Dan Lane

Dan Lane is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), and directs the UCSB Digital Political Inequality Lab. His research focuses on how communication technologies, particularly social media, influence political inequality, intergroup relations, and political engagement. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Television, Radio, & Film from Syracuse University.

His research interests include political communication, intergroup communication, media effects, and the role of social media in shaping political behavior. Key themes in his work explore how digital platforms exacerbate or mitigate political disparities, particularly regarding race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

Dr. Lane’s work has been published in journals such as the Journal of Communication, Communication Research, and Social Media + Society. He previously founded Good Eye Video, a digital storytelling company collaborating with global non-profits and social causes.

His lab, the UCSB Digital Political Inequality Lab, investigates how digital media structures political participation and inequality. Recent studies address topics like political fatigue, racial justice framing on social media, and the impact of socioeconomic status on youth political behavior.