Patrick Gerard
@patrikgerard.bsky.social
phd student @usc-isi | misinformation, networks, nlp
Had a great time last week at the Oxford Internet Institute’s (@oii.ox.ac.uk) Future of Social Media Research workshop!
I presented my work on cross-platform discourse networks — moving past platform silos to a unified view of the online information ecosystem.
Presentation: tinyurl.com/gerard-oii
I presented my work on cross-platform discourse networks — moving past platform silos to a unified view of the online information ecosystem.
Presentation: tinyurl.com/gerard-oii
November 24, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Had a great time last week at the Oxford Internet Institute’s (@oii.ox.ac.uk) Future of Social Media Research workshop!
I presented my work on cross-platform discourse networks — moving past platform silos to a unified view of the online information ecosystem.
Presentation: tinyurl.com/gerard-oii
I presented my work on cross-platform discourse networks — moving past platform silos to a unified view of the online information ecosystem.
Presentation: tinyurl.com/gerard-oii
The dashboard covers major 2024 election themes:
Conspiracy & Deep State
Election Process & Integrity
Immigration & Border
Economic Conditions
Candidate Image & Competence
Media & Information Trust
Foreign Affairs & Security
Conspiracy & Deep State
Election Process & Integrity
Immigration & Border
Economic Conditions
Candidate Image & Competence
Media & Information Trust
Foreign Affairs & Security
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The dashboard covers major 2024 election themes:
Conspiracy & Deep State
Election Process & Integrity
Immigration & Border
Economic Conditions
Candidate Image & Competence
Media & Information Trust
Foreign Affairs & Security
Conspiracy & Deep State
Election Process & Integrity
Immigration & Border
Economic Conditions
Candidate Image & Competence
Media & Information Trust
Foreign Affairs & Security
Another mainstream example: Energy independence debates—claims about US energy self-sufficiency, push for domestic drilling vs. green transition.
Broadly distributed, especially Twitter 🔵 and TikTok 🔴.
The difference in distribution patterns compared to the conspiracy narratives is striking.
Broadly distributed, especially Twitter 🔵 and TikTok 🔴.
The difference in distribution patterns compared to the conspiracy narratives is striking.
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Another mainstream example: Energy independence debates—claims about US energy self-sufficiency, push for domestic drilling vs. green transition.
Broadly distributed, especially Twitter 🔵 and TikTok 🔴.
The difference in distribution patterns compared to the conspiracy narratives is striking.
Broadly distributed, especially Twitter 🔵 and TikTok 🔴.
The difference in distribution patterns compared to the conspiracy narratives is striking.
Compare this to the Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling—July 2024 decision granting broad immunity to Trump.
Discussion emerges across ALL platforms—heavy TikTok 🔴 and Twitter 🔵 from the start, but also Telegram ⚪ and Truth Social 🟣.
Mainstream events show way different patterns.
Discussion emerges across ALL platforms—heavy TikTok 🔴 and Twitter 🔵 from the start, but also Telegram ⚪ and Truth Social 🟣.
Mainstream events show way different patterns.
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Compare this to the Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling—July 2024 decision granting broad immunity to Trump.
Discussion emerges across ALL platforms—heavy TikTok 🔴 and Twitter 🔵 from the start, but also Telegram ⚪ and Truth Social 🟣.
Mainstream events show way different patterns.
Discussion emerges across ALL platforms—heavy TikTok 🔴 and Twitter 🔵 from the start, but also Telegram ⚪ and Truth Social 🟣.
Mainstream events show way different patterns.
(Second Conspiracy Pattern)
Similar trajectory with COVID lab-leak/Fauci narratives—claims about NIH gain-of-function research and intentional virus creation.
Telegram ⚪ + Truth Social 🟣 dominate early and throughout
Later gains ground on Twitter 🔵 and TikTok 🔴
Very similar pattern :0
Similar trajectory with COVID lab-leak/Fauci narratives—claims about NIH gain-of-function research and intentional virus creation.
Telegram ⚪ + Truth Social 🟣 dominate early and throughout
Later gains ground on Twitter 🔵 and TikTok 🔴
Very similar pattern :0
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
(Second Conspiracy Pattern)
Similar trajectory with COVID lab-leak/Fauci narratives—claims about NIH gain-of-function research and intentional virus creation.
Telegram ⚪ + Truth Social 🟣 dominate early and throughout
Later gains ground on Twitter 🔵 and TikTok 🔴
Very similar pattern :0
Similar trajectory with COVID lab-leak/Fauci narratives—claims about NIH gain-of-function research and intentional virus creation.
