Theo Araujo

Full Professor of Media, Organisations and Society · University of Amsterdam

I am Professor of Media, Organisations and Society at the Department of Communication Science at University of Amsterdam and Scientific Director of the Amsterdam School of Communication Research. I am also the principal investigator of the Digital Data Donation Infrastructure (D3I), coordinating a consortium of six universities creating a national infrastructure for data donation, one of the co-directors of the Research Priority Area Trust in the Digital Society and a senior researcher at the Gravitation Program Public Values in the Algorithmic Society (AlgoSoc). I was also co-diretor of the Communication in the Digital Society initiative, and a co-founder and co-director of the Digital Communication Methods Lab.
 
My research focuses on the increasing adoption of AI and related technologies within contemporary, data-rich societies. It explores the antecedents, contents, and (unintended) consequences of interactions with AI and automation by individuals and organisations. I am interested in the dynamic interplay between individual characteristics and perceptions, contextual and system characteristics, and different layers of trust – with a growing research interest on the intensification of (existing or new) inequalities.
 
I am also particularly interested on the usage of AI and related technologies as a method of study, focusing on computational social science, and the usage of large-scale, automated methods to collect and analyse digital trace data to help shed light on important phenomena on the digital society. Lately, this includes methodological work with conversational agents and data donation. I also have about 15 years of experience working with online media and in the technology industry in Brazil and the Netherlands.

Research Interests: Automated Decision-Making · Digital Society · Conversational Agents · Computational Social Science · Human-Machine Communication


Publications

Journal articles or conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)

2021

Araujo, T., Ausloos, J., van Atteveldt, W., Loecherbach, F., Moeller, J., Ohme, J., Trilling, D., van de Velde, B., de Vreese, C., & Welbers, K. (2021) OSD2F: An Open-Source Data Donation Framework. SocArxiv Preprint. https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/xjk6t

Boukes, M., Chu, X., Noon, M., Liu, R., Araujo, T., & Kroon, A. (2021) Comparing User-Content Interactivity and Audience Diversity across News and Satire: Differences in Online Engagement between Satire, Regular News and Partisan News. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2021.1927928

Følstad, A., Araujo, T., Law, E., Brandtzaeg, P., Papadopoulos, S., Reis, L., Baez, M., Laban, G., McAllister, P., Ischen, C., Wald, R., Catania, F., Meyer von Wolff, R., Hobert, S., & Luger, E. (2021) Future Directions for Chatbot Research: An Interdisciplinary Research Agenda. Computing. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00607-021-01016-7

Kitirattarkarn, G., Araujo, T., & Neijens, P. (2021) How Audience Diversity Affects Consumers’ Creation of Brand Posts on Facebook: A Cross Cultural Examination. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17475759.2021.1973066

Zarouali, B., Makhortykh, M., Bastian, M., & Araujo, T. (2021) Overcoming Polarization with Chatbot News? Investigating the Impact of News Content Containing Opposing Views on Agreement and Credibility. European Journal of Communication, 36(1), 53-68. https://doi.org/10.1177/0267323120940908

2020

Araujo, T. (2020) Conversational Agent Research Toolkit : An Alternative for Creating and Managing Chatbots for Experimental Research. Computational Communication Research, 2(1), 35-51. https://doi.org/10.5117/CCR2020.1.002.ARAU [PDF]

Araujo, T., & van der Meer, T. (2020) News Values on Social Media: Exploring What Drives Peaks in User Activity about Organizations on Twitter. Journalism, 21(5), 633-651. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884918809299 [PDF]

Araujo, T., Copulsky, J., Hayes, J., Kim, S., & Srivastava, J. (2020) From Purchasing Exposure to Fostering Engagement: Brand–Consumer Experiences in the Emerging Computational Advertising Landscape. Journal of Advertising, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913367.2020.1795756

Araujo, T., Helberger, N., Kruikemeier, S., & de Vreese, C. (2020) In AI We Trust? Perceptions about Automated Decision-Making by Artificial Intelligence. AI & SOCIETY. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-019-00931-w [PDF]

Araujo, T., Lock, I., & van de Velde, B. (2020) Automated Visual Content Analysis (AVCA) in Communication Research: A Protocol for Large Scale Image Classification with Pre-Trained Computer Vision Models. Communication Methods and Measures, 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/19312458.2020.1810648

