Navigating Discoverability in the Digital Era: A Theoretical Framework

TL;DR

This paper introduces a comprehensive theoretical framework called the discovery ecosystem, which models the complex pathways of content discoverability in digital platforms to better understand cultural diversity impacts.

Contribution

It proposes a unified, interconnected framework of six components to analyze discoverability, addressing the lack of a comprehensive model in digital content distribution.

Findings

Defines the discovery ecosystem with six interconnected components

Provides a theoretical basis for analyzing digital content discoverability

Highlights implications for cultural diversity and platform design

Abstract

The proliferation of digital technologies in the distribution of digital content has prompted concerns about the effects on cultural diversity in the digital era. The concept of discoverability has been presented as a theoretical tool through which to consider the likelihood that content will be interacted with. The multifaceted nature of this broad theme has been explored through a variety of domains that explore the ripple effects of platformization, each with its own unique lexicography. However, there is yet to be a unified framework through which to consider the complex pathways of discovery. In this work we present the discovery ecosystem, consisting of six individual, interconnected components, that encompass the pathway of discovery from start to finish