Telegram ⚪ + Truth Social 🟣 dominate early and throughout
Later gains ground on Twitter 🔵 and TikTok 🔴
Very similar pattern :0
(External Validation)
PBS reported (Oct 5) on far-right groups spreading weather control theories, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene endorsing the idea that "they can control the weather."
You can see this explosion into mainstream platforms on our dashboard.
Link: tinyurl.com/pbs-weather
PBS reported (Oct 5) on far-right groups spreading weather control theories, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene endorsing the idea that "they can control the weather."
You can see this explosion into mainstream platforms on our dashboard.
Link: tinyurl.com/pbs-weather
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
(External Validation)
PBS reported (Oct 5) on far-right groups spreading weather control theories, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene endorsing the idea that "they can control the weather."
You can see this explosion into mainstream platforms on our dashboard.
Link: tinyurl.com/pbs-weather
PBS reported (Oct 5) on far-right groups spreading weather control theories, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene endorsing the idea that "they can control the weather."
You can see this explosion into mainstream platforms on our dashboard.
Link: tinyurl.com/pbs-weather
(Conspiracy Pattern - HAARP)
Take the HAARP/weather control conspiracy around Hurricane Helene—claims that government technology steered the hurricane toward Republican voters.
Starts dominated by Telegram ⚪, sustained there
Small Twitter/X 🔵 and TikTok 🔴 presence early
Then TikTok 🔴 explodes
Take the HAARP/weather control conspiracy around Hurricane Helene—claims that government technology steered the hurricane toward Republican voters.
Starts dominated by Telegram ⚪, sustained there
Small Twitter/X 🔵 and TikTok 🔴 presence early
Then TikTok 🔴 explodes
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
(Conspiracy Pattern - HAARP)
Take the HAARP/weather control conspiracy around Hurricane Helene—claims that government technology steered the hurricane toward Republican voters.
Starts dominated by Telegram ⚪, sustained there
Small Twitter/X 🔵 and TikTok 🔴 presence early
Then TikTok 🔴 explodes
Take the HAARP/weather control conspiracy around Hurricane Helene—claims that government technology steered the hurricane toward Republican voters.
Starts dominated by Telegram ⚪, sustained there
Small Twitter/X 🔵 and TikTok 🔴 presence early
Then TikTok 🔴 explodes
Tracking 5.7M posts across X, TikTok, Telegram, and Truth Social during the 2024 election:
Legend:
🔵 Twitter/X
🔴 TikTok
⚪ Telegram
🟣 Truth Social
Circle size = post volume
Ring color = dominant platform
Watch how narratives shift across platforms in the unified online information ecosystem...
Legend:
🔵 Twitter/X
🔴 TikTok
⚪ Telegram
🟣 Truth Social
Circle size = post volume
Ring color = dominant platform
Watch how narratives shift across platforms in the unified online information ecosystem...
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Tracking 5.7M posts across X, TikTok, Telegram, and Truth Social during the 2024 election:
Legend:
🔵 Twitter/X
🔴 TikTok
⚪ Telegram
🟣 Truth Social
Circle size = post volume
Ring color = dominant platform
Watch how narratives shift across platforms in the unified online information ecosystem...
Legend:
🔵 Twitter/X
🔴 TikTok
⚪ Telegram
🟣 Truth Social
Circle size = post volume
Ring color = dominant platform
Watch how narratives shift across platforms in the unified online information ecosystem...
New paper + interactive dashboard on the 2024 election information ecosystem.
Building on discourse networks work with @hanshanley.bsky.social @luceriluc.bsky.social @emilioferrara.bsky.social—this lets us visualize the online landscape as a unified system, rather than isolating each platform.
Building on discourse networks work with @hanshanley.bsky.social @luceriluc.bsky.social @emilioferrara.bsky.social—this lets us visualize the online landscape as a unified system, rather than isolating each platform.
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
New paper + interactive dashboard on the 2024 election information ecosystem.
Building on discourse networks work with @hanshanley.bsky.social @luceriluc.bsky.social @emilioferrara.bsky.social—this lets us visualize the online landscape as a unified system, rather than isolating each platform.
Building on discourse networks work with @hanshanley.bsky.social @luceriluc.bsky.social @emilioferrara.bsky.social—this lets us visualize the online landscape as a unified system, rather than isolating each platform.