Boeschoten, L., Ausloos, J., Moeller, J., Araujo, T., & Oberski, D. (2020) Digital Trace Data Collection through Data Donation. arXiv. http://arxiv.org/abs/2011.09851

Boukes, M., van de Velde, B., Araujo, T., & Vliegenthart, R. (2020) What’s the Tone? Easy Doesn’t Do It: Analyzing Performance and Agreement Between Off-the-Shelf Sentiment Analysis Tools. Communication Methods and Measures, 14(2), 83-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/19312458.2019.1671966

Helberger, N., Araujo, T., & de Vreese, C. (2020) Who Is the Fairest of Them All? Public Attitudes and Expectations Regarding Automated Decision-Making. Computer Law & Security Review, 39, 105456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2020.105456

Ischen, C., Araujo, T., van Noort, G., Voorveld, H., & Smit, E. (2020) “I Am Here to Assist You Today”: The Role of Entity, Interactivity and Experiential Perceptions in Chatbot Persuasion. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2020.1834297

Kitirattarkarn, G., Araujo, T., & Neijens, P. (2020) Cultural Differences in Motivation for Consumers’ Online Brand-Related Activities on Facebook. Communications, 45(1), 53-73. https://doi.org/10.1515/commun-2018-2017

Lock, I., & Araujo, T. (2020) Visualizing the Triple Bottom Line: A Large-Scale Automated Visual Content Analysis of European Corporations' Website and Social Media Images. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, n/a(n/a). https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1988

Ohme, J., Araujo, T., de Vreese, C., & Piotrowski, J. (2020) Mobile Data Donations: Assessing Self-Report Accuracy and Sample Biases with the iOS Screen Time Function. Mobile Media & Communication, 2050157920959106. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050157920959106

Sanders, R., Linn, A., Araujo, T., Vliegenthart, R., van Eenbergen, M., & van Weert, J. (2020) Different Platforms for Different Patients’ Needs: Automatic Content Analysis of Different Online Health Information Platforms. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 137, 102386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2019.102386

Segijn, C., Araujo, T., Voorveld, H., & Smit, E. (2020) Related Multiscreening as a Strategy to Retain Audiences and Increase Persuasion During a Commercial Break. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 64(1), 41-61. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2020.1718962

Zarouali, B., Makhortykh, M., Bastian, M., & Araujo, T. (2020) Overcoming Polarization with Chatbot News? Investigating the Impact of News Content Containing Opposing Views on Agreement and Credibility. European Journal of Communication, 0267323120940908. https://doi.org/10.1177/0267323120940908

2019

Araujo, T. (2019) The Impact of Sharing Brand Messages: How Message, Sender and Receiver Characteristics Influence Brand Attitudes and Information Diffusion on Social Networking Sites. Communications, 44(2), 162-184. https://doi.org/10.1515/commun-2018-2004

Kitirattarkarn, G., Araujo, T., & Neijens, P. (2019) Challenging Traditional Culture? How Personal and National Collectivism-Individualism Moderates the Effects of Content Characteristics and Social Relationships on Consumer Engagement with Brand-Related User-Generated Content. Journal of Advertising, 1-16.

Segijn, C., Maslowska, E., Araujo, T., & Viswanathan, V. (2019) Engaging with TV Events on Twitter: The Interrelations between TV Consumption, Engagement Actors, and Engagement Content. Internet Research, 30(2), 381-401. https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-08-2018-0389

Vermeer, S., & Araujo, T. (2019) Keep the Ball Rolling: Information Diffusion within Large Sports-Related Networks through Social Mediators. Communication & Sport.

