2024-10-18: ACM SIGWEB conference on Hypertext and Social Media (HT) 2024 - Poznań, Poland Trip Report
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| Presenting research on the deceptive practices of coyote advertisements in illegal migration |
ACM Hypertext '24 is almost here. Will you be there?#HT2024 @ACMHT pic.twitter.com/eJbNeDYEeI
— Frode A. Hegland (@liquidizer) September 8, 2024
One of the highlights for me was presenting “Unveiling Coyote Ads: Detecting Human Smuggling Advertisements on Social Media”, for which I am a co-author. Our paper explores the detection of human smuggling advertisements using social media platforms. The research delves into machine learning techniques to identify these harmful ads, presenting a novel approach to combatting human trafficking online. I received valuable feedback during my presentation, and it was heartening to see the level of interest in our work.
Additionally, I was also present to support my colleagues in presenting the paper “You Shall Know a Forum by the Words they Keep: Analyzing Language Use in Accessibility Forums for Blind Users.” Although I wasn’t a co-author on this one, their research analyzed the language patterns used in accessibility forums, providing new insights into how forums for blind users can be better designed for usability and engagement. Their paper further reinforces the need for more inclusive and accessible online platforms.
Some interesting takeaways:
1) Cathy Marshall delivered the first keynote, "Data, Close Up and Contemporaneous." Her talk focused on how data is understood and interpreted in real-time contexts, highlighting the challenges and nuances of working with data as it unfolds. The keynote offered valuable perspectives on contemporary data practices and their implications for future research.
@ccmarshall is opening this day at ACM #HT2024 with the first keynote. #hypertext pic.twitter.com/yvuMIyVLZz
— Claus Atzenbeck 🇪🇺 🔛 @clausatz@hci.social (@clausatz) September 11, 2024
2) Sally Blackburn presented “The Handling of Vernon Lee’s Words: Literary Editions in the Age of Hypertext,” which explored the intersection of hypertext and literary scholarship. The research focused on the methodological implications of using hypertext for editing the works of writer Vernon Lee (1856-1935), particularly in the preparation of a scholarly edition of her work Proteus; Or, The Future of Intelligence (1925). Drawing on Christopher Ohge's model of scholarly editions, rooted in philosophical pragmatism, Blackburn and her co-authors proposed how hypertext could inform both digital and traditional print editions. The study highlighted how hypertextual methods might allow for a more flexible and adaptive approach to literary scholarship.
Sally Blackburn is now presenting "The Handling of Vernon Lee’s Words: Literary Editions in the Age of Hypertext"
— Mohan Krishna Sunkara (@mk344567) September 12, 2024
Paper: https://t.co/nNFBhDpkds#Hypertext2024@ACMHT pic.twitter.com/6L8eQyqGJj
3) Susmita Gangopadhyay presented “Investigating Characteristics, Biases, and Evolution of Fact-Checked Claims on the Web,” which examined the evolving landscape of online claims and fact-checking practices. The research explored how fact-checked claims, verified by multiple fact-checking organizations, change over time and analyzed the biases inherent in these websites. Using ClaimsKG, the largest corpus of fact-checked claims, the study focused on topics, veracity levels, and entities to provide insights into the complex dimensions of misinformation. Gangopadhyay's team implemented a transformer-based model for multi-label classification of claims, contributing a standardized framework for categorizing claims across fact-checking sites.
Susmita Gangopadhyay is now presenting "Investigating Characteristics, Biases and Evolution of Fact-Checked Claims on the Web"
— Mohan Krishna Sunkara (@mk344567) September 11, 2024
Paper: https://t.co/EN66SwRG3N#Hypertext2024@ACMHT pic.twitter.com/fUfVS7gVf3
4) Lillie Godinez presented “YouTube and Conspiracy Theories: A Longitudinal Audit of Information Panels,” which examined the effectiveness of YouTube’s information panels (IPs) in providing context for problematic content. The study audited 620 search queries related to conspiracy theories across 14 locations in the United States over four months. Results showed that only 16.63% of the search pages contained an IP, with 114 unique queries triggering 49 different panels, categorized into context, fact-checks, and news. While context IPs often covered multiple queries related to the same conspiracy, fact-check and news IPs were more specific. The research highlighted the inconsistent appearance of IPs and suggested that real-world events might influence their presence, calling for further investigation into news-cycle-aware auditing.
