Alexander Halavais

Who is Alexander Halavais?

Alexander Halavais is an associate professor of sociology at Arizona State University, a social media researcher and former President of the Association of Internet Researchers. Before joining the faculty at Arizona State University, Halavais taught in the Interactive Media program at Quinnipiac University, the School of Informatics at the University at Buffalo and at the University of Washington.

In 1993, Halavais earned a bachelors degree in political science from the University of California, Irvine and a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Washington in 2001. His dissertation examined the social implications of the Slashdot website. He also completed coursework in communication and cognitive science at the University of California, San Diego and complex adaptive systems at the Santa Fe Institute.

Online Journalism Review has referred to Halavais as one of a number of "blogologists," exploring the ways in which social computing affects the society at large. His work has explored how blogs are used in education, the patterns of international hyperlinks, the benefits and pitfalls of personal branding, and the role of pornography on the Internet.