Personal profile
Personal information
Peter Kerkhof is full professor in Social Media at the department of Communication Science and vice dean of education at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He holds a PhD (1997) in (social) psychology from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Over the course of his academic career, dr. Kerkhof has published extensively on both the individual use of online media and the relation between individuals and organizations in online environments.
From 2010 to 2014, Peter Kerkhof was appointed special chair of content marketing at the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR, University of Amsterdam). Content marketing refers to non-ad, customer centric marketing communications in which the goal is to inform and entertain rather than to explicitly persuade consumers. Since his appointment as full professor in Social Media at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2014, his research focuses on the use of social media by organizations and individuals, particularly on the question how online information and interactions shape impressions of organizations and their products, services or policies. Peter Kerkhof has published his work in leading journals like Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Human Communication Research, Journal of Interactive Marketing, and Tourism Management.
Peter Kerkhof has held many administrative positions. Currenly he serves as teh vice dean of education of Faculty of Social Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He has been the chair of the department of Communication Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam from 2010 until 2018. From 2007 until 2010 he served on the faculty board of the Faculty of Social Sciences and was responsible for all of the faculty’s bachelor and master programs. Before 2007 he was chair of the department of Communication Science and program director of the bachelor and master program in Communication Science.
Ancillary activities
- Kansspelauthoriteit | Den Haag | Lid Adviesraad | 2024-10-01 - present
Ancillary activities are updated daily
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Global social media use among rheumatology professionals: the EULAR SoMeR Study Group survey
Gupta, L., Sarkar, M., Sparks, J., Carmona, L., Minikumari Rahulan, L., Talreja, T. V., Agarwal, V., Caballero Uribe, C. V., Dey, D., Edwards, C. J., Berenbaum, F., Nikiphorou, E. & EULAR Social Media for Rheumatology (SoMeR) Study Group, Dec 2025, In: RMD Open. 11, 4, p. 1-11 11 p., e006179.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
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Social media landscape: a cross-sectional survey of health professionals
Auanassova, A., Jatuworapruk, K., Sarkar, M., Yessirkepov, M., Mukhamediyarov, M., Traboco, L., Goel, A., Zimba, O., Agarwal, V., Nikiphorou, E., Gupta, L. & SOMER Study Group, Nov 2025, In: Rheumatology International. 45, 11, p. 1-9 9 p., 255.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
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YouTube and religion during COVID-19: Analyzing Indonesian Islamic groups’ narratives
Sulfikar, A., Tanis, M. & Kerkhof, P., 30 Sept 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Religion and Health. 24 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open Access -
Combatting the persuasive effects of misinformation: Forewarning versus debunking revisited
van Huijstee, D., Vermeulen, I., Kerkhof, P. & Droog, E., 26 Aug 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: New Media & Society. 20 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
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Declaration on the use of social media for rheumatology professionals
Gupta, L., Nikiphorou, E., Carmona, L., Sieiro Santos, C., Berenbaum, F., Edwards, C. J. & EULAR SoMeR Study Group, 7 Jul 2025, In: RMD Open. 11, 3, p. 1-4 4 p., e005917.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Editorial › Academic › peer-review
Open Access
Courses
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In the heat of the night: Time of day and temperature predict aggression on Dutch Twitter
Ouwerkerk, J. W. (Speaker), Vermeulen, I. (Speaker), Fokkens, A. (Speaker), Kerkhof, P. (Speaker), Markslag, L. (Speaker) & Yazdani, A. N. (Speaker)
6 Feb 2020Activity: Lecture / Presentation › Academic
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Social media and societal resilience
Kerkhof, P. (Speaker)
23 Jan 2017Activity: Lecture / Presentation › Professional
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Kenniskring Weerbare professional & social media
Kerkhof, P. (Participant)
21 Nov 2016Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Expert meeting › Societal
Prizes / Grants
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Best Faculty Paper award in Public Relations
Dijkmans, C. (Recipient), Kerkhof, P. (Recipient), Buyukcan-Tetik, A. (Recipient) & Beukeboom, C. (Recipient), 21 Jun 2016
Prize / Grant: Prize › Academic
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Bob Heath best Faculty paper award
Kerkhof, P. (Recipient), 21 May 2015
Prize / Grant: Prize › Societal
Press/Media
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Techbazen volgen nauwelijks vrouwen op Twitter
5/10/16
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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