The International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media (ICWSM) is a forum for researchers from multiple disciplines to come together to share knowledge, discuss ideas, exchange information, and learn about cutting-edge research in diverse fields with the common theme of online social media. This overall theme includes research in new perspectives in social theories, as well as computational algorithms for analyzing social media. ICWSM is a singularly fitting venue for research that blends social science and computational approaches to answer important and challenging questions about human social behavior through social media while advancing computational tools for vast and unstructured data.
ICWSM, now in its seventeenth year, has become one of the premier venues for computational social science, and previous years of ICWSM have featured papers, posters, and demos that draw upon network science, machine learning, computational linguistics, sociology, communication, and political science. The uniqueness of the venue and the quality of submissions have contributed to a rapidly growing conference, and a competitive acceptance rate of approximately 20% for full-length research papers published in the proceedings by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI).
ICWSM-2024 will be held in early June in Buffalo, NY, USA, near Niagara Falls and two of the five Great Lakes!
Abstract:Large language model (LLM) provides great opportunities for analyzing text data at scale and has transformed the way humans interact with AI systems in a wide range of fields and disciplines. This talk shares two distinct approaches to how LLM can influence and potentially transform computational social science research. This first part analyzes the zero-shot performance of 13 LLMs on 24 representative computational social science benchmarks in order to provide a road map for using LLMs as computational social science tools. The second part explores social skill training with LLMs by presenting how we use LLMs to teach conflict resolution skills through simulated practice. We conclude by discussing concerns about using LLMs in the social sciences and offering recommendations on how to deal with them.
Bio:Diyi Yang is an assistant professor in the Computer Science Department at Stanford University, also affiliated with the Stanford NLP Group, Stanford HCI Group and Stanford Human Centered AI Institute. Her research focuses on human-centered natural language processing and computational social science. She is a recipient of IEEE “AI 10 to Watch” (2020), Microsoft Research Faculty Fellowship (2021), NSF CAREER Award (2022), an ONR Young Investigator Award (2023), and a Sloan Research Fellowship (2024). Her work has received multiple paper awards or nominations at top NLP and HCI conferences, (e.g., Best Paper Honorable Mention at ICWSM 2016, Best Paper Honorable Mention at SIGCHI 2019, and Outstanding Paper at ACL 2022). Diyi has previously served as the General Co-Chair of ICWSM 2022, Ethics Co-Chair of NAACL 2022, Board Member of NAACL (2022-2023), as well as Senior Area Chair and Area Chair of major NLP conferences.
Abstract:Facts, Frames, and (Mis)interpretations: Reflections on a Decade of “Misinformation” Research At the University of Washington, my colleagues and I have been studying online rumoring for more than a decade and have had a front row seat as misinformation—and its more nefarious cousin, disinformation—have grown and metastasized within social media platforms and the broader information ecosystem. In this talk, first, I’ll draw from that body of work to demonstrate some of the salient dimensions of online rumoring, misinformation, and disinformation, how they have evolved over time, and where they intersect with the design of sociotechnical systems, human psychology, and intentional manipulation. Next, I’ll present an emerging framework for applying theories of “collective sensemaking” to the study of rumors, conspiracy theories, and disinformation, which we hope will lead to more accurate (and nuanced) understandings and more productive ways of operationalizating these phenomena. Finally, I’ll discuss some of the challenges that researchers in our field are facing—from data access issues to harassment and legal threats—as our work documenting the manipulation of online systems draws attention from the people and organizations that perpetrate and/or benefit from that manipulation.
Bio:Dr. Kate Starbird is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) and Director of the Emerging Capacities of Mass Participation (emCOMP) Laboratory. She is also adjunct faculty in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering and the Information School, and a data science fellow at the eScience Institute. Kate is a co-founder of the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public, which formed in 2019 around a shared mission of resisting strategic misinformation, promoting an informed society, and strengthening democratic discourse. Kate's research is situated within human-computer interaction (HCI) and the emerging field of crisis informatics — the study of how information-communication technologies (ICTs) are used during crisis events. Her research examines how people use social media to seek, share, and make sense of information after natural disasters (such as earthquakes and hurricanes) and man-made crisis events (such as acts of terrorism and mass shooting events). More recently, her work has shifted to focus on the spread of disinformation in this context. Kate's research touches on broader questions about the intersection of technology and society—including the vast potential for online social platforms to empower people to work together to solve problems, as well as salient concerns related to abuse and manipulation of and through these platforms and the consequent erosion of trust in information.
