Values, ethics and participatory policymaking in online communities. Issue 1 (27th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Centivany, Alissa
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology. Volume 53:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2016-12-27
• Subjects: Information Policy -- Social Media -- Value‐Sensitive Design -- Anticipatory Ethics -- Online Communities; Information science -- Congresses; Information technology -- Congresses; Information science; Information technology; Conference papers and proceedings; 020
• DOI: 10.1002/pra2.2016.14505301058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2373-9231

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Drawing upon principles and lessons of technology law and policy, value‐centered design, anticipatory design ethics, and information policy literatures this research seeks to contribute to understandings of the ways in which platform design, practice, and policymaking intersect on the social media site Reddit. This research explores how Reddit's users, moderators, and administrators surface values (like free speech, privacy, dignity, and autonomy), hint at ethical principles (what content, speech, behavior ought to be restricted and under what conditions), through a continuous process of (re)negotiating expectations and norms around values, ethics, and power on the site. Central to this research are questions such as: Who or what influences and/or determines social practice on Reddit? Who participates in decision‐making and using what processes and mechanisms? Where do controversies arise and how are they resolved? Generating findings from a particular controversy surrounding the subreddit /r/jailbait, the author illustrates the complexities inherent in these questions and suggests that a participatory policymaking approach might contribute to future research and practice in this area.