A smiling headshot of me

Farhana Shahid

SHE/ HER/ HERS🙆🏽‍♀️

I am a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) researcher working at the intersection of online governance, trust and safety issues in the Majority World (i.e., Global South). My research examines:

  • the unique drivers of fake news and deepfakes in the Majority World
  • colonial biases and systemic failures of moderation systems in the Majority World
  • culturally-aware approaches to address harmful content in the Majority World
I am a fourth year PhD candidate in Cornell Information Science, advised by Professor Aditya Vashistha. I completed my Bachelors and Masters in Computer Science and Engineering from BUET, advised by Professor A. B. M. Alim Al Islam. I also worked as a lecturer of Computer Science at Brac University and Eastern University.

Apart from research, I am very much drawn to books, concerts, jigsaw puzzles, long walks, and full moons.

Recent News
  • Nov 24: Presented my work at doctoral consortium in CSCW 2024!
  • Sep 24: Paper accepted to CSCW 2025!
  • Jun 24: Summer research intern at Center for Democracy and Technology!
  • May 24: Received Outstanding PhD Service and Outstanding Teaching Awards!
  • May 24: Participated in Doctoral Consortium at Northeast HCI!
  • Apr 24: Paper accepted to CSCW 2024!
  • Apr 24: Won the Best Student Paper Award at Social Media and Society in India Symposium!
  • Apr 24: Gave a talk in Social Computing Research Lab at University of Michigan!
  • Mar 24: Received 2 special recognitions for reviewing @CSCW.
  • Feb 24: Gave a guest lecture in Antisocial Computing class at UC San Diego!
  • Jan 24: Gave a talk in HCI Graduate Seminar at UC Berkeley!

Publications

2025

  • 'One Style Does Not Regulate All': Moderation Practices in Public and Private WhatsApp Groups
    Farhana Shahid, Dhruv Agarwal, and Aditya Vashistha.
    Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (CSCW 2025) [PDF]
    Best Student Paper (International Conference on Social Media and Society in India)

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019


Teaching

Appointments

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Department of Information Science, Cornell University
Aug 2021 - Present

Lecturer

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Brac University
May 2018 - May 2021

Lecturer

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Eastern University
September 2017 - April 2018

Courses Taught

  • Computer Graphics (Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Summer 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Summer 2019, Spring 2019, Spring 2018)
  • Pattern Recognition (Fall 2020, Summer 2020)
  • Artificial Intelligence (Spring 2020, Fall 2019)
  • Object Oriented Programming (Fall 2019, Summer 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Summer 2018)
  • Digital Logic Design (Spring 2020, Summer 2018)
  • Algorithms (Summer 2019, Fall 2019, Summer 2018)
  • Data Structures (Summer 2019, Summer 2018)
  • Operating Systems (Spring 2018, Fall 2017)
  • Mathematical Analysis for Computer Science (Fall 2017)

Courses Assisted

  • Technology for Underserved Communities (Spring 2023)
  • Computing and Global Development (Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2022, Fall 2021)