Abstract:This talk introduces a new framework of ‘shadow practices’ (ethically ambiguous, quietly obscured, but calculated activities undertaken out of sight) for circumventing attention online.
Bio:Professor Crystal Abidin is a world-leading expert in the field of influencer cultures and internet celebrity studies, including a portfolio developing the field of social media pop cultures in the Asia Pacific region. She has authored over 100 articles and chapters in the field, and her books include Internet Celebrity (2018, Emerald Publishing); Microcelebrity Around The Globe (with Brown, 2018, Emerald Publishing); Instagram (with Leaver & Highfield, 2020, Polity Press); Mediated Interfaces (with Warfield & Cambre, 2020, Bloomsbury Academic); tumblr (with Tiidenberg & Hendry, 2021, Polity Press). Her forthcoming books are TikTok and Youth Cultures (Emerald Publishing) and Provoking Online Drama (Bloomsbury). Crystal’s research has won international accolades, with notable awards including WA Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2022), The Australian Top 40 Early Career Researchers (2021), ABC TOP 5 Humanities Fellow (2020), Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2018), and Pacific Standard 30 Top Thinkers Under 30 (2016). Crystal is Director of the Influencer Ethnography Research Lab (IERLab), Founder of the TikTok Cultures Research Network (TCRN), and Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University. She is also Editor-in-Chief of Media International Australia and serves on the Safety Advisory Council for TikTok AUNZ. Reach her at wishcrys.com and @wishcrys.
The 18th International Conference on Web & Social Media will be hosted at the Jacobs School of Medicine in Buffalo, NY, YSA.
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
955 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14203
For more information about hotels/lodging, the venue, the city, transportation, and conference logistics, click here.
All persons, organizations and entities that attend AAAI conferences and events are subject to the standards of conduct set forth on the AAAI Code of Conduct for Events and Conferences. AAAI expects all community members to formally endorse this code of conduct, and to actively prevent and discourage any undesired behaviors. Everyone should feel empowered to politely engage when they or others are disrespected, and to raise awareness and understanding of this code of conduct. AAAI event participants asked to stop their unacceptable behavior are expected to comply immediately. Sponsors are also subject to this code of conduct in their participation in AAAI events.
Additionally, participants are encouraged to be courteous when sharing screen captures and photographs of conference events. Seek permission when possible and respect requests to take down images if those featured ask. Concerns around code of conduct or inclusion may be sent to icwsm@aaai.org. If you have any concerns or items to report, please reach out to the General Chair, Kenny Joseph. If you would like to report a violation of the Code of Conduct, anonymously or not, please fill out this form.
We are excited to welcome everyone to Buffalo, NY for ICWSM this year! Please note that all accepted papers to the technical program must be presented by one of its authors in person at the conference.
Workshops and Tutorials held in-person. Please contact the respective organizers for any further information.
In addition, we will be offering a limited virtual experience via Zoom exclusively for participants from developing countries (please see the list of eligible countries here). Participants will be able to follow the ICWSM Technical Program, with the ability to interact via the Zoom chat. Please complete our application form should you wish to apply for complementary virtual participation.
Register at the following link: https://aaai.getregistered.net/icwsm-24
The ICWSM-24 technical conference registration fee includes admission to the Workshop/Tutorial Day, all technical sessions, and access to the electronic version of the ICWSM-24 Conference Proceedings.Early Registration Deadline: April 26, 2024
ICWSM-24 workshops and tutorials will be held on Monday, June 3rd, just prior to the technical conference. Please also note that some sessions may only be offered virtually. Technical registrants may sign up for any combination of workshops and/or tutorials on June 3rd as part of their technical registration. For those wishing to attend only the Workshop/Tutorial Day, a Workshop/Tutorial Day Only registration is offered. PARTICIPANTS SHOULD NOT SIGN UP FOR CONCURRENT EVENTS, so please consult the schedule carefully before making your selections.
Students will be required to submit proof of student status during the registration process.
The deadline for refund requests is April 26, 2024. All refund requests must be made in writing to AAAI at icwsm24@aaai.org. A $100 processing fee will be assessed for all refunds.
During the registration process, you will be able to request a visa letter. The letter will be automatically generated and available to you along with the registration confirmation.
ICWSM-2024 is hosting the fourth ICWSM data challenge with the goal of discussing strategies for collecting or sharing data in an increasingly post-API, decentralized, and walled garden web. The data challenge provides a platform for scholars to share ideas, engage in ongoing projects, and encourage collaboration, all centered around open data. This year’s data challenge theme is Research Data in a Post-API, Decentralized, and Walled Garden Web.
