Venue: IESE North Campus (Classroom Q-103)
Social Media Is a Threat for Democracy: A Political Perspective for Analysing and Diminishing Harm
Social media platforms, once hailed as potential champions of dialogue, have evolved into commodified spaces in which their business models incentivize hate speech, misinformation, polarization, and the political fragmentation of society, benefiting corporate and political elites while eroding democracy. The existing market and technological conceptualizations of social media platforms offer only partial analysis of and solutions to these issues. Itziar will advance a political perspective of digital platforms grounded in deliberative democracy, arguing that social media companies are political actors responsible for maintaining a well-functioning public sphere.
This talk will contribute to the understanding of the role of managers and policy makers in addressing current threats to democracy.
Itziar Castelló-Molina is a Reader in Sustainability and Digital Economy at Bayes Business School, City, University of London, where she leads research on corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement in the digital age. Her work—published in top academic journals and recognised for its societal impact—examines how organisations and entrepreneurs address global challenges such as climate change and social purpose through communication, governance, and innovation. She also serves as Head of the Social Purpose Group and has extensive experience advising organisations on ESG strategy and implementation