Polarizzazione Distruttiva

By Axel Bruns

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 11h

Ugh, that sucks...

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 14h

And equally, commiserations to anyone else who had a go at the annual Australian ECR funding Hunger Games but didn't beat the odd of a 13% success rate. 😫

The @albomp.bsky.social government continues the LNP's tradition of vastly underfunding the country's brilliant researchers. 🤦

Reposted by Timothy Graham

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 14h

ARC DECRA funding news is out - congrats especially to my fantastic @qutdmrc.bsky.social colleagues @kathaesa.bsky.social & @zahrastardust.bsky.social, and the brilliant @amymcquire.bsky.social @emvdn.bsky.social @hansasenbaum.bsky.social, all successful this round. 🎉

rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/D...

Research Management System - Scheme Round Statistics for Approved Applications - Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2026 round 1

RMS is the ARC's Research Management System, a web-based system used by eligible researchers to prepare and submit research proposals and assessments under the ARC National Competitive Grants Program ...

rms.arc.gov.au

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 1d

High praise. Surely that should bring in some philanthropic support from a pro-democracy foundation.

Max Bernhard @mxbernhard.bsky.social · 1d

Russia has declared CORRECTIV an "undesirable organization" correctiv.org/in-eigener-s...

Russland erklärt CORRECTIV zur „unerwünschten Organisation“

Der russische Staat stellt die journalistische Arbeit von CORRECTIV pauschal unter Strafandrohung. Unabhängige Recherche soll verunmöglicht werden.

correctiv.org

Reposted by Axel Bruns

Max Bernhard @mxbernhard.bsky.social · 1d

Russia has declared CORRECTIV an "undesirable organization" correctiv.org/in-eigener-s...

Russland erklärt CORRECTIV zur „unerwünschten Organisation“

Der russische Staat stellt die journalistische Arbeit von CORRECTIV pauschal unter Strafandrohung. Unabhängige Recherche soll verunmöglicht werden.

correctiv.org

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Axel Bruns

Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 1d

We urgently need to know how many of these accounts have been spreading/amplifying hate, division and instability in Britain. We already know that a foreign actor - Elon Musk - promoted violent overthrow of the government. Has his platform been enabling foreign adversaries to do the same?

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 1d

This is one of the big accounts boosting Tommy Robinson, Farage and Reform and ‘English Patriots’.

It’s Russian.

Collingwood
@admcollingwood
田
Date joined
January 2017
• Account based in
Europe
Veritied since
Since August 2024
>
1 username change
Last on January 2017
Connected via
Eastern Europe (Non-EU) Android App

Reposted by Axel Bruns

Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 1d

"It is located 5km from the town of Deniliquin, but none of that town’s population of more than 2,700 people objected to it.

All 66 objections came from more than 50 kms away, with 60 of them from people located more than 100kms away, and 26 from interstate"

reneweconomy.com.au/long-distanc...

Indeed, there were no objections that related specifically to this project, its location or its impact on any local fauna or flora.

It is likely that few if any of the objectors had actually read the project documents in detail. Several objectors think the battery is actually a wind farm, and others think it is a solar project.

One is concerned about its impact on the catchment of the Keiwa River, which is 250 kms away, located in another state and on the other side of the Murray River. Maybe they had been encouraged to complain about another project, and forgot to change it for this one.

Most simply don’t like the idea of renewables: “Soon, we’ll all be in the dark thanks to delusional Global Boiling cultists!” said one.

Some object to the use of agricultural land for a big battery.

But the project is located right next to a substation, and is not used for any grazing or crops because it has been degraded by a gravel borrow pit on the site, which has formed a depression with poor soils and weedy vegetation.

The battery project developers are actually proposing to do something the previous users didn’t do – rehabilitate it so it can actually be used for agriculture in the future, perhaps sheep grazing. The department of planning said it is likely the project would improve the land, not degrade it.

