Welcome Hugo Machado: Prosocial Design Network’s new Library Fellow
Prosocial Design Network welcomes Hugo Machado as its new Library Fellow.
We’re really pleased to welcome Hugo Machado (he/him) as the Prosocial Design Network’s new Library Fellow.
Hugo is a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Western Ontario. His research sits right in a sweet spot for the PDN Community: how political beliefs form and spread in digital environments, and how the overlap between lifestyle, identity, and politics shapes what we believe about each other.
From Attorney To Social Scientist
Hugo didn’t take a straight path into academia. He started out working as an attorney right out of college, then realized he wanted to understand society at a deeper level and shifted into the social sciences. He completed an MA in Sociology and Political Science at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil before moving to Canada for his PhD.
That journey shaped the research he’s now finishing after five years. Hugo’s dissertation explores how information environments and cognitive processes shape how political beliefs form and spread, as well as how people perceive who holds which beliefs. Drawing on cultural sociology, media studies, cognitive science, and polarization research, he studies how links form between lifestyle traits and political identities. His work also examines how misperceptions based on these associations can harden belief systems and deepen social divisions over time.
Why This Matters For The PDN Library
As Library Fellow, Hugo will help strengthen and expand the Prosocial Design Library. That means supporting the community in finding, organizing, and sharing the research that helps us build better digital environments.
We’re especially excited about the perspective he brings as someone deeply focused on how information environments shape beliefs, and how we might intervene earlier in that process. To get to know Hugo better, I asked him a few questions:
- What’s your favorite corner of the internet?
As someone who loves exploring different hobbies and cultural spaces, I enjoy browsing and reading about people’s interests and the content created by their communities, especially on Reddit and YouTube. Recently, I decided to be more intentional about my note-taking and research organization, which led me deep into the world of stationery online. I spent a lot of time reading product reviews and Reddit threads, and watching YouTube recommendation and testing videos. I learned so much about pens, notebooks, note-taking systems, and the wide range of tastes and experiences within the community. It’s always fascinating. I end up learning not only about a culture I didn’t know before, but also about people and their preferences, which brings a little more color to the world around me.
- What is the most interesting/enjoyable piece of research you’ve read recently, why?
The most enjoyable piece of research I’ve read recently is a 2023 paper by Stray, Iyer, and Larrauri titled The Algorithmic Management of Polarization and Violence on Social Media. The authors present a clear framework for distinguishing between the types of conflict platforms should try to reduce (destructive conflict) and the kinds that can lead to positive outcomes and should be encouraged (constructive conflict).
I especially appreciate how elegant and instructive the conceptual framework is, how clearly they explain the limitations of content moderation, and how they bring together evidence from both academic research and peacebuilding practice. The paper also offers practical, evidence-based recommendations for reducing harmful conflict and encouraging healthier disagreement. It’s well written, highly informative, and I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in creating healthier spaces for political discourse and social interaction.
- How many browser tabs do you have open right now?
Right now, I only have 11 tabs open for writing a literature review draft, which is modest and not representative of my usual browsing habits. I typically keep my work and personal email and WhatsApp pinned, plus a YouTube tab for video game music while I work. If I’m doing exploratory research or deep into a hobby, I’ll open as many tabs as my browser can handle before it starts crashing.
Please join us in welcoming Hugo to PDN in our community slack channel.
About the Prosocial Design Network
The Prosocial Design Network researches and promotes prosocial design: evidence-based design practices that bring out the best in human nature online. Learn more at prosocialdesign.org.