Augmenting Social Bot Detection with Crowd-Generated Labels

2023 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 0

Authors: Benjamin, Victor; Raghu, T. S.

Abstract: Social media platforms are facing increasing numbers of cyber-adversaries seekin ... Expand

Abstract: Social media platforms are facing increasing numbers of cyber-adversaries seeking to manipulate online discourse by using social bots (i.e., social media software robots) to help automate and scale their attacks. Likewise, some social media users can identify social bot activity at varying degrees of confidence. In this research, human reactions to social bot messages are used to augment existing social bot detection capabilities. Speech act theory is used to inspire a framework for assessing the credibility of instances where users identify potential bot activity, as not all user responses are of equal credibility for assisting with the bot detection task. The framework is then operationalized through deep learning methodologies to develop a computational system for identifying social bots. Real-world performance and practicality of the developed framework is demonstrated on a live, crowd-sourced data set collected from a real-world social media platform. Results show that consideration of crowd reactions to suspected bots can significantly improve bot detection performance. Furthermore, consideration of speech acts to evaluate crowd reactions can even further augment the system’s performance, although speech acts themselves are not necessary to observe performance boost through crowd intelligence. This study serves as a grounding point for future work that can explore an augmented model for detecting other forms of algorithmically generated content within social media platforms.History: Olivia Sheng, Senior Editor; Jesse Bockstedt, Associate Editor.Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2022.1136. Collapse

Topics: Reddit social media crowdsourcing IT productivity social media analytics

Methods: experiment BERT machine learning support vector machine random forest classification

Theories: speech act theory

“Maybe You Should Talk to Someone”: The Role of Online Communities on Mental Healthcare

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Ghosh, Soham; Chakraborty, Soumyakanti; Sharma, Megha; Susarla, Anjana

Abstract: Online Health Communities like YouTube offer mental health patients an alternat ... Expand

Abstract: Online Health Communities like YouTube offer mental health patients an alternative channel to learn about mental illnesses, the treatment path to follow, and to share their experiences. For many patients who are reluctant to seek professional help, a video on mental health uploaded by a content creator may serve as a substitute for a counsellor. Our work aims to develop an understanding of the relationship between language formality and social support and provide normative guidelines for content creators on social media platforms. Using two transformer-based deep learning classification models, we determine the degree of language formality or informality present in the content, and three dimensions of social support in the comments. We then utilize propensity score estimation to establish the causal effect of (in)formality on the dimensions of social support for 994 videos and 3,10,157 comments. Our findings indicate that informal speech increases emotional support, leading to better health outcomes. Collapse

Topics: YouTube social media electronic mail blog

Methods: deep learning RoBERTa BERT propensity score matching propensity score method

Theories: speech act theory

Reflections on CAIS and the IS Field from a Former Editor-in-Chief

2023 | Communications of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Niederman, Fred

Abstract: This essay represents the lessons I learned over a three-year term serving as e ... Expand

Abstract: This essay represents the lessons I learned over a three-year term serving as editor-in-chief of Communications of the Association for Information Systems (CAIS). The discussion revolves around general observations of the IS field, the relationship between these observations of the IS field and CAIS and CAIS's unique mission and how that mission serves stakeholders, authors, readers, editorial team members, and touches on the logistics of managing a journal. The discussions focus on the use of theory in IS knowledge production, the meaning of a contribution, the goal of examining and challenging widely held assumptions and positions, as well as building on prior knowledge. Collapse

Topics: crowdsourcing pandemic IS education video conference crowdfunding

Methods: case study

Theories: speech act theory

The Occupational Vision of Information Technology Job Markets

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Seguel, Pedro; Cohen, Lisa; Vaast, Emmanuelle

Abstract: This study introduces the IT Occupation Vision, a new conceptual and methodolog ... Expand

Abstract: This study introduces the IT Occupation Vision, a new conceptual and methodological framework, to examine structural changes in IT occupations. It also highlights the role of industry discourse in shaping those changes. The approach suggests that these occupations are shaped by a latent collective consensus that influences labor market categories. Adapting Relational Class Analysis (RCA), a type of Schematic Class Analysis, the study leverages textual signals from online job advertisements to scrutinize structural changes in IT roles and skill sets. This work bridges Organizing Vision and diffusion literature with the IT workforce, providing insights into the interaction between innovation, skills, and emerging technologies. Unlike the Organizing Vision theory, which is artifact-centric, the IT Occupational Vision focuses on the labor aspects associated with these technological innovations. The study addresses gaps in our understanding of the socio-cognitive aspects of IT occupations, providing valuable insights for policies and practices in evolving labor markets. Collapse

