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Ernest Makata

Ernest Makata

Ph.D.

International/Intercultural Communication

Email: makatae@ufl.edu

Ernest Makata

Ph.D.

International/Intercultural Communication

Ernest is a Ph.D. candidate in the Media Production, Management, and Technology Department. His research examines the transnational use of social media for democratization and social/digital activism. Specific interests include the critical cultural examination of algorithmization of social media platform content moderation, comparative social media regulation law, and impact on social media as a digital public sphere.

Publications

Presentations

Makata, E. (2025). Source Credibility and the Quest for Legitimacy: An Analysis of X Users’ Response to the Nigerian Government Economic Reform Policies. Paper/Poster at National Communication Association (NCA), New Orleans, LA.

Nah, S., Luo, J., Makata, E., Koratsky, I., Wu, X., Park, D., & Kim, S. (2025). When Generative AI Meets News: AI-Generated News and Its Impact of News Credibility. Paper/Poster at International Communication Association, Denver, CO.

Jackson , S., Chen, X., Qingyuan, Y., Patterson, A., Makata, E., Wu, X., Ibrahim, N., & Johnson, B. K. (2024). That Moment When Your University Blocks TikTok: Student Perceptions of App Restrictions, Privacy, and Politics. Paper/Poster at International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) 2024, Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand.

Makata, E. C. (2023). Anticipation and Celebration of Victory: The Chronicling of Nigeria’s Path to Independence by The Chicago Defender. Paper/Poster at American Journalism Historians Association (AJHA), Columbus , OH.

Grant, R., & Makata, E. (2023). The Highest Expression of Black Power: The Burning Spear Newspaper Fights for Global Black Unity. Oral Presentation at International Communication Association , Toronto, Canada.

Ezeh Aruah, D., Madu, M., & Makata, E. (2022). Nigerian feminists and the practice of African feminism on Facebook: What issues are the most troubling issues?. Paper/Poster at 72nd Annual International Communication Association Conference, Paris, France.

Research

Specialization

International and Intercultural Communication, social media regulation, and public sphere, AI and information credibility.

Professional Interests

I am interested in social media content regulation and comparative social media laws, with a particular emphasis on their impact on the public sphere. My research explores how regulatory frameworks, artificial intelligence, and algorithmic governance shape digital discourse, governance structures, and the balance between free expression and platform accountability. Additionally, I examine the implications of these regulations for democratic participation, misinformation management, and the evolving role of social media in society, with a particular focus on the Global South within the contemporary digital communication landscape.