Lee LaPlaca
M.A.M.C. Research & Theory
Lee LaPlaca is a master’s student in the Department of Public Relations at the University of Florida. She is a Research Assistant for the STEM Translational Communication Center (STCC). Her work at the College of Journalism and Communications has covered a wide range of projects since 2020.
Lee is currently studying how recommender systems, generative AI, and emerging technologies influence social media users. Her research integrates data science, digital culture, and psychology to understand perceptions of personalized content. She has co-authored studies on news media, clickbait, Instagram authenticity, production quality, and persuasion. Her collaborations have been presented at conferences and symposiums around the world.
Education
B.S., Public Relations, University of Florida, 2024
B.A., Art History, University of Florida, 2024
News
Research
Presentations:
Zemach, E., Johnson, B. K., LaPlaca, L., Arnold, I., Dewhurst, I. R., Vollmer, B., Hampton, C. N., Mueller, S., Lee, S. S., & Pittman, M. (2024, June). Production quality as a cue for credibility, authenticity, and persuasion: Perceptions of brand-related videos on Instagram [Poster presentation]. International Communication Association 74th Annual Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
Bernstein, A., Chen, H., LaPlaca, L., Liu, S., Zhang, Z., & Shin, J. (April, 9, 2022). How common and effective is clickbait news? [Poster presentation]. Data Science & Informatics (DSI) Symposium, University of Florida.
Research Interests:
Advertising
Consumer Insights
Digital Marketing
Machine Learning
Media Psychology
Pop Culture
Public Relations
Social Media
Presentations:
Zemach, E., Johnson, B. K., LaPlaca, L., Arnold, I., Dewhurst, I. R., Vollmer, B., Hampton, C. N., Mueller, S., Lee, S. S., & Pittman, M. (2024, June). Production quality as a cue for credibility, authenticity, and persuasion: Perceptions of brand-related videos on Instagram [Poster presentation]. International Communication Association 74th Annual Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
Bernstein, A., Chen, H., LaPlaca, L., Liu, S., Zhang, Z., & Shin, J. (April, 9, 2022). How common and effective is clickbait news? [Poster presentation]. Data Science & Informatics (DSI) Symposium, University of Florida.
Research Interests:
Advertising
Consumer Insights
Digital Marketing
Machine Learning
Media Psychology
Pop Culture
Public Relations
Social Media