Photo Jen Weedon

Jen Weedon

Lecturer of International and Public Affairs

Columbia

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Artificial Intelligence
Cybersecurity

About Me

Jen Weedon is a digital risk and safety expert with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of technology, security, and democratic resilience. She has led global teams at Meta and Niantic focused on countering influence operations, designing adversarial risk assessments, and embedding safety by design into high-impact digital platforms. As a researcher and lecturer at Columbia University, Jen explores best practices in red teaming and AI governance, with a focus on how socio-technical systems shape online engagement and public trust. Her work offers a grounded, interdisciplinary perspective on safeguarding democratic participation in the age of algorithmic influence.

Hear My Insights

Viral Voices, Virtual Walls: What is Social Media’s Role in Shaping Democracy?

Social media has irrevocably altered the landscape of political engagement, transforming how we organize, protest, and participate in democracy. From the #ArabSpring to #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo, digital platforms have become vital tools for mobilizing global movements. Yet, this power comes with a double-edged sword: the same platforms that amplify grassroots voices can also be used for manipulation, censorship, and the rapid spread of misinformation. As governments and tech platforms grapple with the complex challenges of regulation and digital rights, the future of online political engagement hangs in the balance. How do we navigate the algorithmic influence that shapes our discourse? Can we safeguard against political polarization and the erosion of truth? And what ethical frameworks are necessary to ensure social media remains a force for democratic empowerment, rather than a tool for its subversion?