Visit the ICWSM-2024 Data Challenge Website for more details.
Ronald E. Robertson, Nick Vincent, and Onur Varol
(ICWSM-2024 Data Challenge Chairs |
data.challenge@icwsm.org
)
We are pleased to announce the availability of a number of scholarships to help support student attendance at ICWSM-24. These scholarships are made possible through the engagement with, and kind contribution of, AAAI and our company sponsors.
The student travel grant assists student participants both with travel to Buffalo, as well as with conference expenses (such as housing, local transportation to/from the airport, conference registration, etc.). Please note that it intends to subsidize student participation in ICWSM-24, but does not intend to cover all travel and conference expenses. The final amount will vary depending on the cost of the travel, the available funds, and the number and type of applicants. The eligibility of this travel grant includes both active student program enrollment and physical presence at ICWSM-24 or any of the associated workshops.
ICWSM 2024 Student Travel Grant application form (Deadline: March 31): https://aaaiforms.wufoo.com/forms/z1e943xd0van10n/
The virtual grant provides complimentary conference registration for virtual participants who are from underrepresented groups and/or regions. Please find the AAAI list of developing countries here: https://aaai.org/membership/developing-country-list/
Note that this virtual grant is not limited to students, it is open to anyone from underrepresented groups (e.g., women, persons with disabilities, etc.) and/or regions (e.g., African countries). There are no conditions for accepting this grant. We only ask that you attend the event and enjoy the sessions. We would, of course, also be happy if you decide to join our ICWSM and Computational Social Science community.
Virtual Participation application form (Deadline: March 31): https://aaaiforms.wufoo.com/forms/z1rku4us1gozg08/
This annual award is presented to a young researcher who has distinguished themself through innovative research in the area of social computing/computational social science in the early stage of their independent research career. The award is named after Lada Adamic and Natalie Glance, two outstanding researchers who have made significant contributions to the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media (ICWSM) in particular and social computing/computational social science in general. The ICWSM research community at large has greatly impacted this field, through identifying the connections between online digital behaviors and critical societal questions and issues. From misinformation and fake news to how we can use social media and social networks to gain insight into political polarization, mental health, and social movements, the range of topics addressed by the community is continuously expanding. We want to recognize and celebrate the young researchers who are making these contributions today.
The award was established in 2021, at the 15th anniversary mark of the AAAI ICWSM conference. Prior winners of the award are Dr. Tanu Mitra (2021), Dr. Robert West (2022), and Dr. Diyi Yang (2023).
Self-nominations, nominations, and letters of support are elicited. ICWSM strongly encourages individuals from underrepresented groups in research (based on gender identity, race, ethnicity, geographical location, etc.) to self-nominate, and urges the wide community to nominate young researchers who have distinguished themselves for their creativity and rigor in identifying and addressing important research topics of societal impact. Nominations are open from February 7th to March 7th 2024. Use this Google Form for submission.
The award is open to individuals who:
As long as a candidate is eligible based on the three criteria above, they will be considered even if they were nominated or self-nominated in prior years.
The selection committee consists of three to five members and is appointed by the AAAI ICWSM Steering Committee Chair. The committee solicits self-nominations, nominations, and letters of support from the social computing/computational social science community. The selection is based on the impact of the candidate's work in the field: in identifying significant new problems, creating promising new ideas, paradigms, and tools related to data-driven understanding of human behavior, which may be quantitative or qualitative in nature. Depth and impact are valued over breadth of contribution for this award. A strong regard for considering the ethical aspects of the data/methods used in social computing/computational social science is expected of the research record of the nominees.
The nomination form asks the following questions:
Note for letters of support: The form makes it easy to submit letters of support from people other than the nominators or self-nominators. Such individuals will not need to complete the details of the nomination, they will simply upload their letter.
Form accessibility: The nomination form requires Google authentication. If for any reason this is a problem for the nominator, please send the nomination materials via email to: adamic-glance-award@icwsm.org.
Conflict of interest: The awards committee takes conflict of interest seriously. If an nominated individual is a former or current collaborator of one or more of the committee members, such member(s) recuse themselves from evaluating and voting on these nominations.
Contact the committee: adamic-glance-award@icwsm.org
The award will be presented annually during the AAAI ICWSM conference. The awardee will be given the opportunity to give a plenary talk at the next year conference and announce the new recipient. Each recipient will be listed with a citation for their award on the ICWSM Adamic-Glance Distinguished Young Researcher Award web page. Financial support for attending the conference will be provided.
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