NYU Center for Social Media and Politics

The NYU Center for Social Media and Politics (CSMaP) represents an important interdisciplinary research initiative addressing critical contemporary challenges at the intersection of technology, media, and political processes. By integrating perspectives from politics, data science, biology, and sociology, the center seeks to generate empirical research that can inform public policy and democratic engagement in the digital age. CSMaP's research approach emphasizes open science, comprehensive data collection, and rigorous methodological frameworks. Their focus areas—including online information environments, public opinion, political behavior, and foreign influence campaigns—demonstrate a holistic understanding of how digital platforms reshape political communication and social dynamics. By developing open-source tools and publishing in top academic journals, the center contributes substantive knowledge that can help policymakers and researchers better understand and navigate increasingly complex digital political landscapes.