Francisco Albarello He is a researcher, professor, and leading figure at the intersection of communication, education, and technology. He holds a PhD in Social Communication and is currently the research secretary at the [institution name missing]. Universidad AustralShe combines her academic work with coordinating projects that explore how teaching, learning, and communication methods are changing in digital environments. Throughout her career, she has published books and studies on reading on screens, transmedia storytelling, and digital education. She also directs a master's program at the National University of San Martín.
Since 2019, he has led the inter-university research project “Networked Research”The project, which brings together public and private universities, has grown into a transnational research initiative that now extends to nine different countries. The researcher's interest stemmed from an innovative pedagogical approach: replacing rote memorization with assignments where students connect classroom content to their daily lives, such as the essay "A Day with Technology."
The first research cycle (2020–2021) focused on how communication students used digital tools during the pandemic, and resulted in the publication of the book MutationsThe second cycle (2022–2023) addressed emerging news consumption patterns in the post-pandemic era. Focus groups were used to understand how young people access news through social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube, and what role influencers, traditional media, and organizations play in this new information ecosystem. The study also analyzed why many young people avoid consuming news, identifying factors such as the negativity of the content, information overload, and the desire to avoid conflict.
Currently, the group is conducting its third cycle (2024–2025), which will be published in June of this year. This new project focuses on the consumption of microcontent: short videos, memes, reels, and other formats of fast-paced, fragmented communication that dominate digital platforms. With over 3.000 cases gathered through surveys and a total of 97 focus groups conducted, this phase seeks to understand how young people process and filter information in contexts of scattered attention and accelerated consumption.
One of the most noteworthy aspects of the project is its transnational and collaborative nature. The partnership between public and private universities allows not only for a greater diversity of approaches and realities studied, but also for a democratization of knowledge production and dissemination. The team meets every three weeks via Zoom, and the group uses shared documents where each researcher contributes from their own context and experience. This working dynamic requires a significant effort in coordination, patience, and commitment, especially considering the structural differences and challenges faced by many institutions in the region.
Albarello's approach emphasizes investigating beyond the obvious. His proposal is to move away from superficial analyses to delve into the underlying motivations that explain how the relationships between education, technology, and youth are transforming. Faced with the rapid advance of digital innovation, his perspective focuses on incorporating these changes from a reflective pedagogical standpoint, helping teachers adapt without losing sight of critical thinking.
Furthermore, the "Networked Research" project aims to generate impact not only in academia but also in everyday teaching practices. Within this framework, a call for scholarship recipients was issued to collaborate in disseminating the findings and contributing their experiences. The production of academic articles is already underway, with five published and at least ten more in preparation.
In Albarello's own words, research is "sitting down, manipulating, doing things, finding the how, breaking with the superficial and exposing oneself to a more complex reality." This philosophy guides "Research in Networks," a project that not only studies how education is changing in the digital age, but does so from a networked, federal, and collaborative perspective.
* Note published on the blog Public Communication of Science in Communication.
