Tuesday, November 12, 2024

 

Decentralized social media ‘increases citizen empowerment’, says Oxford study




University of Oxford





Researchers from the Oxford Martin Programme on Ethical Web and Data Architectures (University of Oxford) have reported findings from a paper exploring the motivations and challenges in running decentralised social media such as Mastodon, concluding such platforms offer potential for increased citizen empowerment in this digital domain.

In their study, presented at the 27th ACM SIGCHI Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work & Social Computing (CSCW) today, the researchers interviewed 16 administrators of Mastodon servers (otherwise known as instances), including those supporting marginalised and stigmatised communities. Their answers highlighted the complexities of managing decentralised platforms and the future potential of such technologies to foster more equitable social media ecosystems.

The participants identified the following benefits with decentralised social media platforms:

  • Safer, more inclusive spaces online – administrators of instances supporting LGBTQ+ communities noted mainstream social media tended to avoid making moderation decisions that could alienate large user groups. A Mastodon instance, however, allowed marginalised users to hold discussions they would otherwise feel unsafe or uncomfortable having on traditional platforms.
  • Absence of algorithmic manipulation – participants said algorithms on traditional social media platforms typically prevented them from reaching a substantial audience or fostering meaningful conversations. This was not the case with Mastodon, which operates a chronological feed and is free from algorithm-driven recommendations and ads.
  • Better support for data privacy and autonomy – Participants shared concerns about the safety of their data on traditional platforms, including that sensitive posts could unintentionally reach unintended audiences. Decentralised platforms like Mastodon gave users greater control over their data because they could create their own instances.

Zhilin Zhang, DPhil student with the Ethical Web and Data Architectures programme and lead author of the paper, said:

‘Decentralised social media platforms represent a shift towards user autonomy, where individuals can engage in a safer and more inclusive digital space without the constraints and biases imposed by traditional, centralised, algorithm-driven networks.’

Participants did identify challenges with decentralised social media platforms. For example, they found it challenging to grow their respective communities because of the sparse content driven by relatively low numbers of users, while the concept of decentralised social media might be too difficult for new users to understand. The complex nature of moderating communities due to the fine line of creating a safe space and protecting freedom of speech, and the burdens of moderating content that could include harmful materials and potential scams, were other identified challenges.

These could be mitigated, said the administrators, by doing the following:

  • Prioritising quality over growth
  • Deliberately keeping instances small to streamline content and keep communities friendly and interactive
  • Foster a diverse and dedicated content moderation team
  • Balancing between proactive and reactive when moderating

In addition, the researchers also identified intricate power dynamics involving Mastodon’s governing structure that could carry a risk of power abuse.

Dr Jun Zhao, senior researcher with the Ethical Web and Data Architectures programme and a co-author of the paper, said:

‘Decentralised platforms like Mastodon reveal new and complex power dynamics, but community involvement in decision-making can help prevent authoritarian control and foster trust.

‘We argue that these power dynamics should be accounted for when developing any support mechanisms to help administrators and users of decentralised social media platforms.’

Ultimately though, the study’s findings demonstrate the potential of decentralised social media in paving the way for a more citizen-powered future in social media.

Zhang concluded, ‘Decentralised social media is more than just a technical shift; it's a step toward restoring autonomy and trust in our digital lives, empowering individuals and communities to connect without compromising their values or privacy.’

The authors of the paper are affiliated to the University of Oxford’s Department of Computer Sciences, University College London, and Stanford University.

The paper, ‘Trouble in Paradise? Understanding Mastodon Admin’s Motivations, Experiences, and Challenges Running Decentralised Social Media’, can be read at:  https://doi.org/10.1145/3687059

…ENDS…

Notes to Editors

For an interview with the researchers or further information, including to see a copy of the paper, please contact Amjad Parkar on amjad.parkar@oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk

DOI - 10.1145/3687059

About the Oxford Martin Programme on Ethical Web and Data Architectures

The World Wide Web has radically diverged from the values upon which it was founded, and it is now dominated by a few platform companies, whose business models and services generate huge profits.

The Oxford Martin Programme on Ethical Web and Data Architectures, led by Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Principal of Jesus College Nigel Shadbolt, aims to identify digital infrastructures that promote and support individual autonomy and self-determination in our emerging digital societies. To do this, researchers aim to redesign the fundamental information architectures which underpin the web, and deploy new legal and regulatory infrastructures.

About the Oxford Martin School   

The Oxford Martin School is a world-leading research department of the University of Oxford. Its 200 academics work across more than 30 pioneering research programmes to find solutions to the world's most urgent challenges. It supports novel and high-risk projects that often do not fit within conventional funding channels, with the belief that breaking boundaries and fostering innovative collaborations can dramatically improve the wellbeing of this and future generations. Underpinning all our research is the need to translate academic excellence into impact – from innovations in science, medicine, and technology, through to providing expert advice and policy recommendations.   

About the Department of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science is consistently recognised as the internationally leading centre of research and teaching across a broad spectrum of computer science, ranging from foundational discoveries to interdisciplinary work with significant real-world impact.

We are proud of our history as one of the longest-established computer science departments in the country, as we continue to provide first-rate undergraduate and postgraduate teaching to some of the world's brightest minds. We enjoy close links with other University departments and Oxford research groups and institutes.

For more information visit our website: https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/

About the University of Oxford

Oxford University has been placed number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the ninth year running, and ​number 3 in the QS World Rankings 2024. At the heart of this success are the twin-pillars of our ground-breaking research and innovation and our distinctive educational offer.

Oxford is world-famous for research and teaching excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research alongside our personalised approach to teaching sparks imaginative and inventive insights and solutions.

Through its research commercialisation arm, Oxford University Innovation, Oxford is the highest university patent filer in the UK and is ranked first in the UK for university spinouts, having created more than 300 new companies since 1988. Over a third of these companies have been created in the past five years. The university is a catalyst for prosperity in Oxfordshire and the United Kingdom, contributing £15.7 billion to the UK economy in 2018/19, and supports more than 28,000 full time jobs.

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