Research and Publications
We conduct research and provide policy recommendations on using technology to build peace and how to address emergent challenges to peace in the digital age. Some of our research is aimed at expanding knowledge in the field of digital peacebuilding, conducted in partnership with academic institutions. Some of our research is focused on providing resources and policy recommendations to practitioners, based on our direct experience of implementing programs. We also publish more informal reflections on our work, methods and areas of research interest on our blog.
Bangladesh – Elections Monitoring Baseline Social Media Listening Report (01 Aug – 31 Oct 2025)
12/18/2025
This baseline analysis examines how social media narratives are shaping political discourse, civic integrity, and social cohesion in Bangladesh in...
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Very Large Online Platforms: how big is your polarization footprint? (2025)
12/16/2025
Introduction All is not well in our digital ecosystem. The social media platforms through which we as citizens engage with...
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Sudan Social Media Listening monthly report (November 2025)
12/15/2025
This report provides an overview of conflict-related social media content in Sudan during the month of November. It focuses on...
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Peace in Progress: Peace in the Digital Age (2025)
11/30/2025
This publication was co-edited by Build Up and ICIP. Fundamentally, social media trends are about a consensus held by a...
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The Kenya Polarization Footprint Results Report (2025)
11/30/2025
The Kenya Polarization Footprint measures how social media is dividing Kenyans. Specifically, we measure “affective polarization”, where people dislike and...
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Sudan Social Media Listening monthly report (October 2025)
11/15/2025
This report provides an overview of conflict-related social media content in Sudan during the month of October. It focuses on...
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Addressing Digital Harms in Conflict: a Review of Best Practices (2025)
10/31/2025
This paper was authored by Helena Puig Larrauri, Megan Grazier, and Rita Costa Cots from Build Up. This report considers...
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Social Media, Influence and Polarization in Somaliland
10/20/2025
The 2024 presidential elections in Somaliland showcased the rising role and influence of social media in contributing to shaping political...
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The Polarization Footprint Methodology
10/17/2025
The polarization footprint is a cross-platform measure that ranks social media platforms according to the prevalence of affective polarization present...
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07/15/2025
This snapshot is intended to offer an overview of inter-religious issues present in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, identifying emerging narratives, key...
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Towards a third side on social media (2025)
05/01/2025
This paper was written by Julie Hawke and Helena Puig Larrauri. Current platform policies reinforce conflict models that are both...
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03/31/2025
This analysis draws on data collected between February 2024 and February 2025 across major platforms, and centers on two key...
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Archetypes of Polarization on Social Media (2025 pre-print)
03/12/2025
This paper was written by Julie Hawke, Mira El Mawla, Caleb Gichuhi and Helena Puig Larrauri. The presentation of online...
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12/14/2024
This snapshot is intended to offer an overview of inter-religious issues present in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, identifying emerging narratives, key...
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11/12/2024
This report is intended to offer an overview of inter-religious issues present in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, identifying emerging narratives, key...
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Understanding to intervene: The codesign of text classifiers with peace practitioners (2024)
11/12/2024
This publication was written by Julie Hawke, Helena Puig Larrauri, Andrew Sutjahjo and Benjamin Cerigo. Originating from a unique partnership...
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