Vermeer, S., Araujo, T., Bernritter, S., & van Noort, G. (2019) Seeing the Wood for the Trees: How Machine Learning Can Help Firms in Identifying Relevant Electronic Word-of-Mouth in Social Media. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 36(3), 492-508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijresmar.2019.01.010

2018

Araujo, T. (2018) Living up to the Chatbot Hype: The Influence of Anthropomorphic Design Cues and Communicative Agency Framing on Conversational Agent and Company Perceptions. Computers in Human Behavior, 85, 183-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.03.051

Araujo, T., & Kollat, J. (2018) Communicating Effectively about CSR on Twitter: The Power of Engaging Strategies and Storytelling Elements. Internet Research, 28(2), 419-431. https://doi.org/10.1108/IntR-04-2017-0172

Voorveld, H., Araujo, T., Bernritter, S., Rietberg, E., & Vliegenthart, R. (2018) How Advertising in Offline Media Drives Reach of and Engagement with Brands on Facebook. International Journal of Advertising, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650487.2018.1454703

2017

Araujo, T., Neijens, P., & Vliegenthart, R. (2017) Getting the Word out on Twitter: The Role of Influentials, Information Brokers and Strong Ties in Building Word-of-Mouth for Brands. International Journal of Advertising, 36(3), 496-513. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650487.2016.1173765

Araujo, T., Wonneberger, A., Neijens, P., & de Vreese, C. (2017) How Much Time Do You Spend Online? Understanding and Improving the Accuracy of Self-Reported Measures of Internet Use. Communication Methods and Measures, 11(3), 173-190. https://doi.org/10.1080/19312458.2017.1317337

2015

Araujo, T., Neijens, P., & Vliegenthart, R. (2015) What Motivates Consumers To Re-Tweet Brand Content?. Journal of Advertising Research, 55(3), 284-295. https://doi.org/10.2501/JAR-2015-009

2012

Araujo, T., & Neijens, P. (2012) Friend Me: Which Factors Influence Top Global Brands Participation in Social Network Sites. Internet Research, 22(5), 626-640. https://doi.org/10.1108/10662241211271581

2011

Zwier, S., Araujo, T., Boukes, M., & Willemsen, L. (2011) Boundaries to the Articulation of Possible Selves Through Social Networking Sites: The Case of Facebook Profilers' Social Connectedness. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 14(10), 571-576. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2010.0612


Presentations

Presentations at academic conferences

2020

Boukes, M., Chu, X., Fatah Elrahman Abdulqadir, N. M. I. A., Kroon, A. C., & Araujo, T. (2020). Political satire and user-content interactivity: Comparing the online engagement evoked by news versus satire shows. Paper presented at 70th International Communication Association Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.

Ischen, C., Araujo, T., Voorveld, H. A. M., van Noort, G., & Smit, E. G. (2020). The role of anthropomorphism and privacy concerns in chatbot interactions. Paper presented at Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap 2020.

Sanders, R., Linn, A. J., Araujo, T., Vliegenthart, R., van Eenbergen, M. C., & van Weert, J. C. M. (2020). Crossing boundaries online: A hybrid method study on patients’ convergence of mass and interpersonal communication on forums. Paper presented at Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap 2020.

2019

Araujo, T. (2019). Going beyond the wizard: Using computational methods for conversational agent communication research. Paper presented at International Communication Association (ICA), Washington, United States.

Araujo, T., & Bol, N. (2019). From speaking like a person to being personal: The effects of personalised, regular interactions with conversational agents. Paper presented at Human-Machine Communication Pre-Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Washington, D.C., United States.

Araujo, T., Helberger, N., Kruikemeier, S., & de Vreese, C. H. (2019). In AI we trust? Usefulness, fairness, and risk perceptions about automated decision-making by artificial intelligence within media, justice, and health. Paper presented at International Communication Association (ICA), Washington, United States.

Araujo, T., van Zoonen, W., & ter Hoeven, C. L. (2019). AI as a customer service team member? Exploring the deployment of conversational agents in business-to-consumer contexts. Paper presented at International Communication Association (ICA), Washington, United States.

Ischen, C., Araujo, T., van Noort, G., Voorveld, H. A. M., & Smit, E. G. (2019). How important is agency? The persuasive consequences of interacting with a chatbot as a new entity. Paper presented at Human-Machine Communication Pre-Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Washington, D.C., United States.

Lock, I. J., & Araujo, T. (2019). Combining machine vision and text mining on websites: Toward an approach for automated multimodal content analysis. Paper presented at International Communication Association (ICA), Washington, United States.

Sanders, R., Linn, A. J., Araujo, T., Vliegenthart, R., Eenbergen, van, M., & van Weert, J. C. M. (2019). Crossing boundaries online: A hybrid method study on patients’ convergence of mass and interpersonal communication on forums. Poster session presented at D.C Health Communication Conference , Fairfax, United States.

