New system gives users more control over their online experience

MIT researchers have developed a new system called Social.Wiki that provides users with greater control over their online experience. This innovative system allows users to easily edit social applications within the platform and choose which modifications they want to see. For instance, a user can modify a messaging platform to remove an AI chatbot and add a restaurant voting feature to help their group decide on a dinner location.

The researchers believe that existing online infrastructure is too rigid and lacks user control. Social.Wiki aims to create a more flexible online ecosystem where users can customize social applications according to their preferences without losing connections to their social networks. The platform enables non-technical users to create various types of websites, including photo sharing networks, discussion forums, and dating apps, without needing to set up servers or databases.

Social.Wiki's decentralized infrastructure ensures that users retain ownership of their data while creating, editing, and navigating social websites. It also includes a "data guard" that protects user data from malicious or buggy applications. The researchers tested the platform through case studies and user evaluations, demonstrating its potential for creating diverse applications like a rideshare app where riders propose prices and a collaborative art canvas for group creation.

David Karger, a professor of EECS and senior author, explained that the platform's goal is to empower the creation of numerous social applications catering to unique small groups. The paper will be presented at the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology in November.