Understanding Information-Limiting Environments in Personalized News Platforms—A Systems Perspective

Schmalenbach K, Brechtelsbauer B, Schötteler S, Laumer S (2023)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Conference contribution, Conference Contribution

Publication year: 2023

Event location: Hyderabad, Indien

Abstract

Personalized news platforms (PNPs) have become increasingly popular due to their ability to provide users with tailored, relevant news content. However, their algorithmic selection of news items bears the risk of limiting the diversity of news that users are exposed to, potentially creating information-limiting environments (ILEs). As the emergence of such ILEs involves interdependent sociotechnical interactions, classical positivist approaches have failed to establish an empirically verified theory on this phenomenon. Therefore, we adopt a systems perspective to conceptualize and quantify a model describing the sociotechnical interactions in PNPs that can create ILEs. We then propose an experimental approach to simulate these interactions with real users and validate its viability through an empirical prestudy. In doing so, we contribute to IS research by providing the conceptual and methodological basis for inductive theorizing on the causes of ILEs, which is an essential prerequisite for designing effective interventions to mitigate ILE-induced risks.

Authors with CRIS profile

Kian Schmalenbach Schöller Endowed Chair for Information Systems (Digitalization in Business and Society) Bastian Brechtelsbauer Schöller Endowed Chair for Information Systems (Digitalization in Business and Society) Sebastian Schötteler Schöller Endowed Chair for Information Systems (Digitalization in Business and Society) Sven Laumer Schöller Endowed Chair for Information Systems (Digitalization in Business and Society)

How to cite

APA:

Schmalenbach, K., Brechtelsbauer, B., Schötteler, S., & Laumer, S. (2023). Understanding Information-Limiting Environments in Personalized News Platforms—A Systems Perspective. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) 2023. Hyderabad, Indien.

MLA:

Schmalenbach, Kian, et al. "Understanding Information-Limiting Environments in Personalized News Platforms—A Systems Perspective." Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) 2023, Hyderabad, Indien 2023.

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