Bridget Barrett

Bridget Barrett is an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder within the College of Media, Communication and Information's Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Design. Her research examines the intersection of digital marketing and political communication, focusing on how online platforms' affordances and policies shape political strategies. She is currently investigating the online industry of campaign merchandise and how political identity brands are expressed through such products.

Barrett's peer-reviewed work appears in journals like Political Communication, Policy & Internet, and Journal of Information Technology and Politics. She has also contributed open-access reports to the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life and written commentary for outlets such as Slate, Lawfare, and Tech Policy Press. Her 2025 article in Communication & Democracy analyzes women-led 2022 gubernatorial races, exploring how female candidates present themselves without male comparators.

Barrett previously worked as a programmatic media buyer in digital advertising before pursuing academia. She actively engages with public discourse on platforms like Bluesky, discussing topics ranging from political ad regulation to democratic resilience. Her work frequently examines how algorithmic systems and adtech influence misinformation, polarization, and electoral dynamics.