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David Lazer

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David Lazer is a distinguished professor of political science and computer and information science at Northeastern University, as well as… more

H-index: 61
Political science 23%
Communication & Media Studies 18%
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by David Lazer

Northeastern story on our higher ed report...

news.northeastern.edu/2025/10/15/n...
Americans united on protecting science research in higher ed, worry about liberal bias and antisemitism, national survey reveals
The Higher Education Public Opinion survey is the latest effort to examine attitudes and behaviors in the United States.
news.northeastern.edu

by David Lazer

@wbur.org story on our recent report on public opinion re higher education

www.wbur.org/news/2025/10...
Survey: Debt and discrimination head up American concerns for higher ed
The survey gathered responses from nearly 32,000 people across all 50 states. It revealed that opinions on various policy changes under the Trump administration and the promise of higher education in ...
www.wbur.org
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by David Lazer — Reposted by David Darmofal

Nice @theharvardcrimson.bsky.social story on our report re public opinion re higher ed: www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Most Americans Oppose Trump’s Attack on Universities, But They Have Concerns About Campus Cultures, New Survey Finds | News | The Harvard Crimson
A majority of Americans oppose the Trump administration’s attempts to influence university operations by restricting funding, though more than 75 percent are concerned about free speech policies, libe...
www.thecrimson.com
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by Katherine Ognyanova — Reposted by David Lazer, David Darmofal

ognyanova.bsky.social
We just launched a new project tracking public attitudes to higher ed. First report is out: we find the public trusts universities and opposes funding cuts, but worries about tuition costs and free speech on campus. With @davidlazer.bsky.social, M. Baum, J. Druckman, & M. Santillana edbarometer.org
American Higher Education Barometer
Measuring American Attitudes Towards Higher Education
edbarometer.org
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Reposted by David Lazer

techpolicypress.bsky.social
Sweden is running a national experiment in AI, offering free access to AI tools at a population level in the hope of boosting its economy and tech literacy. Chris Stokel-Walker reports from Stockholm on how the country's bold bid to democratize AI is unfolding.
What Happens When You Give Millions of People Free Access to AI? | TechPolicy.Press
Initiatives in Sweden and UAE to provide population-level access to AI tools could be just the beginning of a new AI revolution, reports Chris Stokel-Walker.
buff.ly
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by David Lazer

With credit to all of the authors of the report, @ognyanova.bsky.social James Druckman, Matthew Baum, Mauricio Santillana

by David Lazer

5) The big BUT for higher education is that there are major concerns about cost and campus climate that are widely held.
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by David Lazer

4) While there is substantial variation regionally, there is strong support for science & higher ed across all 50 states (e.g. in this figure, looking at disapproval of federal funding cuts).
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by David Lazer

3) There is a strong (latent) willingness to be mobilized politically.
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by David Lazer

2) People generally strongly disapprove of cutting funding for science, education, health, restricting visas.
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by David Lazer — Reposted by Katherine Ognyanova

Happy to release the first report from the American Higher Education Barometer (edbarometer.org), a 50 state survey re opinion on higher education. Key takeaways:

1) Generally, people see a universities as important to various high priority domains (economic growth, health, etc)
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Reposted by David Lazer, Sebastian Stier, Samuel Coavoux

gesis-panel.bsky.social
Call for Research Proposals: GESIS Panel.dbd
We offer researchers the opportunity to conduct their studies for free!

We grant:
Access to ~ 7,000 participants
Free participation in surveys & web tracking
Deadline: Nov 1, 2025
Details: www.gesis.org/en/gesis-pan...

We look forward to your proposals!
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Reposted by David Lazer

nucssh.bsky.social
Professor @davidlazer.bsky.social conducted a study on the spread of conspiracy theories after the 2024 attempted assasination on President Trump. In a story for @nuglobalnews.bsky.social, Prof. Lazer says the study reveals mistrust in institutions on both sides of the political spectrum.
More people believe in conspiracy theories than you might think, new research reveals
The results of a survey after the assassination attempt against Donald Trump show how conspiracy theories spread and lead to believers.
news.northeastern.edu
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Reposted by David Lazer

jeremymberg.bsky.social
My quote of the day

Science is the search for truth, that is the effort to understand the world: it involves the rejection of bias, of dogma, of revelation, but not the rejection of morality.

