The dynamics of mass interaction

Abstract

Usenet may be regarded as the worl$s largest conversatioti appficatioq with over 17,000 newsgronps and 3 fion users.Despite its ubiquity and poptiari~, however, we know Etie about the natore of the interactions it suppo~.~s empirical paper investigates mass interaction in UseneL We anrdyse over 2.15 Mon messages from 659,450 posters, co~ected from 500 newsgoups over 6 months.We fit characterise mass interactio~presenting basic data about demographics, conversational strategies and interactivity-Using predictions tiom the common ground [3] model of interactio~we next conduct causal modetig to determine relations bemeen demographics, conversational strategim and interactiv~.We find evidence for moderate conversatiomd threading, but hge participation ine@ties in Usene4 with a d minority of participants posting a large proportion of messages.Contrary to the common gromd model and 'Etiquette" guidefies [8,10] we ho find that "cross-posting" to extemd newsgroups is hig~y fiequenk Our predictions about the eEects of demographics on conversatioti strategy were largely cotie~but we found disconfirming evidence about the relations befi'een conversational strategy and interactivity.Contrary to our expectations, boti cross-posting and short messages promote interactivity.We conclude that in order to e~lain mass interaction, the common ground model must be mowed to ticorporate notions of weak ties [5,q and communication overload [11,18].Ke~ords hlass interactio~Usene< conversatio~newsgroups, common groun~moderatio~FAQS, netiquette, empirid. lNTRODUC~ONUsenet maybe regarded as the worl&s largest and fmtest growing conversationrd appficatiom k 1988 there were fewer than 500 news~oups.bent estimatesvary, but at the time of our dab co~ection in Dec. 1996, there were Ptission 10de distal or hard copies ofall or pti ofthis ~vorkfor personal or classroom use is granted without f= protided that copies Zrenotmade or dis~%uted for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the fill citation on the fimt paga To copy othm~ise to republish, to post on sen'em or to redistribute to Iis& Tquires prior sptific permission and~ora fee CSCW 98 Seatie Wastinson USA ---_ -.