There were plenty of constructive consultations, mostly with local council and other bodies such as the Rural Fire Service, the local Fire Brigade, the local irrigation council, and other entities. The developers, Avenis, responded accordingly and made some adjustments to the project.

It has waded through thousands of pages of documents and patiently responded to each and every concern, no matter how wild the claim.

The NSW Planning department noted the considerable local benefits, saying some $1.4 million in community benefits had been offered via the council through a voluntary planning agreement, and also noting the injection of some $206 million of capital inv…

Reposted by Axel Bruns

Fiona Katauskas @fionakatauskas.bsky.social · 1d

Here's a cartoon from a few years ago about ole Pauline

Two panelled cartoon.

First panel has a close up scientist saying authoritatively "Pauline Hanson hasn't got a racist bone in her body"
Panel 2: image has pulled out to show the scientist standing next to a picture of Pauline Hanson, pointing to it with a pointer saying "Everyone knows racism is found in the brain, heart and bile duct"

Reposted by Axel Bruns

Nick Evershed!? @nickevershed.bsky.social · 1d

hot take: the BoM is one of the most complex gov. websites with a ridic number of data and systems used by industry, the public and other gov agencies so redesigning it and fixing the security issues was always going to take a fair bit of $$$

Reposted by Axel Bruns, Will Jennings, Steve Peers

Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: Nigel Farage is facing renewed calls to explain why he repeatedly aired tropes and conspiracy theories associated with antisemitism during interviews, after claims the Reform UK leader used racist language in his teens.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Farage urged to explain conspiracy theories linked to antisemitism he voiced in US media

Exclusive: The Reform UK leader discussed far-right talking points in web TV and radio appearances between 2009 and 2018

www.theguardian.com

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 1d

My @qutdmrc.bsky.social colleague @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social has a great new piece in @aunz.theconversation.com about what happened when we asked AI chatbots about conspiracy theories. The results were … mixed. ☹️

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · 1d

PhD researcher Kate FitzGerald has a new article out in The Conversation today looking at generative AI chatbots and conspiracy theories.

AI chatbots are encouraging conspiracy theories – new research

If you interact with chatbots about conspiracy theories, research shows you can can easily fall down the rabbit hole.

theconversation.com

Reposted by Axel Bruns, Timothy Graham, Daniel Angus

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · 1d

PhD researcher Kate FitzGerald has a new article out in The Conversation today looking at generative AI chatbots and conspiracy theories.

AI chatbots are encouraging conspiracy theories – new research

If you interact with chatbots about conspiracy theories, research shows you can can easily fall down the rabbit hole.

theconversation.com

Reposted by Axel Bruns

ARC Tracker @arc-tracker.bsky.social · 1d

Just a note: ARC corrected their original tweet (that I screenshotted and posted) to read "Tues 25 Nov" instead of "Tues 25 Oct".

Reposted by Axel Bruns, Catherine J. Frieman

ARC Tracker @arc-tracker.bsky.social · 1d

ARC says they’ll announce DECRA and LIEF outcomes tomorrow (Tuesday 25th Nov).

In recent times these announcements have been around 11am Canberra time. With 2 schemes on the same day, I assume they’ll announce one of them later in the day (probably DECRA first).

Screenshot of tweet from the ARC saying they’ll announce DECRA and LIEF outcomes on Tuesday 25th Nov.

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 1d

I spoke to @australia.theguardian.com about the unworkability of Australia’s #SocialMediaBan for children and young people:

Labor has brushed aside concerns over the social media ban. But what if it doesn’t work as promised?

If Meta, the world’s biggest social media company, expects problems after a year of preparation, then what should the rest of us be expecting?

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Kim L. Scheppele, Axel Bruns , and 12 more Anna O. Law, Kim L. Scheppele, Axel Bruns, Will Jennings, Elena Litchman, John R. Hutchinson, American Library Association, David R. Miller, Scott A. Imberman, James Goodwin, Brian Keegan, Mark Rice, Ann Bartow, Woodrow Hartzog, Greg Linden

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 2d

Bye bye, “DOGE”.