Sanders, R., Linn, A. J., Araujo, T., Vliegenthart, R., Eenbergen, van, M., & van Weert, J. C. M. (2019). Different online sections for different patients’ needs: Using the wealth of online data to understand cancer patients’ needs. Paper presented at D.C Health Communication Conference , Fairfax, United States.

Voorveld, H. A. M., & Araujo, T. (2019). Persuasion via Virtual Assistants: The Influence of Voice and Human Name on Concerns and Persuasive Outcomes. Paper presented at Human-Machine Communication Pre-Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Washington, D.C., United States.

2018

Himelboim, I., Araujo, T., & Maslowska, E. H. (2018). Cutting through the clusters: Applying a social networks approach to explaining brand–related social media content flow. Paper presented at Interactive Marketing Research Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Jonkman, J. G. F., ter Hoeven, C. L., Araujo, T., & van der Meer, G. L. A. (2018). Organizing organizational information visibility: The role and needs of journalists. Paper presented at 68th annual conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Prague, Czech Republic.

Kitirattarkarn, P., Araujo, T., & Neijens, P. C. (2018). Is it me or us? How national and individual collectivistic-individualistic values influence engagement with brand-related user generated content. Paper presented at International Conference of Research in Advertising (ICORIA), Valencia, Spain.

Laban, G., & Araujo, T. (2018). Working as a team: The influence of cooperation with a chatbot on customer service perceptions. Paper presented at Communicating with Machines, Prague, Czech Republic.

Laban, G., & Araujo, T. (2018). Working as a team: The influence of cooperation with a chatbot on customer service perceptions. Paper presented at Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap, Ghent, Belgium.

Sanders, R., Linn, A. J., Araujo, T., Vliegenthart, R., & van Weert, J. C. M. (2018). Interpersonal and mass media convergence in health care: From practice and theory to research design. Paper presented at International Conference on Communication in Healthcare (ICCH), Porto, Portugal.

Sanders, R., Linn, A. J., Araujo, T., Vliegenthart, R., van Eenbergen, M. C., & van Weert, J. C. M. (2018). Different platforms, different patients' needs: Automatic content analysis on online health information platforms for cancer patients. Paper presented at Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap, Ghent, Belgium.

Sanders, R., Linn, A. J., Araujo, T., Vliegenthart, R., van Eenbergen, M. C., & van Weert, J. C. M. (2018). Different sections for different patients' needs: Automatic content analysis on health information sections. Paper presented at International Conference on Communication in Healthcare (ICCH), Porto, Portugal.

Segijn, C. M., Araujo, T., Voorveld, H. A. M., & Smit, E. G. (2018). The Positive effect of related tweeting during a live television show on advertising effectiveness. Paper presented at Annual Conference of the American Academy of Advertising (AAA), New York, United States.

Voorveld, H. A. M., & Araujo, T. (2018). Persuasion via virtual assistants: The influence of modality and human name on persuasion knowledge, concerns and persuasive outcomes. Paper presented at International Conference on Research in Advertising (ICORIA), Valencia, Spain.

Voorveld, H. A. M., Araujo, T., Bernritter, S. F., Vliegenthart, R., & Rietberg, E. (2018). Offline advertising as a driver of consumers' online brand engagement on social media. Paper presented at Annual Conference of the American Academy of Advertising (AAA), New York, United States.

2017

Araujo, T. (2017). Human-like, or just competent? Understanding the importance of chatbot perceptions in service encounters. Paper presented at Conversations 2017, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Araujo, T., & Kollat, J. (2017). Extending organizational sensemaking: The constitutive power of Twitter for CSR communication networks. Paper presented at Etmaal 2017: , Tilburg , Netherlands.

Araujo, T., & Maslowska, E. H. (2017). Teaching Digital Analytics for beginners – beyond Excel and SPSS. Paper presented at Etmaal 2017: , Tilburg , Netherlands.

Araujo, T., van Noort, G., & Verhoeven, P. (2017). Corporate branding and consumers: The effect of identification and corporate associations on product brand attitudes and corporate brand relevance. Paper presented at ICORIA, Ghent, Belgium.

Kitirattarkarn, P., Araujo, T., & Neijens, P. C. (2017). Motivations underlying consumers' online brand-related activities across cultures. Paper presented at 2017 American Academy of Advertising Global Conference, Tokyo, Japan.

