Projects per year
Personal profile
Areas of Expertise
social media and learning, sociology, technology, education, technology and learning, social media, youth and digital technology, identity online, digital research methodology, digital ethics, actor-network theory, post-structuralism, social media and education, Flat Earth communities
Video: Incorporating & accounting for Social Media in Education | Harry Dyer | TEDxNorwichED
Biography
Harry joined UEA as a lecturer in education after successfully completing his PhD at UEA in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning. He has a broad academic background, with degrees in linguistics and social science research methods, as well as his ongoing research in online identity presentation.
Given his broad academic background, Harry's research and teaching interests are equally expansive and interdisciplinary. They include (but are not limited to) education, digital sociology, identity theory, social theory, science and technology studies, research methodology, ethics, sociolinguistics, poststructuralism, comic book studies, and media and education. He teaches both undergraduate and postgraudate students.
Harry's current research is in the field of Digital Sociology, in which he looks at the online identities of young people, unpacking how the social media shapes the ways in which young people understand and engage with the world around them. His work particularly focuses on the relationship between user, platform design, and technology, proposing a new theoretical framework through which to consider identity performances online.
He received UEA’s 2016 award for PGR public engagement, and is a big believer in discussing his research publicly. He has give TED talks and other public seminars, written for The Conversation, appeared in local, national, and international newspapers, appeared on podcasts, and can often be found discussing research on Twitter, or on his popular blog (harrytdyer.com).
Harry is currently working on a number of projects, including research into 'flat earth' communities, research into online identity presentation for young people with mental health issues, and research into social media and transitions to higher education.
Administrative Posts
Media co-ordinator for the School of Education and Lifelong Learning
Key Research Interests
Digital sociology, social media, youth and digital technology, identity online, digital research methodology, digital ethics, actor-network theory, post-structuralism, social media and education, Flat Earth communities, socio-cultural dynamics online
Teaching Interests
Educational theory, social theory, social media, digital sociology, media and culture, comic book studies, ethics, social science methodology
Research Group or Lab Membership
Critical Culture Studies in Education
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, University of East Anglia
24 Sep 2012 → 15 Dec 2016
Award Date: 15 Dec 2016
Master of Research, University of East Anglia
24 Sep 2011 → 26 Jul 2012
Award Date: 26 Jul 2012
Bachelor of Arts, King's College London
1 Sep 2007 → 23 Jun 2010
Award Date: 23 Jul 2010
Keywords
- Education (General)
- Social Sciences (General)
- Social Work & Sociology
Media Expertise
- Mental Health
- Technology
- Education
- Social Media
Projects
- 3 Active
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Teacher agency with technology: creating an ecological model through a place-based study of teaching and learning in Norfolk
Gordon, J., Bartholomew, K., Blair, R., Chin, J., Craske, J., Dyer, H., Greenwood, D., Hammond, S., Maddox, B., Medler, D., Parr, G., Priyadharshini, E. & Russell, K.
Economic and Social Research Council
1/12/22 → 30/11/25
Project: Research
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LIT Educational Hub: Enhancing the student experience of the digital university in the UK, China and BRI countries
Viana, V., Dyer, H., Hyland, K., Jin, T. & Russell, K.
1/04/21 → 31/03/26
Project: Research
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Research output
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Understanding Identity and Platform Cultures
Dyer, H. T. & Abidin, C., 1 Dec 2022, The Sage Handbook of Digital Society. 2 ed. Sage PublicationsResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
File41 Downloads (Pure) -
Designing the Social: Unpacking Social Media Design and Identity
Dyer, H. T., 15 Jun 2020, Springer Nature. (Cultural Studies and Transdisciplinarity in Education)Research output: Book/Report › Book
34 Citations (Scopus) -
The Role of Technology in Shaping Student Identity During Transitions to University
Dyer, H., 3 Jan 2020, Mediated Identities in the Futures of Place: Emerging Practices and Spatial Cultures. Lakshmi Priya, R. & Nezhapi-Delle, O. (eds.). Switzerland: Springer, p. 97-113 17 p. (Springer Series in Adaptive Environments).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
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Understanding the social in a digital age
Sujon, Z. & Dyer, H. T., Jul 2020, In: New Media and Society. 22, 7, p. 1125-1134 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Citations (Scopus)58 Downloads (Pure) -
Response to House of Lords Select Committee on Democracy and Digital Technologies
Craske, J., Dyer, H. & Loschmann, J., 29 Oct 2019, 7 p.Research output: Other contribution
Open AccessFile36 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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International Conference on Social Media & Society
Harry Dyer (Chair)
16 Jul 2024 → 18 Jul 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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'What’ is an activist? Learning and enacting emergent youth civic engagements - paper presented at BERA 2023
Harry Dyer (Speaker), Esther Priyadharshini (Contributor), Lauren Bouttell (Contributor), Chris Millora (Contributor), Natasha Rennolds (Contributor) & Spyros Themelis (Contributor)
12 Sep 2023 → 14 Sep 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Digital Culture and Education (Journal)
Harry Dyer (Editor)
1 Feb 2018 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
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British Sociological Association's Digital Sociology group (External organisation)
Harry Dyer (Convenor)
2018 → …Activity: Membership › Network, Working Group or Professional Association
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The presentation of Selfie in Everyday Life: Considering the relationship between social media design and user in the online actions and interactions of young people
Harry Dyer (Speaker)
29 Jul 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Public lecture/debate/seminar
Press/Media
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Threads was meant to be Meta’s Twitter killer. So what went wrong?
15/08/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Harry Dyer (EDU) on how banning anonymous social media accounts is not the answer to tackling online abuse (Oct 2021)
20/10/21
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Dr Harry Dyer (EDU) interviewed about his experience of attending a flat earth convention.
26/04/21 → 30/04/21
3 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Dr Harry Dyer (EDU) interviewed about the pros and cons of social media (Feb 2020)
12/02/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Social media influencer calls for action after online trolls brand her ‘scruffy and fake’
23/05/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media