Lillie Godinez is now presenting "YouTube and Conspiracy Theories: A Longitudinal Audit of Information Panels"
— Mohan Krishna Sunkara (@mk344567) September 11, 2024
Paper: https://t.co/5A0pUArS3O#Hypertext2024@ACMHT pic.twitter.com/BEp8jzBsTP
5) Dipto Barman presented “Evaluating Prebunking and Nudge Techniques in Tackling Misinformation: A Between-Subject Study on Social Media Platforms,” which explored strategies for combating misinformation on social media. The study used a between-subject experimental design with 328 participants, divided into three groups: control, nudge, and prebunking. Results showed that prebunking messages—providing implicit context about claims—significantly improved participants’ ability to identify misinformation and boosted their confidence in their judgments, compared to both the nudge and control groups. Interestingly, nudging had no significant impact on accuracy or confidence. However, the study found that individuals with right-leaning political views were less responsive to prebunking, suggesting that nudges might be more effective for this group. These findings emphasize the importance of tailoring interventions to combat misinformation based on user characteristics.
Dipto Barman is now presenting "Evaluating Prebunking and Nudge Techniques in Tackling Misinformation: A Between-Subject Study on Social Media Platforms"
— Mohan Krishna Sunkara (@mk344567) September 12, 2024
Paper: https://t.co/74XusG6JFw#Hypertext2024@ACMHT pic.twitter.com/R9y5GytmFH
6) Carson Gross presented “Hypermedia Controls: Feral to Formal,” which examined the evolution of hypermedia controls in web systems. The study analyzed hypermedia controls found "in the wild," particularly on the World Wide Web, to derive a functional mechanic that characterizes them. This functional mechanic was then used to create an informal, and subsequently formal, definition of "hypermedia control." Gross’s work generalizes the concept of hypermedia controls within the context of the web, with applications in both desktop and mobile environments. The paper also explored two technologies implementing generalized hypermedia controls: htmx, for the web, and Hyperview, for mobile.
Carson Gross is now presenting "Hypermedia Controls: Feral to Formal"
— Mohan Krishna Sunkara (@mk344567) September 12, 2024
Paper: https://t.co/lozAQHjMiU#Hypertext2024@ACMHT pic.twitter.com/572gK6tNne
7) Artur Klimaszewski presented “The Puffball (2000): A Participatory Radio Hypertext” at the Interactive Narrative Exhibition. This submission showcased the first-ever exhibit of the interactive, hypertextual radio show The Puffball (Purchawka), co-created by Artur Sosen Klimaszewski and Przemysław Frankowski (aka DJ Jah Jah), which aired in Poznań’s Radio S for 12 episodes between 1999 and 2000. The show is a unique example of radio hypertext, blending interactivity with traditional broadcasting in a non-digital yet structured hypertext format. It represents a bridge between analog and digital storytelling, illustrating early forms of participatory media.
Artur Klimaszewski presented "The Puffball (2000): a participatory radio hypertext" at the Interactive Narrative Exhibition
— Mohan Krishna Sunkara (@mk344567) September 12, 2024
Learn more: https://t.co/hJCJVIWSvB#Hypertext2024@ACMHT pic.twitter.com/kxTqknfy9P
8) Richard Smyth presented "Pre-Socratic Postmodern Self-Help Manual" at the Interactive Narrative Exhibition, exploring the relationship between artistic creation and "Creative Intelligence." This work of interactive media, created using the hypertext tool Twine, reflects how the medium shapes the manifestation of creativity. Smyth compared his process in Twine with his earlier work in Storyspace, an early hypertext authoring tool from the late 20th century. The presentation highlighted how different hypertext tools influence the composition process, suggesting that each medium-specific tool contributes to a unique assemblage of the self. The work aligns with the conference theme by demonstrating how creative intelligence emerges through digital tools.
