Andra Siibak

Andra Siibak is Professor of Media Studies at the Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu, where she also serves as Deputy Head of Research and Development and Program Director of the Doctoral Curriculum in Media and Communication. She holds visiting professorships at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia) and has been a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

She completed her education at the University of Tartu: PhD in Media and Communication (2009), MA in Media and Communication (2005), and BA in English Language and Literature (2003).

Her research explores digital privacy, datafication of society, youth media practices, and intergenerational communication in technology-mediated environments. She specializes in qualitative analysis of how digital platforms transform family dynamics, educational practices, and societal vulnerabilities, with emphasis on AI ethics, surveillance studies, and platform governance.

Recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate strong focus on technology ethics in education, analyzing AI's societal impact through media discourse analysis and comparative studies. Dominant themes include educational technology surveillance, pandemic-related privacy tradeoffs, datafied childhoods, and policy responses to digital disinformation.

Major Scientific Awards:

• Ene Hion award & Postimees Foundation book grant (2025)
• International Visitor Award, Centre for Digital Child (2023)
• Female Academic of the Year (2021)
• Fulbright Scholarship (2019-2020)
• Young Scientist Award (2015)
• Best Textbook awards (2021)

As primary supervisor, she has guided 10+ doctoral and master's students to completion, with several receiving national thesis awards. Her research leadership includes principal investigator roles in EU projects on digital society transformation and Estonian Science Foundation grants on information society impacts.

She directs research initiatives on digital parenting and platform studies, leads the ECREA Doctoral Summer School, and coordinates international collaborations through the AoIR (as Vice-President) and Academia Europaea networks.