Topics: online labor market IT job IT workforce artificial intelligence IT job market

Theories: schema theory speech act theory

Ethics in the intersection of AI and democracy: The AIDEM Framework

2023 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Westerstrand, Salla

Abstract: The use of Information Systems (ISs) utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) has ... Expand

Abstract: The use of Information Systems (ISs) utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) has expanded over the last decades, which has sparked discussion around AI's impacts on societal structures, such as democracy. Yet, in the light of existing research, our understanding of the relationship between AI and democracy is limited. Hence, this paper suggests approaching this relationship from the perspective of AI ethics. A framework dubbed AIDEM is suggested to a) gain deeper understanding of the relationship and b) enable justified critique and further suggestions for ethical AI to avoid uncontrolled erosion of democracy. The framework is tested by analysing ethical implications of the Spanish AI strategy in relation to Rawls's theory of justice and their potential impacts on deliberative democracy in the Spanish context. The analysis shows the AIDEM framework has potential to achieve its dual objective, although an inclusion of various other perspectives is still needed to complement the present analysis. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence responsible artificial intelligence

Methods: qualitative content analysis literature study cross sectional research case study meta analysis

Theories: justice theory speech act theory

Speaking things into existence: Ontological foundations of identity representation and management

2022 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 3

Authors: Eriksson, Owen; Ågerfalk, Pär J

Abstract: Conceptual models capture knowledge about domains of reality. Therefore, concept ... Expand

Abstract: Conceptual models capture knowledge about domains of reality. Therefore, conceptual models and their modelling constructs should be based on theories about the world—that is, they should be grounded in ontology. Identity is fundamental to ontology and conceptual modelling because it addresses the very existence of objects and conceptual systems in general. Classification involves grouping objects that share similarities and delineating them from objects that fall under other concepts (qualitative identity). However, among objects that fall under the same concept, we must also distinguish between individual objects (individual identity). In this paper, we analyze the ontological question of identity, focusing specifically on institutional identity, which is the identity of socially constructed institutional objects. An institutional entity is a language construct that is ‘spoken into existence’. We elaborate on how institutional identity changes how we understand conceptual modelling and the models produced. We show that different models result if we base modelling on a property-based conception of identity compared to an institutional one. We use the Bunge-Wand-Weber principles, which embrace a property-based view of identity, as an anchor to the existing literature to point out how this type of ontology sidesteps identity in general and institutional identity in particular. We contribute theoretically by providing the first in-depth ontological analysis of what the notion of institutional identity can bring to conceptual modelling. We also contribute a solid ontological grounding of identity management and the identity of things in digital infrastructures. Collapse

Topics: knowledge representation information technology infrastructure identity management explicit knowledge

Methods: conceptual modelling design science Bunge Wand Weber ontology ontological modelling cross sectional research

Theories: action theory speech act theory

A Hashtag Is Worth a Thousand Words: An Empirical Investigation of Social Media Strategies in Trademarking Hashtags

2022 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 4

Authors: Kumar, Naveen; Qiu, Liangfei; Kumar, Subodha

Abstract: Firms of all sizes are “joining the conversation” on social media platforms and ... Expand

Abstract: Firms of all sizes are “joining the conversation” on social media platforms and increasingly trademarking hashtags related to their products and brands. This added effort to protect intellectual property and its impact on social media engagement have not been investigated in the literature. In this study, we attempt to bridge this important gap in the literature by first examining the impact of trademarking a hashtag on a firm’s social media audience engagement. By adopting multiple causal identification strategies to address the issues of self-selected trademarking, we find that trademarking hashtags plays a pivotal role in increasing social media audience engagement and information dissemination. More importantly, this positive effect is stronger for firms with fewer Twitter followers. Digging deeper into the underlying mechanisms, we find that trademarking hashtags makes composing tweets with certain linguistic styles more critical: It can amplify the positive effects of trademarking hashtags on social media audience engagement. Our findings highlight important managerial implications of trademarking hashtags. First of all, we examine whether trademarking a hashtag helps or hurts a firm in terms of its social media audience engagement. Further, we show, to maximize the effectiveness of trademarking hashtags, how firms should develop the right social media engagement strategies by taking specific communication and linguistic styles into account. Our results provide useful insights to firms in understanding the key benefits of signaling through trademarking hashtags on social media engagement. History: Ram Gopal, Senior Editor; Yuliang (Oliver) Yao, Associate Editor. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2022.1107. Collapse