Linus Pauling
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by Brendan Nyhan — Reposted by David Lazer, Will Jennings, Jacob Montgomery , and 3 more

brendannyhan.bsky.social
Unprecedented corruption
robertscotthorton.bsky.social
Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 5d
Trump said he deserved a cut for brokering the TikTok deal, and at once there was agreement that his son Baron would have a top executive slot... though he hasn't asked for it, and has no apparent qualifications to hold it. This is how Trump 2.0 works. www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025...
Barron Trump tipped for top TikTok job
US president’s 19-year-old son could be appointed to the app’s board
www.telegraph.co.uk
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Reposted by David Lazer, Mel Bartley, Robb Willer

chrisbail.bsky.social
Junior and senior faculty positions in computational social scientists at Bocconi, one of the world's best universiites: Assistant Prof: jobmarket.unibocconi.eu?id=841
Associate/Full Prof: jobmarket.unibocconi.eu?id=843
Job Market - Bocconi University
Recruiting, Faculty, Post-doc Grant, Collaboration Contracts
jobmarket.unibocconi.eu
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Reposted by David Lazer, Daniel W. Drezner

samcohen.bsky.social
👏👏👏
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Reposted by David Lazer, Will Jennings, Efrén O. Pérez , and 5 more

tiagoventura.bsky.social
How common are “survey professionals” - people who take dozens of online surveys for pay - across online panels, and do they harm data quality?

Our paper, FirstView at @politicalanalysis.bsky.social, tackles this question using browsing data from three U.S. samples (Facebook, YouGov, and Lucid):
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by Brendan Nyhan — Reposted by David Lazer, Lisa W. Fazio, Joshua S. Weitz , and 17 more

brendannyhan.bsky.social
My new op-ed with @lkfazio.bsky.social:

Trump sent a 'compact' to our universities. They should reject this devil's bargain.
Any institution that yields to these broad and intrusive demands would forever be subservient to the whims of the government.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
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Reposted by David Lazer, Norbert Schwarz

gregggonsalves.bsky.social
@aacu.org has stepped up & called the Trump "compact" for higher ed what it is: "The compact is, in effect, an ultimatum...This is not constructive engagement." Big question is where is @aau.edu? If your university is part of AAU, write to your president & trustees now.
www.aacu.org/newsroom/aac...
AAC&U Statement on the Trump Administration’s “Compact for… | AAC&U
AAC&U Statement on the Trump Administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”
www.aacu.org
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by Henry Farrell — Reposted by David Lazer

himself.bsky.social
on.ft.com/48hiEgC "It warns of “external dependencies of the AI stack” — the infrastructure and software needed to build, train and manage AI applications — which it says “can be weaponised” by both “state and non-state actors”, posing a risk to supply chains."
EU pushes new AI strategy to reduce tech reliance on US and China
Brussels to unveil plan targeting digital sovereignty as it warns technology can be ‘weaponised’ by geopolitical rivals
on.ft.com
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Reposted by David Lazer, Anna O. Law, David Brady , and 9 more

jswatz.bsky.social
“No self-respecting university could ever accept something like this,” said Lee Bollinger, a First Amendment scholar and former Columbia University president. “Trying to protect conservative ideas against being ‘belittled’ — that’s about as violative of the First Amendment interests as you can get.”
Colleges weigh whether to sign onto Trump plan or forgo federal benefits
A new proposal from the Trump administration would give colleges funding advantages if they adopt conservative priorities.
www.washingtonpost.com
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by Daniel P. Aldrich — Reposted by David Lazer

danielaldrich.bsky.social
New #chapter from Farmer et al: Social Connection in Contemporary Life: A Case Study of Urban Fringe Suburb Residents
TL;DR: Digital platforms emerge as integral to modern social connection, maintaining existing relationships and building new ones
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
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Reposted by David Lazer, Scott L. Greer, Joshua Goodman , and 9 more

aaup.org
The Trump admin’s offer to give preferential treatment to institutions that toe the party line reeks of bribery in exchange for allegiance to a partisan ideological agenda.

This is corruption.

