Location
Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii
Event Website
https://hicss.hawaii.edu/
Start Date
3-1-2024 12:00 AM
End Date
6-1-2024 12:00 AM
Description
This qualitative study investigates embedded values within WeChat, employing a three-dimensional theoretical framework of cultural affordances. This study involved 31 semi-structured in-depth interviews, follow-up discussions, and observations, with data analysis following the grounded theory approach. The findings highlight the presence of embedded values manifested in WeChat’s design features, including offline status omission, mutual likes notification on Friends’ Circle, the absence of deletion notification, information symmetry, and the absence of read receipts. These design choices reflect the cultural affordances of WeChat that shape user experiences on the platform. The study also discusses users’ responses to these design features and explores their ethical implications. Ultimately, it proposes potential directions for further research in this domain. By uncovering the embedded values of WeChat, this study provides insights into the interplay between technology, culture, and user behavior, offering valuable implications for researchers and practitioners in social media studies.
Recommended Citation
Sun, Yinan and Suthers, Dan, "Exploring Values Embedded Within Social Media Platforms: A Case Study of WeChat" (2024). Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences 2024 (HICSS-57). 2.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/hicss-57/dsm/critical_and_ethical_studies/2
Exploring Values Embedded Within Social Media Platforms: A Case Study of WeChat
Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii
This qualitative study investigates embedded values within WeChat, employing a three-dimensional theoretical framework of cultural affordances. This study involved 31 semi-structured in-depth interviews, follow-up discussions, and observations, with data analysis following the grounded theory approach. The findings highlight the presence of embedded values manifested in WeChat’s design features, including offline status omission, mutual likes notification on Friends’ Circle, the absence of deletion notification, information symmetry, and the absence of read receipts. These design choices reflect the cultural affordances of WeChat that shape user experiences on the platform. The study also discusses users’ responses to these design features and explores their ethical implications. Ultimately, it proposes potential directions for further research in this domain. By uncovering the embedded values of WeChat, this study provides insights into the interplay between technology, culture, and user behavior, offering valuable implications for researchers and practitioners in social media studies.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/hicss-57/dsm/critical_and_ethical_studies/2