Ysabel Gerrard

Dr Ysabel Gerrard is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Media and Society at the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations, University of Sheffield. Her work bridges digital sociology, gender studies, and platform governance, with a focus on youth experiences, content moderation, and ethical research practices.

• Education: BA (Hons), MA, PhD (University of Leeds)

Research interests include:

• Young people’s social media experiences and content policies
• Digital identities, particularly gendered representations
• Feminist interventions in content moderation and algorithmic governance
• Ethical challenges in social media research

Recent research examines the societal impact of social media design, reflected in her forthcoming book The Platform Generation and collaborations on Instagram’s mental health moderation, anonymous apps, and feminist critiques of platform labor. She contributes to policy debates via roles like Facebook’s Suicide and Self-Injury Advisory Board and ECREA leadership.

Grants include:

• £39,985.50 for 'Creator labour: screen production cultures and transmedia intersectionality in Yorkshire' (2021-2022)
• £2,627 for 'Risky-by-design: making the digital world safer for children' (2021)
• £6,998 for 'Secrets on social media: anonymous apps and youth perspectives' (2019-2022)

Teaching modules: Digital Identities, Introduction to Digital Methods. She supervises BA, MA, and PhD students working on topics like online dating, gaming toxicity, and influencer culture.

Contact:

• Email: y.gerrard@sheffield.ac.uk
• Office: The Wave, 2 Whitham Road, Sheffield S10 2AH