William Partin, PhD is a Senior Policy Lead at YouTube, focused on generative AI and the creator economy. As a policy practitioner, he uses qualitative and quantitative methods to examine questions of value, originality, and authenticity in the context of user-generated content and emerging technologies. Prior to joining the private sector, William was a Research Analyst at the Data & Society Research Institute, where he worked on projects related to the 2020 Decennial Census. In this role, he co-led research on how the legitimacy of data is constructed (and contested) and examined the role of civil society organizations in shaping the Census Bureau’s data practices. He also served as a liaison between civil society groups and technology companies on content policies related to the Census. In 2022, this work received the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public Award for Excellence.

William received his PhD in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he primarily worked with Torin Monahan and Alice Marwick. His research focuses on the interrelationships among culture, technology, and commerce, particularly the role technology companies play in shaping public culture. His single- and co-authored, peer-reviewed scholarship has appeared in New Media & Society, Social Media + Society, American Behavioral Scientist, Surveillance & Society, and the Columbia Journalism Review. In 2025, he received—along with co-authors Brandon Harris and Maxwell Foxman—the award for Outstanding Article from Digital Journalism as well as the J. Robert Cox Award for Academic Excellence from UNC. He has also received competitive awards from the Surveillance Studies Network and the National Communication Association. His scholarly work has been supported by the U.S. Department of Education, the University of North Carolina, and Twitch.

Before joining YouTube, William maintained an active record in public-facing publications, including The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Vice, Rolling Stone, Variety, The Outline, Deadspin, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. He has covered a wide range of topics related to culture, technology, and commerce across investigative, analytical, and gonzo formats, in addition to conventional reporting. During this period, William also provided co-writing services to influencers, including serving as co-author of Tyler “Ninja” Blevins’ Ultimate Guide to Gaming. His journalism was recognized by multiple industry awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the New York Video Game Critics Circle. He has also provided expert commentary to leading outlets, including The New York Times, NPR, The Washington Post, and the Financial Times.

In 2026, William joined the Design & Technology faculty of the Fellowship at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics, which he previously attended as a fellow (D&T 2023).

William lives and works in San Francisco, California. The best way to keep track of his academic writing is google scholar.