Decentralised Social Media: Scoping Review and Future Research Directions

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter/X, or TikTok are controlled by and rely on a single service provider. However, repeated controversies around data breaches, algorithmic bias, or misinformation have eroded trust in these centralised platforms. Concurrently, advancements in blockchain technology have opened avenues for decentralised social media that distribute control and data across a network of participants, thereby challenging their centralised counterparts. This study reviews existing literature on the topic and finds that what we know largely focuses on the technological implementation of decentralised social media. Therefore, we surveyed the literature for socio-technical dimensions of the phenomenon and found that control, privacy, operation, security, rewards, adoption, and research are central themes in this regard. We use those themes to derive recommendations for future research in Information Systems (IS) and beyond that aims to unpack individual, organisational, and societal implications of decentralised social media

Manufacturing the Digital Advertising Audience

How does a new medium create its audience? This study takes the business model of commercial media as its starting point and identifies industrial audience measurement as a constitutive operation in creating the sellable asset of advertising- funded companies. The study employs a qualitative case study design to analyse how a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) company harnesses digital behavioural records generated by computational network infrastructure to turn network subscribers into an advertising audience product. The empirical evidence is based on a three-months intensive fieldwork at the company office. The analysis reveals comprehensiveness, openness and granularity as the historically new attributes of computational data vis-à-vis traditional audience measurement arrangements. These attributes are then juxtaposed with four kinds of business analytical operations (automatic data aggregation procedures, the use of software reporting tools, organizational reporting practices and custom analyses) observed at the research site to assess how does computational media environment rule key audiencemaking practices. Finally, the implications of this analytical infrastructure are reflected upon three sets of organizational practices. The theoretical framework for the analysis is composed by critically assessing constructivist approaches (SCOT, ANT and sociomateriality) for studying technology and by discussing an approach inspired by critical realism to overcome their limitations with respect to the objectives of the study. The findings contribute toward innovating new digital services, information systems (IS) theory and the study of media audiences. The case opens up considerable complexity involved in establishing a new kind of advertising audience and, more generally, a platform business. Sending out advertisements is easy compared to demonstrating that somebody is actually receiving them. The three computational attributes both extend and provide summative validity for mid-range theorizing on how computational objects mediate organizational practices and processes. Finally, the analysis reveals an interactive nature of digital audience stemming from the direct and immediate behavioural feedback in an audiencemaking cycle

Wars of Words: An Explication of the Complex Interface between Transnational Advocacy Networks and the Contemporary International System

Abstract Transnational advocacy networks (TANs) are a rapidly proliferating phenomenon in international contentious politics. Widely known for waging headline-grabbing wars of words, TANs remain under-theorised on important levels of analysis. Unsurprisingly, they have been termed ‘elusive’ in the political literature. Typically portrayed as vital service-providing agencies that by-pass official controls to relay civil society concerns to the world’s media and international policy-makers, TANs are commonly assumed to be the vociferous, Internet-enabled, offspring of traditional NGOs and, thus, heirs to the reputational capital of NGOs. However, despite this respected provenance, it is evident that TANs frequently fail to achieve their goals. Knowledge of why some TAN strategies succeed while others fail is contested and inconclusive. This empirical thesis attempts to build on the international political literature by showing why the emerging NGO typology of TANs cannot be explained without paying attention to the systemic complexity of their environment and the essentially communicative functioning of these globe-spanning advocacy cooperatives. It seeks to demonstrate also the analytical value of applying complex realism in IR praxis. Hence, the thesis explicates a real-world conundrum: What is the place and function of transnational advocacy networks in the contemporary international system and how effective are they in achieving their aims? To identify macro-structural conditions and indicators of relationship quality — primarily involving state and non-state elements in the context of the United Nations — the thesis study reclaimed macro-sociological perspective as a first stage, ‘top-down’ approach to this complex, multi-dimensional problem space. The resultant data and patterns were then tested by way of a second-stage, micro-sociological, ‘bottom-up’, case study exploration of the UN’s interface with three iconic TANs — Greenpeace, Oxfam and Human Rights Watch. By conceptualising these relationships as intersections between systemic elements constituted on different social levels and scales of complexity, the scalable methodology enabled the study to transcend the micro-macro problems inherent in the primary research question. The results indicate that TANs are a distinctive typology of NGO that the international system is struggling to evaluate and accommodate within existing arrangements for NGO engagement. Unexpectedly, the study found plausible indications that the barriers many TANs encounter are endogenously produced. The results challenge prevailing assumptions about the place and function of grassroots diplomacy in the international arena; the ability of communications strategies to remedy global problems; and the reality and limitations of ‘people power’. By highlighting under-exposed features of the contemporary international relational landscape, the thesis argues, we might better determine whether many contemporary TANs are, in fact, evolving as the best-suited champions for the urgent, political quests they adopt

Timing is everything: A spatio-temporal approach to the analysis of facial actions