Kitirattarkarn, P., Araujo, T., & Neijens, P. C. (2017). Understanding motivations underlying consumers’ online brand-related activities across individualistic and collectivistic cultures. Paper presented at Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap.

Sanders, R., Linn, A. J., Araujo, T., Vliegenthart, R., van Eenbergen, M. C., & van Weert, J. C. M. (2017). Different Platforms for Different Patients’ Needs: Automatic Content Analysis on Online Health Information.. Poster session presented at Amsterdam Public Health.

Segijn, C. M., Araujo, T., Voorveld, H. A. M., & Smit, E. G. (2017). Multiscreening In Real-Life. Paper presented at International Conference on Research in Advertising, Ghent, Belgium.

Vermeer, S., Araujo, T., van Noort, G., & Bernritter, S. F. (2017). Getting a handle on webcare: Comparing automated content analysis techniques to detect eWOM messages. Paper presented at ICORIA, Ghent, Belgium.

Vermeer, S., Araujo, T., van Noort, G., & Bernritter, S. F. (2017). Webcare as a well-oiled machine: A machine learning approach to identify eWOM messages that require a webcare response. Paper presented at Etmaal 2017: , Tilburg , Netherlands.

Voorveld, H. A. M., Araujo, T., Bernritter, S. F., Rietberg, E., & Vliegenthart, R. (2017). Cross media Effects on Consumer Engagement on Facebook: The Differential Effects of Advertising Spend.. Paper presented at International Conference on Research in Advertising, Ghent, Belgium.

2016

Araujo, T. (2016). Does Sharing Matter? How Message, Sender, and Receiver Characteristics Influence Brand Attitudes on Social Media. Paper presented at International Communication Association (ICA) 66th Annual Conference, Fukuoka, Japan.

Araujo, T. (2016). Is there a role for culture? How consumers and brands engage on Twitter across the globe. Paper presented at Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Araujo, T., Wonneberger, A., Neijens, P. C., & de Vreese, C. H. (2016). How much time do you spend online? Testing the accuracy of self-reported measures of online media use. Paper presented at Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Bernritter, S. F., & Araujo, T. (2016). The Arrogance Effect: Being Competent But Not Warm Deteriorates Brands’ Potential to Acquire Consumers’ Online Brand Engagement. Paper presented at Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Bernritter, S. F., & Araujo, T. (2016). The Arrogance Effect: Being Competent But Not Warm Deteriorates Brands’ Potential to Acquire Consumers’ Online Brand Engagement. Paper presented at 66th International Communication Association Conference, Fukuoka, Japan.

Kollat, J., & Araujo, T. (2016). Extending organizational sensemaking: The constitutive power of Twitter. Paper presented at 32nd EGOS Colloquium: Organizing in the Shadow of Power.

Wonneberger, A., Araujo, T., Neijens, P. C., & de Vreese, C. H. (2016). How Much Time Do You Spend Online and how Often? Testing the Accuracy of Self-Reported Measures of Internet Use. Paper presented at 18th Annual Conference of the Methods Division of the German Communication Association (DGPuK), Amsterdam, Netherlands.

2015

Araujo, T., Neijens, P. C., & Vliegenthart, R. (2015). How personality characteristics influence the diffusion of brand content on social network sites.

Araujo, T., Neijens, P. C., & Vliegenthart, R. (2015). Showing your social side: The antecedents and consequences of the diffusion of corporate social responsibility messages on Facebook and Twitter.

2014

Araujo, T., & Neijens, P. C. (2014). Big data acquisition for brand content diffusion research.. Paper presented at the Big Data for Advertising Research and Education Pre-conference, AAA Conference.

2013

Araujo, T., & Neijens, P. C. (2013). How informational, emotional and traceability cues in Twitter messages influence brand content pass-along behavior. Paper presented at the 12th International Conference on Research in Advertising (ICORIA), Zagreb, Croatia.

Araujo, T., Vliegenthart, R., & Neijens, P. C. (2013). Opinion leadership for brand content diffusion on Twitter: The role of influentials, bridge builders and strong ties. Paper presented at the 12th International Conference on Research in Advertising (ICORIA), Zagreb, Croatia.