posted on 2024-05-01, 00:00authored byAida Sanatizadeh
This dissertation delves into the rising significance of User-Generated Content and its impact on consumer decisions, emphasizing the importance of UGC's quality and authenticity. Using advanced methods in textual analytics, my research identifies the influence of legal threats and new technologies, such as Large Language Models, on the quality and volume of UGC, revealing a notable removal of honest reviews due to legal pressures and a shift in UGC characteristics with the advent of LLMs, leading to improved quality but reduced volume. The research highlights the chilling effect of business legal threats on consumer feedback and the positive impact of policy interventions in promoting honest reviews, especially from lower-reputation entities. It also notes the technological evolution's mixed effects, particularly on user participation in tech-focused communities. Concluding, the dissertation offers strategies for increasing user engagement and trust in online platforms, stressing the need for balanced regulation and the judicious use of AI. It provides actionable insights for platform managers, policymakers, and scholars, focusing on the dynamic challenges and opportunities within the digital information ecosystem.