Meme Wars: Examining Disinformation’s Impact on Media and Political Landscapes

In a rare public dialogue, two Harvard scholars who specialize in examining fringe media and extremist spaces will share their expertise at the University of Colorado Boulder next week. The April 12 event brings together Joan Donovan and Brandi Collins-Dexter, who will explore how ideas circulating in some of culture’s most contentious corners could shape future political landscapes.

Set for 5:00 p.m. in Hale Science 270 on the CU Boulder campus, the conversation promises to deliver insights into media phenomena that many researchers overlook – from Kanye West’s controversial statements to online communities harboring white nationalist ideologies.

Dr. Joan Donovan, Research Director at Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, has established herself as a leading voice in studying internet dynamics, online extremism, and disinformation campaigns. She heads The Technology and Social Change Project (TaSC), investigating how media manipulation techniques are deployed to control public discourse and undermine democratic processes.

“Media manipulation has become a sophisticated tool for derailing democracy and disrupting social cohesion,” Donovan noted in her recent work. Her expertise has made her a sought-after commentator as platforms struggle with moderation policies amid growing political polarization.

Donovan recently co-authored “Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America,” which traces how internet subcultures have influenced mainstream political movements and election outcomes. The book examines how seemingly harmless internet humor can serve as a gateway to extremist ideologies.

Joining her is Brandi Collins-Dexter, associate director of research at the same TaSC project at Harvard. Collins-Dexter brings practical activism experience to complement her scholarly work. Before joining academia, she served as Senior Campaign Director at Color Of Change, where she oversaw departments focused on media, culture, and economic justice initiatives.

Collins-Dexter’s recent book, “Black Skinhead: Reflections on Blackness and Our Political Future,” investigates Black civic participation in both democratic processes and the American economy. Her research specifically examines how technology, media, and economic factors influence community well-being, offering a nuanced perspective on digital equity issues affecting marginalized populations.

The timing of this event is particularly relevant as social media platforms undergo significant transformations. With Twitter’s ownership change, Facebook’s pivot to the metaverse, and TikTok facing potential regulation, questions about online extremism and information integrity have taken on new urgency.

Both scholars represent a growing academic field that treats digital media not merely as communication channels but as powerful systems that reshape social relations and political possibilities. Their work acknowledges that fringe communities often serve as testing grounds for messaging and tactics that eventually enter mainstream discourse.

“Understanding these digital undercurrents isn’t just academic curiosity—it’s essential for safeguarding democratic institutions,” Collins-Dexter argued in a recent interview. “Today’s obscure conspiracy theory can become tomorrow’s political platform with remarkable speed.”

The event is being hosted by CU Boulder’s Media Economies Design Lab in the Department of Media Studies, with additional support from the Visiting Artist & Scholar Talks program in the Department of Critical Media Practices. It reflects growing institutional interest in critical media literacy as digital platforms increasingly dominate public discourse.

Attendees can expect a discussion that bridges theoretical frameworks with practical implications, examining how media manipulation tactics evolve and spread from marginalized online spaces into broader public awareness. The scholars will likely address recent case studies illustrating how extremist ideologies gain traction through sophisticated media campaigns.

As platforms struggle with content moderation and researchers race to understand emerging forms of extremism, conversations like this provide valuable context for journalists, policymakers, educators, and citizens navigating an increasingly complex information landscape.

The April 12 event is open to the university community and public attendees interested in the intersection of media, technology, and politics.