Principal Investigator: Dr. Michael Ann DeVito
Jr. Research Associate: Emma Vonbuelow
Background
Questions of online safety, regardless of the definition of “online safety” in play, often turn to questions of responsibility. This can include questions of who is responsible for content, for the consequences of platform design, for user actions, and even for larger societal standards of what is “acceptable.” Answers to “who is responsible” vary, ranging from approaches that hold the user ultimately responsible for all their online actions and circumstances to approaches that attempt to place all responsibility for content and user experience on platforms themselves. Additionally, some approaches argue for increased government responsibility, including heavier regulation of what the responsibilities of tech companies are.
As new regulation and new systems are developed, and as users increasingly integrate such systems into their lives, it is crucial that we have frameworks for understanding where the responsibility for online safety should lie. It is also crucial that these frameworks take user ability and relationships with technology into account in order to realistically account for how much and what type of responsibility can reasonably fall on the shoulders of users. Moreover, considering the intertwined nature of questions about technical literacy and user responsibility, it is essential that we investigate this area using the PI’s integrative folk theorization approach to understanding the whole relationship between multiple stakeholders and technological systems.
In this first project in a series, we will build on existing work on folk theorization and tech literacy by matching it with expert understanding from other perspectives in the system (e.g., technical, privacy, legal/policy, accessibility, and media/misinformation experts). By synthesizing existing work on technical literacy with the next expert perspectives, we will generate a framework for better understanding and negotiating responsibility in the overall user/system relationship that accounts for the needs and practical circumstances of all stakeholders, not just users.
Project Description
This project seeks to investigate the question of responsibility in digital safety. Utilizing a Delphi study, we will gather insights from experts across various sectors, including industry, non-profit, government, legal, and education, all of whom have experience with user-facing sociotechnical systems. Our focus is to understand who is considered responsible for online safety and to define digital safety. By iteratively consulting with experts, we seek to identify both consensus and varied views on responsibility, striving to find a fair balance between the roles of the system and its users.
Research Questions
- What are the crucial elements of technical literacy from expert perspectives in the context of online safety?
- Where does the balance of responsibility lie for each aspect of online safety between tech companies, users, governments, and NGOs?
Expected Outcomes
Ultimately, this project will contribute to a more informed and effective online safety framework without assuming any specific outcomes.
How to Participate
If you’d like to participate in this study, please email the Principal Investigator (PI) at m.devito@northeastern.edu We appreciate your interest!