Adherence to ‘loyalty oaths’ would usher in a new era of thought policing in American higher education.
Universities Must Reject Trump Admin 'Loyalty Oath' Compacts
The AAUP and AFT warn that the Trump administration’s offer to give preferential treatment to colleges and universities that court government favor in exchange for allegiance to a partisan ideological...
www.aaup.org
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by Kate Starbird — Reposted by David Lazer, Dawn J. Wright, Shelly Lundberg , and 3 more

katestarbird.bsky.social
A moment that calls for collective action… to reject this transparent attack on academic freedom.
brendannyhan.bsky.social
Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 14d
Trump's higher ed ransom note is here - everyone would have to acquiesce to their unprecedented demands or not be "given priority for grants," plus they can demand "reimbursement" for "violations" www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...

A mechanism to enforce fealty. An attack on academic freedom and democracy
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by Brendan Nyhan — Reposted by David Lazer, Anna O. Law, Lisa W. Fazio , and 22 more

brendannyhan.bsky.social
Trump's higher ed ransom note is here - everyone would have to acquiesce to their unprecedented demands or not be "given priority for grants," plus they can demand "reimbursement" for "violations" www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...

A mechanism to enforce fealty. An attack on academic freedom and democracy
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Reposted by David Lazer

magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
The richest 20% of nations, with 15% of the global population, contribute more than 40% of annual ecological overshoot; the poorest 40% of countries, with 42% of the global population, experience more than 60% of social shortfall 🧪
A new analysis by Fanning & Raworth
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries monitors a world out of balance - Nature
A revised ‘Doughnut’ providing a visual assessment of trends in social deprivation and planetary degradation over the past two decades shows more than doubling of global GDP accompanied by accelerating ecological overshoot but only a modest reduction in human deprivation.
www.nature.com
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Reposted by David Lazer

justinhendrix.bsky.social
Paul Barrett reviews Nick Clegg’s new book, which is titled How to Save the Internet: The Threat to Global Connection in the Age of AI and Political Conflict. www.techpolicy.press/in-new-book-...
In New Book, Nick Clegg Can't Stop Spinning Meta | TechPolicy.Press
Clegg's new book fails to accomplish its stated goals and marks a new low for Silicon Valley arrogance, writes Paul M. Barrett.
www.techpolicy.press
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Reposted by David Lazer, Mark J. Brandt, Miranda J. Lubbers

zpneal.bsky.social
Want to promote transparency and clarity in network research by helping develop 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 (𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃)?

Sign up to get involved here: tinyurl.com/help-with-GR...

▪️ All career stages welcome
▪️ All fields welcome
▪️ Be compensated for your time
GRAND Recruitment
Complete this short questionnaire to help develop Guidelines for Reporting About Network Data (GRAND).
tinyurl.com
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Reposted by David Lazer

jagolinzer.bsky.social
Harvard's Elizabeth J. Perry (2019):

"...authoritarian rule [can be] buttressed by a pattern of educated acquiescence, with academia acceding to political compliance in exchange for the many benefits conferred upon it by the state."

link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Educated acquiescence: how academia sustains authoritarianism in China - Theory and Society
As a presumed bastion of the Enlightenment values that support a critical intelligentsia, the university is often regarded as both the bedrock and beneficiary of liberal democracy. By contrast, authoritarian regimes are said to discourage higher education out of fear that the growth of a critical intelligentsia could imperil their survival. The case of China, past and present, challenges this conventional wisdom. Imperial China, the most enduring authoritarian political system in world history, thrived in large part precisely because of its sponsorship of a form of higher education closely tied to state interests. Although twentieth-century revolutions brought fundamental change to Chinese politics and pedagogy, the contemporary party-state also actively promotes higher education, cultivating a mutually advantageous state-scholar nexus and thereby reducing the likelihood of intellectual-led opposition. As in the imperial past, authoritarian rule in China today is buttressed by a pattern of educated acquiescence, with academia acceding to political compliance in exchange for the many benefits conferred upon it by the state. The role of educated acquiescence in enabling Chinese authoritarianism highlights the contributions of a cooperative academy to authoritarian durability and raises questions with prevailing assumptions that associate the flourishing of higher education with liberal democracy.
link.springer.com
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