Sydney Sullivan, PhD

Educator, researcher, & writer of social media and mental health
she/her

[Sydney Sullivan, PhD @SydneyCSullivan]

and critical thinking needed to recognize manipulation, understand history, and participate meaningfully in democracy.

[Sydney Sullivan, PhD @SydneyCSullivan]

“In the United States, 54% of American adults read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level, and nearly one in five adults reads below a third-grade level.” -Policy Circle Brief

Some books above a sixth-grade reading level that changed my life:

• 1984 — George Orwell

[Reads with Ravi @readswithravi]

The biggest flex is a well read mind.

[Sydney Sullivan, PhD @SydneyCSullivan]

• Fahrenheit 451 — Ray Bradbury
• The Kite Runner — Khaled Hosseini
• Their Eyes Were Watching God — Zora Neale Hurston
• Frankenstein — Mary Shelley
• Pedagogy of the Oppressed — Paulo Freire

Reading is about building the attention span, empathy, vocabulary,

[Sydney Sullivan, PhD @SydneyCSullivan]

I'm on Threads as @sydneysullivanphd. Install the app to follow my threads and replies. https://t.co/lbWfYqhzzZ

[Sydney Sullivan, PhD @SydneyCSullivan]

I'm on Threads as @sydneysullivanphd. Install the app to follow my threads and replies. https://t.co/lbWfYqhzzZ

[Sydney Sullivan, PhD @SydneyCSullivan]

My Students Surprised Me: What They Really Think About 'AI Killed the Take-Home Essay' https://t.co/92zsXRTlVj

[Nolan Higdon @NolanHigdonCML]

Sept 25 Talk: “Why Privacy Matters: Who’s at Risk in the Digital Age” 🔒
Your data isn’t just yours — who’s watching, tracking, and selling it matters.
Full Disinfo Detox episodes in the comments 👇 @ProjectCensored @DisinfoDetox @SydneyCSullivan @bsurveillance

[Nolan Higdon @NolanHigdonCML]

💻 Will AI take your job? 🤖👀
Mark Blyth breaks it down on The Disinfo Detox with Nolan Higdon—what’s hype, what’s real, and what it means for workers.
Watch the full episode here: https://t.co/ndT13Ns4Zz @MkBlyth @SydneyCSullivan @Dickey_yy @DisinfoDetox @ProjectCensored

[The Disinfo Detox @DisinfoDetox]

The Wrecking Crew is back! @NolanHigdonCML @SydneyCSullivan @Dickey_yy dive into Newsom’s social media politics; Gen Z’s new vices; and the absurdity of headlines past & present.

Plus: a media literacy lesson on virality & a Sidebar on the AI bubble

https://t.co/FRDGBobk8f

[Sydney Sullivan, PhD @SydneyCSullivan]

Top 3 Must-Read Scholarly Articles on AI Usage in Education https://t.co/C6OxVoyDbD

[The Disinfo Detox @DisinfoDetox]

🎙️ New Disinfo Detox Episode!

This week @NolanHigdonCML @SydneyCSullivan & @Dickey_yy discuss:

👉 South Park’s Trump takedown
👉 Media spin that shields the powerful
👉 How media literacy can expose hidden messaging & revive civic engagement

https://t.co/OHbTAyPs8F

[Nolan Higdon @NolanHigdonCML]

“True media literacy must begin with transparency about who and what is behind the curriculum.”
– @SydneyCSullivan and I, writing for @ProjectCensored
📖 Read it here: https://t.co/PL6KTRECwf

[The Disinfo Detox @DisinfoDetox]

🚨 New episode of The Disinfo Detox!
@SydneyCSullivan and @Dickey_yy break down how media shapes our everyday choices — often without us even noticing — through subtle (and not-so-subtle) algorithmic influence.

https://t.co/XFLg38N45N

[The Disinfo Detox @DisinfoDetox]

@SydneyCSullivan teams up with media scholar Allison Butler to unpack the viral “Man of the Year” trend on TikTok.

What does it say about masculinity, gender norms & media culture?

Critical takes you don’t want to miss. 👇

https://t.co/vcvhUthaLC via @YouTube

[The Disinfo Detox @DisinfoDetox]

Watch @SydneyCSullivan team up with media scholar Allison Butler to unpack the viral “Man of the Year” trend on TikTok.

What does it say about masculinity, gender norms & media culture?

Critical takes you don’t want to miss. 👇https://t.co/CidB612bzC via @YouTube

[Sydney Sullivan, PhD @SydneyCSullivan]

https://t.co/ZYdnz8MXjS

[Sydney Sullivan, PhD @SydneyCSullivan]

This summer, I added an “AI Policy” assignment to Week 1.

Students reflected on how AI helps or hinders learning.
Their take? AI is great for brainstorming—not for doing all the work.

They want ethical use, transparency, and balance.

I talk about this more on my substack...

[Nolan Higdon @NolanHigdonCML]

Your kid’s toy might be spying on you. In The Sidebar, Dickey reveals how AI is creeping into children’s toys. Would you let your kid play with a smart toy? https://t.co/Z8fs4980Ow @SydneyCSullivan

[Nolan Higdon @NolanHigdonCML]

"To help unpack both the promises and perils of AI, and to cut through the growing web of hype and misinformation, I reached out to several leading AI scholars and researchers for their perspectives." https://t.co/GAMsxqEZq7 @SydneyCSullivan @ProjectCensored

[Sydney Sullivan, PhD @SydneyCSullivan]

As AI gets used more and more it’s SO important to be mindful of not only the documents it creates but the people these documents impact. Reports meant to give health advice to people should be highly credible and reliable. What are your thoughts?

[Nolan Higdon @NolanHigdonCML]

🔍 AI-Written Gov Reports?!
Did RFK Jr.’s Health Department just try to pass off an AI-generated report as official policy? 🤖📄
We break it down
👀 Watch here: https://t.co/oloBTfTXyJ
#AI #medialiteracy #RFKj #AIinGovernment #Maha @SydneyCSullivan