This document discusses how social networks and collective intelligence are changing how news and information are shared. It notes that traditional media acted as gatekeepers that determined what was relevant, trustworthy and newsworthy. The internet now allows users more control over what information they access and how they interact with it. The document proposes a new platform called Polidoxa, which aims to create a virtual public space for open discussion. Polidoxa's ranking algorithm would consider both static user-defined trust factors and dynamic engagement metrics to determine what information is most relevant to a user and their network. The goal is to give users more control over their news while promoting verification and informed decision making.
NASW Workshop: The Secret Life of Social MediaDennis Meredith
What you think you know about social media is probably wrong. This session will discuss how these tools actually operate, often at odds with promoted functions. Based on data collected and analyzed by panelists and online science publications, we will discuss Digg, reddit, StumbleUpon, Slashdot, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media tools (with background materials for the uninitiated).
Social media practices and implications for journalistsJohn Bergin
A presentation I gave to students attending a Walkley Foundation event about professional and appropriate conduct via social media, and the long term implications of sharing and collaborating with your "audience".
Xenophilia: how a love of difference is essential in making connectionsDrew Whitworth
Keynote at the 2016 libraries@cambridge conference. I discuss the importance of making connections for learning, and why we should embed 'xenophilia' -- the love of difference -- into our information and education systems in order to optimise the environment for learning.
In this session, we talk about the mobile and social web, and how it shapes economy, individual behavior and well-being, political events, and society as a whole.
Media literacy in the age of information overloadGmeconline
We live in the most interesting times as far as the media is concerned. In fact as I approach the topic.These lines from Charles Dickens signifying the scenario of the French revolution came instantly to my mind – yes there is an upheaval going on in the media too..and it is marked with opposing views on the continuum-... Read More
Social Media/Networking for Libraries and Staff: Following the Herd or Finding your Own Hill? Slides from the Library Staff workshop held at Leicester, 14th June 2012.
NASW Workshop: The Secret Life of Social MediaDennis Meredith
What you think you know about social media is probably wrong. This session will discuss how these tools actually operate, often at odds with promoted functions. Based on data collected and analyzed by panelists and online science publications, we will discuss Digg, reddit, StumbleUpon, Slashdot, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media tools (with background materials for the uninitiated).
Social media practices and implications for journalistsJohn Bergin
A presentation I gave to students attending a Walkley Foundation event about professional and appropriate conduct via social media, and the long term implications of sharing and collaborating with your "audience".
Xenophilia: how a love of difference is essential in making connectionsDrew Whitworth
Keynote at the 2016 libraries@cambridge conference. I discuss the importance of making connections for learning, and why we should embed 'xenophilia' -- the love of difference -- into our information and education systems in order to optimise the environment for learning.
In this session, we talk about the mobile and social web, and how it shapes economy, individual behavior and well-being, political events, and society as a whole.
Media literacy in the age of information overloadGmeconline
We live in the most interesting times as far as the media is concerned. In fact as I approach the topic.These lines from Charles Dickens signifying the scenario of the French revolution came instantly to my mind – yes there is an upheaval going on in the media too..and it is marked with opposing views on the continuum-... Read More
Social Media/Networking for Libraries and Staff: Following the Herd or Finding your Own Hill? Slides from the Library Staff workshop held at Leicester, 14th June 2012.
7. Overcoming Gatekeeping ?
Internet offers an open platform where users can
interactively exchange information
News is multimedia, multi-dimensional,
timely/timeless
The user can control relevance
The user is able to choose topics, sources …
The user can interact with authors, other
readers/followers …
7
8. Traditional/New Media Synopsis
Traditional Search engines Social networks
media
Relevance/presence Decided by Decided by the Decided by the
of the news the algorithm network
publisher
Interaction / Not allowed Not allowed Possible
feedback
Topic Decided by Decided by the Decided by the
Content the user network
publisher
Expand topic Not allowed Allowed Allowed
Deciding Source Not allowed Allowed Allowed
Individual (trust- Absent Absent Absent
based) ranking
9. We will either find a way, or make one ...
”Aut inveniam viam aut faciam”
10. Maslow’s Law of the Instrument
”It is tempting, if the only
tool you have is a hammer,
to treat everything as if it
were a nail.”
- H. Maslow, The Psychology of
Science:A Reconnaissance.
Harper & Row, 1966
23/10/12 10
11. Goals of Polidoxa
Create a virtual agora where people can freely discuss and exchange
information
More control over the news/information
Think
Inform
Verify
Interact
Take an active role
Make more informed decisions
12. Polidoxa: ranking algorithm
The core ranking parameters:
configurable static parameters
trustworthiness of contacts (decided by the user)
trustworthiness of sources/domains… (by the user)
Dynamic Parameters
depending on network activities and contact’s distance
evaluate (among other things) “like” and “dislike”
many “like” for a post is and indication of how your
network perceives it
14. Synopsis Continued
Polidoxa
Relevance of the news Decided by the user
Interaction / feedback Allowed
Topic Decided by the user and
content his/her network
Expand topic Allowed
Deciding Source Allowed
Individual trust-based ranking Possible
15. Be creative when solving problems, use your
right brain hemisphere more often!
16. Joint work with:
Antonio Marraffa
Luca Biselli
Simona De Nicola
Luca Chiarabini
Georgios Papageorgiou
Pier Paolo Greco
Nafees Qamar
Editor's Notes
Situational analysis Traditional media: Publishers and the mass media determine what information is relevant, determines position, length Internet offers an open platform where users can exchange information Search engines like Googlenews, Yahoo define relevance by popularity, source credibility; allow only some user control (themes, country) Social Media Problem
Internet offers an open platform where users can exchange information