Brooke Erin Duffy

Associate Professor of Communication

Brooke Erin Duffy, associate professor of communication at Cornell University, is an expert on digital labor, media and cultural production and emergent technologies. Duffy is currently working on a book exploring the promises, perils and paradoxes of the digital creator economy.

 

Duffy says:

“The work of those in the creator economy – including digital artists, entertainers, influencers, and livestreamers – has frequently been devalued, misunderstood – or both. A full-day event at the White House focused exclusively on creators suggests they may finally be getting their due. ​

“However, structural changes are necessary to address some of the most daunting challenges of a career in this field – such as job insecurity, economic inequality, and online toxicity often dismissed as ‘part of the job.’ It's encouraging to see ‘mental health’ on the agenda, considering how often creators have spoken about burnout, exhaustion and the stress induced by algorithms.

“The event also reveals how political leaders seek to harness a new generation of information intermediaries – those who can best navigate hashtags, algorithms and other platform dynamics.”