Hybrid Format

The use of web scraping to measure gender and class disparities on digital plattforms

Guest: Jasper Tjaden (University of Potsdam)
Department of Digital and Computational Demography, November 15, 2023

Hybrid Talk Seminar, November 15, 2023 from 11am to 12pm (CEST)

Abstract

In the digital age, online platforms have become an integral part of our lives, shaping interactions, opportunities, and social dynamics. This talk delves into the innovative use of web scraping techniques to examine class and gender disparities prevalent on these platforms. Web scraping is a method of extracting data from websites. It is celebrating somewhat of a comeback as many large digital platforms limit access to their APIs. This talk will feature two case studies. The first is a planned algorithm audit to assess whether social class cues affect harmful advertisement placements. The second case study examines gender disparities in academic title use on social media.

About the speaker

Since January 2021, Jasper is Professor for Applied Social Research and Public Policy at the Economic and Social Science Department of the University of Potsdam, Germany. Before joining the University of Potsdam, he worked for the United Nations as data analytics coordinator for the International Organization for Migration’s Global Migration Data Analysis Centre, for the World Bank as research consultant, and for the Migration Policy Group as policy analyst. His research focuses on migration and integration issues including ethnic educational inequality, discrimination, migration decisions as well as applied quantitative research methods. His research increasingly ventures into the field of computational social science, particularly the use of web scraping and digital trials.