Prof Tom Buchanan

Prof Tom Buchanan


I joined the University of Westminster in 1999, where I am now a Professor of Psychology.


Most of my research since the mid 1990s has revolved around how people behave 'on the Internet', and what the Internet has to offer for psychologists (an area that has become known as 'cyberpsychology'). Much of my work has been methodological in nature, focusing on web-based psychological measurement, validity of online research techniques, and ethics of online data collection. Other projects have generally involved application of these techniques to substantive topics including online self-disclosure, self-presentation, privacy concern, effects of recreational drug use and nutritional supplements. My current focus is generally on how people present themselves in various online spaces, factors affecting how they engage with online technologies, and potential influences of online stimuli on our behaviour. A specific current interest is engagement with disinformation/misinformation on social media.


  • Centre for Psychological Sciences

Sustainable Development Goals
In brief

Research areas

Online behaviour, interaction with technology, personality and social psychology, research methodology

Supervision interests

With a background in personality and social psychology, I am interested in supervising empirically focused research in the broad areas of online behaviour, interaction with technology, and internet research methods. My main current focus is on why people share false information (misinformation, or 'fake news') on social media.