Dr. Jenifer Grieger is an interdisciplinary researcher examining digital vulnerability, algorithmic culture, and platform-mediated self-presentation. Her work bridges communication studies, information science, and digital psychology to explore how social media shapes identity, body image, and digital well-being.
My research investigates the sociotechnical dynamics of digital platforms, with a particular focus on how algorithmic infrastructures shape self-representation, body image, and digital vulnerability. Drawing on perspectives from Information Science, New Media studies, and Cyberpsychology, I examine the cultural, psychological, and informational implications of platform-mediated communication.
My work on digital vulnerability conceptualizes it as a multidimensional construct encompassing psychological, social, and informational risks associated with platform use. My doctoral research involved the development and psychometric validation of a Digital Vulnerability Scale for Instagram users, integrating quantitative methods with qualitative insights from digital ethnography and platform studies. This doctoral research was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Lídia Oliveira (University of Aveiro) and Dr. Rodrigo Botelho-Francisco (Federal University of Paraná).
Another key area of inquiry in my research is algorithmic aesthetics and normative beauty standards on social media. I analyze how face filters, influencer practices, and algorithmic curation contribute to the production and circulation of normative aesthetic ideals, and how these processes affect users’ self-perception and identity construction.
I also investigate digital influence and platform governance, exploring how influencers, algorithms, and platform policies intersect to shape user behavior, consumption practices, and ethical challenges in digital environments.
My ongoing research focuses on advancing theoretical and methodological approaches to measuring digital vulnerability and to informing platform governance debates.
Methodologically, my work employs mixed methods, including psychometric modeling, surveys, digital ethnography, content analysis, and critical platform studies. Below, you can find my full resume.
Research Interests
Digital Vulnerability and Psychometrics
Platform Aesthetics and Body Image
Social Media Self-Representation and Facial Filters
Digital Influence and Algorithmic Governance
Online Gambling, Platforms, and Vulnerability
Cyberpsychology and Digital Culture