Topics: social media Twitter consumer behavior website marketing management

Methods: experimental group propensity score method robustness check regression analysis method quasi experiment

Theories: speech act theory lemon market theory signaling theory communication theory

The Philosopher's Corner: The Duality of Heidegger in Information Systems Research

2022 | ACM SIGMIS Database | Citations: 0

Authors: Monod, Emmanuel; Boland, Richard; Santoro, Flavia; Joyce, Elisabeth

Abstract: Heidegger's philosophy has long been one of the core references for information ... Expand

Abstract: Heidegger's philosophy has long been one of the core references for information systems (IS) researchers, often drawing upon one of two distinct perspectives he employed in his writings. The first of these perspectives is found in Heidegger's work on presence, and the second in his work on relations. We refer to these two as his presence perspective and his relation perspective. The presence perspective builds on ideas developed in early sections of his major work, Being and Time (1927:1996), contrasting the presence of being-in-the-world with that of readiness-at-hand. The relation perspective builds on ideas developed in later sections of Being and Time, elaborating on the concept of being-with [Mitsein]. We discuss the ways these two key perspectives in his philosophy are intertwined and reinforce each other when we consider them together, and how they amplify and extend each other's scope of effect in human situated practice. We argue that Heidegger's philosophical perspective on human existence is a powerful theoretical lens for understanding both the subjective and the objective poles of our experience of being in the world. It provides an integrated framework for research on both poles that is useful across the IS field. Collapse

Topics: social media systems design individual productivity organizational transformation information system use

Methods: partial least squares path modeling case study phenomenological method

Theories: speech act theory information systems theory

Designing Online Virtual Advisors to Encourage Customer Self-disclosure: A Theoretical Model and an Empirical Test

2021 | Journal of Management Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Al-Natour, Sameh; Benbasat, Izak; Cenfetelli, Ron

Abstract: Virtual advisors (VA) are tools that assist users in making decisions. Using VAs ... Expand

Abstract: Virtual advisors (VA) are tools that assist users in making decisions. Using VAs necessitates the disclosure of personal information, especially when they are employed in personalized contexts such as healthcare, where disclosure is vital to providing valid and accurate advice. Yet, extant research has largely overlooked the factors that encourage or inhibit users' from disclosing to VAs. In contrast, this study investigates the determinants of users' intentions to self-disclose, and examines how VAs can be designed to enhance these intentions. The results of a study in the context of skin care advice reveal that the intention to disclose to a VA is not only the product of a rational process, but that perceptions of the VA and the relationship with it are important. The results further show that a parsimonious set of design elements can be used to endow a VA with desired characteristics that enhance the willingness to disclose. The study contributes to our understanding of the factors influencing users' intentions to provide personal information to a VA, which extend beyond the expected benefits and costs. The study further demonstrates that social exchange theory can be applied in contexts in which humans are interacting with automated VAs. Collapse

Topics: privacy usability personalization requirements elicitation website

Methods: SEM tool partial least squares regression experiment experimental group data transformation

Theories: speech act theory social exchange theory

Customer perception of the deceptiveness of online product reviews: A speech act theory perspective

2021 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 6

Authors: Ansari, Sana; Gupta, Sumeet

Abstract: With the presence of fake reviews on e-commerce platforms, the reliability of re ... Expand

Abstract: With the presence of fake reviews on e-commerce platforms, the reliability of reviews becomes questionable. The extant literature demonstrates the impact of fake reviews on product sales and proposes several algorithms to prevent fake reviews from being displayed on the platform. However, what has largely remained uninvestigated is how customers perceive reviews present on the e-commerce platform. Based on the speech act theory, we develop a theoretical framework that explains how the linguistic style (both at the word and the structural level) acts as a cue for assessing a reviewer’s (in)sincere intentions. We evaluate the framework on a corpus of 120 online product reviews – each examined by at least 50 customers – using the fractional logit model. Results suggest that the communication style of a speaker reflects his/her intention. Reviews with less contextual embedding, argument structuring, and flattering through non-verbal cues trigger customers towards perceiving a review as deceptive. Collapse

Topics: online review mobile phone electronic commerce user-generated content electronic mail

Methods: survey survey design computational algorithm descriptive statistic parametric test

Theories: speech act theory