Verity Trott

Dr Verity Trott is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Media Research at the School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University. Her work sits at the intersection of digital media, feminist activism, and platform politics, with a focus on how gendered values are negotiated in online spaces. She is actively involved in research, teaching, and supervision, and contributes to interdisciplinary projects through the Automated Society Working Group.

• Senior Lecturer, School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University
• Research focus: digital activism, feminist media, platform governance, online harassment, algorithmic cultures
• Author of Feminist Activism and Platform Politics (Routledge, 2022)
• Active researcher with publications in New Media & Society, Information, Communication & Society, and Feminist Media Studies

Her research interests center on the socio-political dynamics of digital platforms, particularly how feminist movements navigate corporate infrastructures and resist misogynistic online cultures. She explores the tensions between feminist epistemologies and datafication, and investigates how algorithmic systems reproduce or challenge gendered norms. Her work also examines digital masculinities, far-right networks, and the ethics of automated content personalization.

The recent articles reflect a consistent focus on digital activism, platform politics, and data governance. Themes include feminist resistance, algorithmic bias, far-right media, TikTok political engagement, and the societal impacts of dark ads and facial recognition. Her publications demonstrate a strong interdisciplinary approach combining media studies, gender theory, and data analysis.

Scientific Awards:

• MFJ Education Award 2020 (Innovation in Online Teaching)
• Special Commendation, Faculty of Arts Dean's Awards for Research Excellence 2021

Dr Trott is actively supervising PhD students on topics ranging from digital healthcare for LGBTQ+ communities to surveillance in workout vlogs and data-driven solutions to gendered violence. She has secured research funding for projects on dark ads, data visualization in policy, and youth engagement with public services. She is a founding member of the Automated Society Working Group, contributing to critical research on automation and digital ethics.

She is involved in public engagement through media contributions and workshops such as 'Tracking Dark Ads' and 'Illuminating Dark Ads,' and has contributed to policy submissions on AI ethics. Her collaborative network includes scholars across Monash and national institutions working on digital media, youth, and social justice.