This thesis presents a fully automatic facial expression analysis system based on the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). FACS is the best known and the most commonly used system to describe facial activity in terms of facial muscle actions (i.e., action units, AUs). We will present our research on the analysis of the morphological, spatio-temporal and behavioural aspects of facial expressions. In contrast with most other researchers in the field who use appearance based techniques, we use a geometric feature based approach. We will argue that that approach is more suitable for analysing facial expression temporal dynamics. Our system is capable of explicitly exploring the temporal aspects of facial expressions from an input colour video in terms of their onset (start), apex (peak) and offset (end). The fully automatic system presented here detects 20 facial points in the first frame and tracks them throughout the video. From the tracked points we compute geometry-based features which serve as the input to the remainder of our systems. The AU activation detection system uses GentleBoost feature selection and a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier to find which AUs were present in an expression. Temporal dynamics of active AUs are recognised by a hybrid GentleBoost-SVM-Hidden Markov model classifier. The system is capable of analysing 23 out of 27 existing AUs with high accuracy. The main contributions of the work presented in this thesis are the following: we have created a method for fully automatic AU analysis with state-of-the-art recognition results. We have proposed for the first time a method for recognition of the four temporal phases of an AU. We have build the largest comprehensive database of facial expressions to date. We also present for the first time in the literature two studies for automatic distinction between posed and spontaneous expressions

Theorising the design-reality gap in ICTD: matters of care in mobile learning for Kenyan community health workers

This thesis examines the sociomaterial relations of “design practice” in order to advance new perspectives on success and failure in Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICTD). I conduct an ethnographic case study of an academic research intervention and update the widely-cited theory of design-reality gaps (Heeks, 2002). Using methods from classic actor-network theory and post-structural material-semiotic tools, the analysis: 1) disentangles the entwined sociomaterial practices around design, production, and use of technology; and 2) integrates these insights into more elaborate conceptualisations of gaps, sustainability, scalability, and project failure. In doing so, my study answers the research question: What are the sociomaterial relations of “design practice” in a globally-distributed, multi-stakeholder, and technologicallymediated ICTD project for poverty alleviation? My research narrative describes how an array of humans and non-humans participated as designers in a transnational, interdisciplinary Participatory Action Research project to train Kenyan health workers using mobile phones. At least six different patterns of sociomaterial relations operated through a given set of people and things, enacting the material-discursive apparatuses (Barad, 1998) of educational research, healthcare, the market, the state, and the local community. I assert that in this Participatory Action Research project for mobile learning, the design-reality gap was not so much a matter of geographic or socio-cultural divides, but was instead constituted as fluid space (Mol, 2002) separating the educational researchers’ designerly practices from the multiplicity of ways in which health workers, mobile phones, and other actors lived in relation to one another. I conclude that these ontological politics enacted design as an empirical matter of care – an affective and morally-charged sociomaterial practice with an ethico-political commitment to the marginalised (Puig de la Bellacasa, 2011). I therefore present a conceptual model of success and failure in participatory ICTD projects that explicitly incorporates the affective and material dimensions of care, and conceptualises social justice – not solely in terms of universal claims or global standards – but as embodied, sociomaterial enactments

Bitcoin : users’ characteristics, motivations and investment behaviours

In less than a decade, the cryptocurrency known as Bitcoin has gone from a fringe phenomenon to a topic of increasing interest to academia and mainstream investors. However, despite the growing body of research seeking to understand Bitcoin, the pseudonymous, decentralised, and globally-diffused nature of its user base means that the individuals who use it remain poorly understood. In particular, the motivations, risk-appreciation, and investment behaviours of early adopters and innovators are subject to supposition in the absence of data derived from the user base. This thesis seeks to address this gap in knowledge by employing a multi-stage, mixed methodology approach and a theoretical framework to understand the Bitcoin user base. Utilising semantic analysis, a survey of online cryptocurrency communities, and econometric time-series analysis, this thesis addresses the extent and nature of Bitcoin in hedging; how individual users perceive their own motivations, uses, and risks that have driven their behaviour; and the nature of the relationship between the prices of cryptocurrency and indices of confidence. Analysis of the data determined that the use of Bitcoin as an instrument of hedging is limited, and influenced by political and institutional factors. Likewise, its motivations, uses, and risks are reflective of the users’ political ideology, with the community and marketplace becoming more sophisticated as they evolve over time. Additionally, despite several case studies demonstrating risk-averse adoption of Bitcoin, there is no relationship between its prices and confidence.Doctor of Philosoph

The development of a framework on information behaviour of SME managers when adopting emerging ICTs

