Ben De Smet holds a bachelor’s degree in Dutch and Latin Language and Literature at the University of Ghent and an interuniversity master’s degree in Gender & Diversity. For his master thesis, he critically analysed the representation of postmodern masculinities in ‘The Social Network’. He ocassionally writes on film and popular culture for media publications like Humo and Humbug.
From 2019 to 2023, Ben conducted a PhD study within a BOF-funded project under the supervision of Prof. dr. Frederik Dhaenens and Prof. dr. Sofie Van Bauwel. In December 2023, he obtained the degree of doctor, with a dissertation titled ‘Streams of Music and Identity: Gender and Sexual Identities on Spotify'.