Katherine Furl

Katherine Furl is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of North Dakota, teaching courses including SOC 250: Diversity in American Society, SOC 460/SOC 560: Technology and Society, and SOC 512: Advanced Sociological Theory. Her research examines the intersection of digital technologies and social inequalities through qualitative and mixed methods.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2025)
• M.A. in Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2020)
• M.A. in Social Science, University of Chicago (2017)
• B.S. in Psychology, Allegheny College (2016)

Dr. Furl investigates digital access, social media platforms, and manifestations of gender, race, and class inequalities in online environments. Her work particularly analyzes disinformation ecosystems, conspiracy communities, and power dynamics in spaces like TikTok and Reddit. She explores how identity performance, anonymity, and platform architectures shape sociotechnical outcomes, with emphasis on marginalized groups' experiences. Her research reveals how populist epistemologies and 'redpilling' processes function as collective meaning-making practices within conspiracy networks.

Analysis of her 2021-2025 publications shows evolving methodological sophistication in studying platform-specific conspiracy cultures, with increasing focus on TikTok's unique affordances for disinformation spread. Her work consistently bridges micro-level interaction analysis with macro-level structural critiques of digital inequality.

During doctoral studies at UNC Chapel Hill, she served as a graduate research affiliate for the Center for Information Technology and Public Life (CITAP), providing foundational context for her technology-focused scholarship. Her current research trajectory suggests growing emphasis on comparative platform studies and intervention strategies for harmful online communities.