Richard Smyth presented "Pre-Socratic Postmodern Self-Help Manual" at the Interactive Narrative Exhibition
— Mohan Krishna Sunkara (@mk344567) September 12, 2024
Learn more: https://t.co/xs2OYA23Iz#Hypertext2024@ACMHT pic.twitter.com/H2VNYywG8u
9) Tom Alby presented "Bridging the Analytics Gap: Optimizing Content Performance using Actionable Knowledge Discovery," which focused on improving the ability of non-eCommerce website owners to extract actionable insights from web analytics. The study addressed common challenges these owners face, particularly in configuring tools like Google Analytics and aligning metrics with content performance goals. Alby’s team proposed an automated approach for analyzing visitor behavior, utilizing scroll data from 850,000 visitors and over 9 million data points. They developed a robust regression model to predict user behavior and introduced a method for actionable knowledge discovery, helping website owners optimize content. Additionally, they proposed a new indicator for in-page visitor engagement, offering a means to compare page performance. This research highlights how intelligent content curation can be enhanced through data-driven approaches.
Tom Alby is now presenting "Bridging the Analytics Gap: Optimizing Content Performance using Actionable Knowledge Discovery"
— Mohan Krishna Sunkara (@mk344567) September 13, 2024
Paper: https://t.co/UDkFw8YlOu#Hypertext2024@ACMHT pic.twitter.com/VTct7pPbX0
10) Francesca Benatti presented "@ TellMeWhatUReadingbot: the Multi-modal Strategy of the READ-IT Project for Collecting Experiences of Reading," which focused on the innovative methods used by the READ-IT project to crowdsource testimonies of reading experiences across Europe. The project developed a multimodal system, including online forms, postcards, and a chatbot, to gather diverse reflections on reading from the public. This system, part of the EU Joint Programme Initiative for Cultural Heritage (JPI-CH), aimed to federate research across multiple countries and languages, broadening the understanding of historical and contemporary reading habits. The infrastructure facilitated the collection of reading testimonies for study within and beyond the project, offering a unique approach to reading scholarship.
Francesca Benatti is now presenting "@ TellMeWhatUReadingbot: the Multi-modal Strategy of the READ-IT Project for Collecting Experiences of Reading"
— Mohan Krishna Sunkara (@mk344567) September 13, 2024
Paper: https://t.co/VJ3VBZD2AH#Hypertext2024@ACMHT pic.twitter.com/eOuj7raMkZ
11) Tiziano Citro presented "As a Grain of Link: How Far Should We Take Link Granularity," which explored the concept of enhancing link granularity to mimic real-world interactions in online environments. The study focused on how finer-grained links can enable users to reference specific data points, similar to deixis—where people point to information in synchronous interactions, such as during screen sharing. Citro reviewed 43 digital platforms across eight sub-categories to evaluate the potential and challenges of increasing link granularity for asynchronous interactions. The research highlights how finer link references can improve collaboration and communication in online spaces.
Tiziano Citro is now presenting "As a Grain of Link: How Far Should We Take Link Granularity"
— Mohan Krishna Sunkara (@mk344567) September 13, 2024
Paper: https://t.co/Xbn4oeXGBt#Hypertext2024@ACMHT pic.twitter.com/2ZqyFsoYcu
In conclusion, Hypertext 2024 was an enriching experience, offering a unique intersection of technology, ethics, and community building. Presenting our paper and engaging with other researchers made me realize the vast potential of hypertext technologies to address societal issues. Whether through the detection of malicious ads or making forums more accessible.
Finally, a special thanks to the organizers of ACM Hypertext 2024 for such a well-organized and enriching experience.
- Mohan Krishna Sunkara (@mk344567)
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