Biography

Josiah Kidwell is a UNLV sociologist with expertise in the social impacts of both technology and religion. His work focuses on how technologies such as virtual spaces, cell phones, social media, and AI shape our social lives and culture. The intention is to broaden our understanding of the underlying political and economic factors connected to these social changes.

Kidwell’s research looks at new media and immersive technologies in a variety of contexts. One study examined megachurches, and how their large-scale productions can change our preconceived thoughts on religious spaces. Another explored how the normalization of cell phones have made people feel present in long-distance relationships.

His work has been published in International Sociology, Journal of Media and Religion, and the Sociological Spectrum.