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 is a digital sociologist and lecturer in Education at the University of East Anglia. His research explores the impact of digital technology on culture, public knowledge, and education. This has included exploring the use of YouTube Kids by 0-5 year olds, unpacking how AI is shaping young people’s perceptions of their futures, and examining the rise of ‘flat earth’ communities. Most recently, his work has been published as a monograph with Springer Nature (2020) titled ‘Designing the Social’.
He serves in a number of roles supporting research and scholarship around technology, culture, and education. He is a joint lead orgainser of Social Media and Society, editor of Digital Culture and Education, co-convener of the British Sociological Association’s Digital Sociology Group, Thematic Chair for Digital Social Sciences at SeNSS, and Course Director of the BA Education suite of courses at UEA.
Given his broad academic background, Harry's research and teaching interests are equally broad and interdisciplinary. They include, digital sociology, identity theory, social theory, science and technology studies, research methodology, ethics, 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/X.
Harry is currently working on a number of projects, including research early years use of video sharing platforms, online identity presentation for young people, conspiracy movements online, and the role of technology in transitions to higher education.
Administrative Posts
- Media co-ordinator for the School of Education and Lifelong Learning
- Digital Champion for the School of Education and Lifelong Learning
- Course Director of the BA Education suite of courses in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning
- Thematic Chair for Digital Social Sciences at UEA and SeNSS
Key Responsibilities
- Joint lead orgainser of Social Media and Society
- Editor of Digital Culture and Education
- Co-convener of the British Sociological Association’s Digital Sociology Group
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, #Selfie. Identity online; the effects of social media design through the lens of comic books, University of East Anglia
24 Sept 2012 → 15 Dec 2016
Award Date: 15 Dec 2016
Master of Research, Social Science Research Methods, University of East Anglia
24 Sept 2011 → 26 Jul 2012
Award Date: 26 Jul 2012
Bachelor of Arts, English Language and Communication, King's College London
1 Sept 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
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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., Lapeer, R., 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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ETAT: Enhancing Teacher Agency with Technology
Gordon, J., Parr, G., Chin, J., Russell, K., Lapeer, R., Medler, D., Priyadharshini, E., Nourie, K., Dyer, H., Craske, J., Maddox, B., Blair, R., Hammond, S. & Bartholomew, K.
1/12/22 → 30/11/25
Project: Research
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Towards developing understandings of Young Kid’s digital Literacies in Early years foundation Stage [TYKES]
1/10/18 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Towards embedding responsible AI in the school system: co-creation with young people
Arts and Humanities Research Council
1/02/24 → 31/10/24
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 → 12/01/23
Project: Research
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Case Study: Online Voice
Dyer, H., 18 Sept 2025, Researching with Young People: An Introduction to Youth-Centred Research Methods. Howard, F., Hanckel, B., Moore, K., Suppers, J. & Atherton, S. (eds.). BloomsburyResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Produce, Reduce, Recycle: Phonocenes of Citizenship
Dyer, H. & Rennolds, N., 22 Sept 2025, Society, Politics and Education in Uncertain Times: Rethinking Citizenship and Belonging in International Contexts. Dyer, H., Bates, A., Gordon, J. & Hinchliffe, G. (eds.). RoutledgeResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Researching Digital Society: An Introduction
Dyer, H., Dec 2025, Sage Publications. 272 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
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Shaping Identity through the Mobile Media of TikTok
Abidin, C. & Dyer, H., 2025, (Accepted/In press) The Routledge Companion to Mobile Media. Goggin, G. & Hjorth, L. (eds.). 2 ed. Routledge, p. 382-391 10 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
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Society, Politics and Education in Uncertain Times: Rethinking Citizenship and Belonging in International Contexts
Dyer, H. (ed.), Bates, A. (ed.), Gordon, J. (ed.) & Hinchliffe, G. (ed.), 22 Sept 2025, Routledge. 240 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
Activities
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SENSS Scholar Series
Harry Dyer (Speaker)
16 Apr 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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2024 Child and Teen Consumption Conference
Harry Dyer (Speaker), Laura Jennings-Tallant (Participant) & Simon Hammond (Participant)
17 Oct 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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MeCCSA Conference
Esther Priyadharshini (Speaker) & Harry Dyer (Speaker)
4 Sept 2024 → 6 Sept 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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International Conference on Social Media & Society
Harry Dyer (Speaker), Laura Jennings-Tallant (Participant), Phoebe Hill (Participant) & Simon Hammond (Participant)
17 Jul 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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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
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: Media Coverage or Contribution
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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: Media Coverage or Contribution
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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: Media Coverage or Contribution
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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: Media Coverage or Contribution
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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: Media Coverage or Contribution