Colten Meisner

Colten Meisner is an Assistant Professor of Media Studies in the Department of Communication at North Carolina State University. His research focuses on the cultures and economies of social media platforms, particularly the labor politics within emerging media and technology industries. He examines diverse media workers, including journalists, digital news startup founders, influencers, and algorithmic content moderators. Prior to joining NC State in 2024, he conducted sociotechnical research at Microsoft Research New England and holds a Ph.D. in Communication from Cornell University.

Education includes a Ph.D. and M.S. from Cornell University, and M.S. and B.S. in Communication Studies from Texas Christian University. His expertise in the 'creator economy' has led to publications in journals like New Media & Society and media coverage in Business Insider and MIT Technology Review. His work bridges qualitative social science with platform studies, emphasizing the intersection of labor, technology, and cultural dynamics.

Key research themes include platform governance, digital labor precarity, and the algorithmic mediation of creator visibility. His articles analyze issues like hate raid moderation on Twitch, search engine evaluation labor, and the economic vulnerabilities of social media creators.