The University of Bucharest, through its Research Centre in Applied Ethics (CCEA) and the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), is launching the VIRAL-D conference series, starting on 13th of March 2025. This interdisciplinary initiative investigates how social networks and AI algorithms exploit psychological and social vulnerabilities, profoundly affecting democratic processes and social cohesion. The project brings together specialists from various fields from prestigious universities such as Oxford and Glasgow, alongside Romanian experts.
“Currently, we don’t fully grasp the major effects of mass social media use,” emphasized Professor Emilian Mihailov, CCEA Director. He warned that platforms are evolving to maximize the time users spend online and to foster dependency. The VIRAL-D conferences will analyse these effects and explore the crucial need for platform reform.
More information is available on the CCEA website: https://www.ccea.ro/conferintele-viral-d/