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy.Uncertainty and complexity related to emerging ICTs and unpredictable technology changes have put pressure on firms’ knowledge to gather, seek and scan the environment for information during their emerging ICT adoption decision-making process. Furthermore, unstable environment, changing government policy on information technology has contributed to, as well. Also, emerging ICTs have unlocked different and new opportunities and challenges for small businesses as well as open them to uncertainties and risks and their larger counterparts as well. As a result, information becomes significant during adoption decision-making process when adopting emerging ICTs, especially in SMEs because of limited resources. Even with the broad research and literature on adoption decision in SMEs, there is still limited research related to the information behaviours of SME owners when adopting emerging ICTs and factors that influence their information behaviours regarding information sources selection during this process. Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore the information behaviour of SME owners during the adoption decisions when adopting emerging ICTs. To advance our understanding in information behaviour when adopting emerging ICTs and show how SME managers can reduce uncertainty related to emerging ICT. This study is interpretive qualitative research, and semi-structured and unstructured face-toface interviews were conducted with twenty SME owners from UK service sector to achieve the objectives of this study. The interviews were recorded with the permission of the participants and the recordings were transcribed. Myers and Newman’s (2007) guidelines for qualitative interview research were used as a guide for the interview process and triangulation methods for the research rigour and quality. Nvivo 10 is used for data analysis. The results demonstrated the importance of information and seeking information on the emerging ICT during adoption decision-making. This study contributes to the development of knowledge and practice in numerous ways. The study proposed a conceptual framework that shows information behaviours of SME owners during emerging ICTs adoption using TOE model as a theoretical underpinning and the framework was validated using triangulation methods. The research findings also explained the contexts of technology, organisation, and environment as information behaviour trigger and perceived information needs during the adoption decision-making process in SMEs. This research contributes to the improvement of SME managers’ information needs, information seeking behaviours; and their information sources were explored; factors that influence their information behaviours were identified through empirical data using technology organisation environment model as theoretical underpinning. and the framework was validated using triangulation methods. The research findings also explained the contexts of technology, organisation, and environment as information behaviour trigger and perceived information needs during the adoption decision-making process in SMEs. This research contributes to the improvement of knowledge and practical at different stages. Theoretically, the study has taken academic research forward in the research area of information behaviour and ICTs adoption in SME in service industry using TOE model as theoretical underpinning. SMEs could use the practical contribution of the research result in the service industry in the UK, and any SMEs which are based in a related economy and environment, to have better information about emerging ICTs during adoption decision-making process. These findings gave further insight into IT adoption in SMEs through information behaviours and highlighted the significant of sources of information and pre-information gathering, and the factors that influence information sources such as herd event, information usefulness, and perceived information sources credibility during the decision-making for adopting emerging ICT

Enterprise modelling framework for dynamic and complex business environment: socio-technical systems perspective

The modern business environment is characterised by dynamism and ambiguity. The causes include global economic change, rapid change requirements, shortened development life cycles and the increasing complexity of information technology and information systems (IT/IS). However, enterprises have been seen as socio-technical systems. The dynamic complex business environment cannot be understood without intensive modelling and simulation. Nevertheless, there is no single description of reality, which has been seen as relative to its context and point of view. Human perception is considered an important determinant for the subjectivist view of reality. Many scholars working in the socio-technical systems and enterprise modelling domains have conceived the holistic sociotechnical systems analysis and design possible using a limited number of procedural and modelling approaches. For instance, the ETHICS and Human-centred design approaches of socio-technical analysis and design, goal-oriented and process-oriented modelling of enterprise modelling perspectives, and the Zachman and DoDAF enterprise architecture frameworks all have limitations that can be improved upon, which have been significantly explained in this thesis. [Continues.

Why are we running? Political economy of bank runs and an analysis on the 2007-09 banking crisis in the United Kingdom

Of the massive amount of failures experienced in corporate history, not every failure or banking distress has triggered a panic among market actors, which were just deemed as ‘bad apples’. On the other hand, there have been numerous instances where the weaknesses in economic fundamentals led to the breakdown of cooperation among market actors in the shape of bank runs. This research proposes an alternative reading of bank runs by its emphasis on ideas, not to replace but rather to supplement the explanations put forward by the banking panics literature. It analyses bank runs from a political economy perspective and highlights the role played by ideas. While not discounting the significance of the material and institutional settings, it suggests the use of cognitive heuristics by depositors during decision-making under uncertainty. Accordingly, depositor awareness towards the safety nets in place and collective memory of the past institutional failures are suggested as the two reference points (in addition to fundamentals) for depositor expectations to converge towards. This theoretical argument is tested with the banking crisis of 2007-09 in the United Kingdom with the aim of uncovering the following research puzzle: Within the period under examination, out of the four bank failures, namely Northern Rock, Bradford and Bingley, Alliance and Leicester, HBOS, only the first two experienced bank runs (although different in type) which resulted in their failures. The research objective of this thesis is, therefore, to explain and understand the motivations behind these depositor runs. With regards to research methods, empirical chapters apply a fully qualitative analysis –process tracing, within-case and cross-case analyses- and also utilise from counterfactuals in explaining depositor behaviour