Inaugural Lecture - Ben Marder

In today’s world, we are never truly alone — the digital audience is always with us. Real or imagined, these online watchers follow us beyond the screen, shaping not only what we do and share online, but also how we behave offline in our everyday lives.

This ever-present gaze can push us to present our “best selves,” yet also leave us feeling constrained and impacting our well-being — signs of a growing surveillance culture and the rise of a digital Big Brother.

From a mainly psychological lens, in this lecture Ben Marder discusses findings from a collection of his research to explore the unintended effects of our online representations, raising questions for both individuals and businesses. In today’s always-connected society, the greatest pressure may come not from those who are actually watching, but from the audience we imagine.

This lecture explores the impact of the digital audience on our behaviour, highlighting how real and imagined watchers influence both our online presence and offline lives.

Agenda