Effectiveness of user-curated filtering as coping strategy for information overload on microblogging services

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We are living in an increasingly global and connected society with informationcreation increasing at exponential rates. The research sets out to help solve theproblem of mitigating the effects of information overload in order to increasethe novelty of our interactions in the digital age. Online social-networks andmicroblogging services allow people across the world to take part in a publicconversation. These tools have inherent constraints on how much communicationcan feasibly occur. Become too connected and a user will receive too muchinformation to reasonably process. On Twitter (a microblogging service), listsare a tool for users to create separate feeds. The research determines whetherlists are an effective tool for coping with information overload (abundance ofupdates). Using models of sustainable online discourse and information overloadon computer-mediated communication tools, the research found that listsare an effective tool to cope with information overload on microblogging services.Quantitatively, individuals who make use of lists follow more users andwhen they start using lists they increase the amount of information resources(following other users) at a greater rate than those who do not use lists. Qualitatively,the research also provides insight into the reasons why people uselists. The research adds new academic relevance to 'information overload' and'online sustainability' models previously not used in the context of feed-basedonline CMC tools, and deepens the understanding and importance of usercuratedfiltering as a way to reap the benefits from the increasing abundanceof information in the digital age.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University