Call for Papers – 13th European Conference on Social Media
*Deadline – Wednesday 5 November 2025 *
Conference to be held 28-29 May 2026 in Larnaka, Cyprus
The European Conference on Social Media (ECSM) is a well-established academic conference, held annually for over a decade, with a focus on advancing research and dialogue around social media. The primary aim of ECSM is to provide a platform for scholars, researchers, practitioners, and industry professionals to share and discuss their findings on the multifaceted impacts of social media. The conference emphasises the importance of understanding how social media influences various sectors, including society, education, business, and governance. The open access conference proceedings, published annually, provide valuable insights and are frequently cited by academics, policymakers, and industry professionals, underscoring the conference’s role in shaping the future of cyber warfare and security.
Aims and Scope
The primary aim of the ECSM is to encourage academic and professional dialogue on the diverse aspects of social media, promoting research that contributes to the better understanding of how social media impacts our lives. The conference seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice by encouraging contributions that offer both theoretical insights and practical implications. It also provides a collaborative environment where participants can engage in knowledge exchange, interact with peers, and explore emerging trends and issues in social media.
The scope of ECSM is deliberately broad and interdisciplinary, encompassing research that explores the societal implications of social media, its role in communication and community building, and its integration into business and educational practices. Additionally, the conference addresses the analytical and technical aspects of social media, such as data mining, analytics, and the ethical and policy-related challenges that arise from its use.
Topics Covered
The call for papers for the ECSM conference asked for contributions that considered the following topics. In addition the committee welcomed papers on a number of specialist mini-tracks which can be seen at the end of this list.
Social Media and Society
- how social media affects social behaviour
- cultural dynamics
- community building.
Social Media in Business
- social media as part of business strategy,
- marketing,
- customer engagement
- brand management.
Educational Uses of Social Media
- the integration of social media into educational settings,
- the impact of social media on learning, teaching methods, and academic engagement.
- Social media as a research tool.
Social Media Analytics and Data Mining
- methodologies and tools for analysing social media data
- sentiment analysis
- network analysis
- big data challenges.
Policy and Ethical Issues
- regulatory, legal, and ethical implications of social media use,
- privacy concerns,
- misinformation
- the digital divide.
Emerging Technologies
- the intersection between social media and emerging technologies
- artificial intelligence
- virtual reality
- blockchain.
Mini-Tracks
From Passive Consumption to Critical Engagement: Rethinking Social Media in the Post-Truth Era
Mini Track Chair: Christiana Varda. UCLan Cyprus
We invite scholarly contributions that critically examine the evolving relationship between social media, information consumption, and societal trust. In an era often characterized by the diminishing role of gatekeepers, social media deregulation, and the proliferation AI-generated “slop”, concerns for online misinformation has heightened. The presence of online misinformation often serves a polarizing function, and can be amplified by social media algorithms in a bid to increase platform engagement. Understanding how individuals engage with digital content on social media, and how to best support critical engagement, is paramount. We seek proposals that explore the shift from passive reception of social media narratives to active, critical evaluation. One of the challenges of studying how people critically engage with online misinformation is concerned with the ecological validity of studies that take place in simulated contexts. Therefore methodological reflections on how to advance knowledge in this area are welcome. Additional topics include—but are not limited to—research on media literacy initiatives, the development of critical thinking skills in online environments, strategies for fostering responsible digital citizenship, and collective social media imaginaries (i.e., the shared beliefs and perceptions of what social media is and can be) for a critically engaged citizenry. We encourage interdisciplinary approaches from fields such as Communication Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Education, and Computer Science. Contributions can be conceptual, empirical, methodological or can focus on practical interventions. The goal is to illuminate pathways toward a more informed and discerning public capable of navigating the complexities of the contemporary information landscape. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- The impact of AI-Generated Content on Critical Thinking and Trust
- Developing/Evaluating Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship Learning Interventions
- Cognitive Processes of Online Critical Evaluation on Social Media
- The Role of Gatekeepers and Regulation in Redefining Social Media’s Role
- Algorithmic Amplification and the Shaping of Social Media Imaginaries
Find more information and submit your proposal here: https://www.academic-conferences.org/conferences/ecsm/ecsm-call-for-papers/