Platform Mediation and The Verified Internet

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research project explored the multifaceted role of platform verification, aiming to understand its implementation, impact, and future implications in the online environment.

The research questions that guided this project explored several key areas. First, they question the specific role verification plays in distinguishing between “trustworthy” and “untrustworthy” sources online. The research also investigated the types of evidence platforms require from users when they request verification of their identity, property, or content, seeking to understand how platforms construct this “evidence-based” process and what information is deemed necessary. A critical question examined was how the requested evidence might unintentionally privilege or disadvantage certain groups seeking verification. The study aimed to understand users’ experiences across various professions and demographics as they navigate the process of becoming verified, including the challenges and frustrations they encounter. Finally, the research aimed to explore how platforms can effectively utilize verification as a tool while simultaneously ensuring they avoid incorporating new (and existing) biases into their verification processes.

WHY IS THIS RESEARCH IMPORTANT?

This research is deemed important because verification is increasingly viewed by platforms as a primary solution to the broader issue of online trustworthiness and credibility, often narrowly focused through the lens of misinformation and disinformation. Verification is used in various ways: sometimes to highlight credible and authoritative information, as seen with Twitter (Now X) during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, to signal trustworthy sources, or on platforms like Pornhub to feature content from approved sources. In other instances, verification functions more as an external badge for users navigating the Internet, aligning with a Silicon Valley tendency to place responsibility for content evaluation on individual users. In both these applications, verification represents a significant shift in content management from focusing solely on the content itself to emphasizing the source of the information.

This project addressed a novel research area, as there is very little research available on platform verification, its potential to create or reinforce biases, and its future within Internet and platform governance. The potential impacts of this move towards a “verified Internet,” whether beneficial or harmful, are not yet clear. The importance of this research is underscored by real-world issues and advocacy, such as Pornhub performers advocating for verification to combat piracy, journalism groups like “The Trust Project” urging platforms to recognize the distinct operations of news media, and housing activists raising concerns about platforms like Airbnb being used by professional management companies posing as individuals.

METHODOLOGY

The methodology for this project adopted a multi-perspective approach to understand the current and future role of verification in platform governance. It incorporated two distinct approaches focusing on two main subjects: Platform companies and their policies, and Users seeking verification status.

The first part of the research focused on Platform Companies and Verification Policies. This phase examined the features and characteristics of platform verification programs and processes. It involved conducting anonymous, 60-minute interviews with 15-20 Trust and Safety professionals who were involved in these processes. The research also analyzed publicly available documents, including corporate blog posts, SEC filings, and trade publications, that discussed changes to verification policies. These documents provided significant insight into how platforms construct the evidence base for verification, detailing the information required from users for consideration.

The second part of the research focused on Users Seeking Verification. This phase followed users, including individuals and those affiliated with institutions like media, universities, or nonprofits, as they attempted to get verification on one or more platforms. The specific platforms studied in this phase were determined by the access gained in the first phase. The project conducted interviews with 30-40 users about their experiences navigating the verification process. Recruitment utilized various channels, including social media, Craigslist, academic email listservs (like AoIR), and listservs for media professionals and journalism schools. The recruitment strategy was specifically designed to reach a diverse group of users, considering factors such as race, gender, and ethnicity, as well as different professional affiliations (individual users versus those associated with established organizations).

MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS

A working history of the verified Internet:

Part one: Studying a moving target

Part two: The battle between Friendsters and Fakesters

Part three: The celebrity wars