It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...

Reposted by Axel Bruns

Jonathan Green @greenj.bsky.social · 2d

Wasn’t on my bingo card.

Reposted by Axel Bruns, Tim Stephens

Kevin Bonham @kevinbonham.bsky.social · 2d

#Newspoll 58-42 to ALP (yep)

ALP 36 L-NP 24 Green 13 ON 15 IND/other 12

Albanese net 0 (haha) (47-47)
Ley net -29 (26-55)
Better PM (favours incumbents) Albanese leads 54-27.

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 3d

Wow, that was probably our best performance since that run of wins at the start of the season. Well done @hannover-96.bsky.social ! #SCPH96 🖤🤍💚🫶

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 3d

We have a very, very good team. At least some of the time. Let’s perhaps not screw this up in the second half, hey. #SCPH96

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 3d

Sweet Satan, what does Bundu have to do to finally score ? #SCPH96

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 3d

Just Yokota and Källmann doing Källmann and Yokota things. #SCPH96 🇫🇮🤝🇯🇵

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 3d

How on Earth did that manage to get in ? Doesn’t matter – 1:0 for Hannover 96 ! #SCPH96

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 3d

Alright Hannover 96, let’s do this. #SCPH96 🖤🤍💚

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 3d

💡 Add a new entry to the NYT-to-English translation phrasebook:

“challenge scientific orthodoxy” = “deliberately kill tens of thousands of people”

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 3d

Breaking News: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he personally instructed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism. The move underscores his determination to challenge scientific orthodoxy — in this case, that vaccines save lives — and bend the health department to his will.

RFK Jr. Says He Instructed CDC to Change Vaccines and Autism Language on Website

In an interview, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited gaps in vaccine safety research. His critics say he is ignoring a larger point: Vaccines save lives.

nyti.ms

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 3d

🔎 The latest #Brainticket is out – and this week we’re looking at some of the great new archival discoveries and long-awaited re-releases in #Prog that have recently come out, with music from Robert Wyatt, Dzyan, Fläsket Brinner, Can, Liliental, and Soft Machine. 🧠🎫

www.mixcloud.com/LexaSnurb/094/

Brainticket 094: From the Vaults

Catching up with the latest archival releases in progressive rock, with rediscovered music from the greats and the lesser known. Featuring tracks from Robert Wyatt, Dzyan, Fläsket Brinner, Can, Lilien...

www.mixcloud.com

Reposted by Michael E. Mann, Elizabeth Saunders, Mark Petticrew , and 23 more Michael E. Mann, Elizabeth Saunders, Mark Petticrew, Axel Bruns, Jesse M. Shapiro, Scott L. Greer, Ian Miles, David Johnson, Rosemary A. Joyce, Martin Paul Eve, Bruce D. Baker, Robert C. Richards, Melanie C. Green, David R. Miller, Scott A. Imberman, Michael D. McDonald, Daryl Adair, Mark Priestley, Sam Kamin, Seth Masket, Christina Pagel, Olivier Mannoni, Aviel Roshwald, David Darmofal, Peter Jacobs, Steven H. Seggie

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 3d

RFK Jr. Says He Instructed CDC to Change Vaccines and Autism Language on Website

In an interview, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited gaps in vaccine safety research. His critics say he is ignoring a larger point: Vaccines save lives.

nyti.ms

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · 4d

New @qutdmrc.bsky.social podcast is out, celebrating 10 years of our Centre – with a bunch of great people, and me.

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · 4d

We are very proud of the incredible people and culture that we have at the Digital Media Research Centre. We are celebrating our 10 year anniversary this year, including a podcast episode from some of the people that made it happen.

open.spotify.com/epi...

We hope you enjoy listening!

The DMRC, 10 Years On (Or: How to Build a Research Centre)

Read Them Sideways · Episode

open.spotify.com

Reposted by Axel Bruns

Erika Kirk-Vance’s Vinyl Mourning Pants @daryltractor.bsky.social · 4d

🔥

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