NETGATE -project

This three-year research project examines information flow in online social networks focusing on how people select, control and circulate content in these social spaces. Particularly, this study focuses in users’ networked gatekeeping practices: how, why and by whom information is selected and controlled in peer-to-peer networks.

The emergence of social media has changed the way people interact with information by enabling them to expand their views and encounter new and uncensored information without gatekeepers.
This promotes democracy and civic discussion but at the same time, the power of gatekeeping has transferred to users themselves, which may lead to narrowing of information, and eventually, biased or even extremist views. Gatekeeping practices also involve power dynamics as gatekeepers are controlling information from the gated. Hence, this study will analyze how power and control are present in online information sharing.

The main contribution of this study is to update theoretical framework by providing much needed empirical findings from current social media context. Since this research area is still rather new and social media environment is constantly changing and updating, all empirical observations on this contemporary issue are welcomed by the international and multidisciplinary research community. As a result, traditional gatekeeping theories are rethought and updated by taking into account the multi-complex relationships of social media users and their dynamic roles as information providers and consumers.

NETGATE project (Networked gatekeeping: Understanding power and information control in online social networks) is funded by Academy of Finland and University of Turku.

Contact person: Post doctoral researcher Sanna Malinen