Interested Internet Users Research Articles

Understanding Chinese Internet Users' Perceptions of, and Online Platforms' Compliance with, the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)

The Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) was implemented in November 2021 to safeguard the personal information rights and interests of Internet users in China. However, the impact and existing shortcomings of the PIPL remain unclear, carrying significant implications for policymakers. This study examined privacy policies on 13 online platforms before and after the PIPL. Concurrently, it conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 Chinese Internet users to assess their perceptions of the PIPL. Users were also given tasks to identify non-compliance within the platforms, assessing their ability to address related privacy concerns effectively. The research revealed various instances of non-compliance in post-PIPL privacy policies, especially concerning inadequate risk assessments for sensitive data. Although users identified some non-compliant activities like app eavesdropping, issues related to individual consent proved challenging. Surprisingly, over half of the interviewees believed that the government could access their personal data without explicit consent. Our findings and implications can be valuable for lawmakers, online platforms, users, and future researchers seeking to enhance personal privacy practices both in China and globally.

Internet publishing as a forecasting tool in the crypto market

Subject. This article examines the relationship between the sentiment caused by the news on the CoinTelegragh professional forum and the changes in Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum cryptocurrencies. Objectives. The article aims to assess the impact of the sentiment of various Internet publications on the volatility of cryptocurrencies, as well as the predictive power of Google Trends and the VIX Index for cryptocurrencies. Methods. For the study, we used the cross-quantilogram method and the VADER sentiment analysis model. Results. The article finds that the Google Trends Index in a short period of one to three days can be used to predict the closing prices of Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum, while the VIX Index (Stock Market Uncertainty) has no relationship with the cryptocurrency market. This means that cryptocurrencies can be used as a safe-haven asset when the background market is highly volatile. Conclusions. The crypto market has a complex sentiment component, with its prices and trading activity determined by popularity, emotion, and sentiment. The findings confirm previous studies, which claim that during the period of prevalence of negative news and publications, the crypto market gets narrowed, the trading volume drops off, and the interest of Internet users gets low to a minimum. The euphoria in the market, on the contrary, attracts new unqualified investors, and this is confirmed by the number of views of basic information about cryptocurrencies on Wikipedia.

Google Trends Analysis Reflecting Internet Users’ Interest in Selected Terms of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Ukraine

Introduction: The war in Ukraine has had adverse impacts on all areas of life, including health-related issues. Limited access to medical care increases the need to look for alternative sources of medical information. Aim: To analyze trends of Internet users’ interest in sexual and reproductive health in Ukraine based on Google Trends. Materials and Methods: The retrospective study was based on the analysis of terms related to sexual and reproductive health searched by Ukrainian Internet users. The tool used was Google Trends. The period from 1 January 2021 to 1 January 2023 was analyzed. The time variability in search growths and peaks was assessed from the perspective of two time intervals (before the war and during the war) using the chi-square test. Results: Significant changes have been demonstrated in the interests of Internet users from Ukraine regarding selected issues of sexual and reproductive health during the ongoing war. Compared to the pre-war period, a marked increase was observed in active searches for terms such as “condoms” (p = 0.0081), “rape” (p = 0.0008), “syphilis” (p = 0.0136), “ovulation” (p = 0.0002) and “pregnancy test” (p = 0.0008). Conclusions: The conducted analysis clearly indicates an increased need for information regarding sexual and reproductive health among Ukrainian citizens during the ongoing armed conflict. The analysis of trends among Internet users interests can be a valuable source of knowledge for decision makers, including human rights organizations, regarding the scope and coordination of activities aimed at protecting the sexual and reproductive health of the inhabitants of Ukraine.

An Unhealthy Webpage Discovery System Based on Convolutional Neural Network

Currently, with the popularity of the internet, people are surrounded by a large number of unhealthy pages which have a serious impact on the physical and mental health of visitors. To protect the legitimate rights and interests of internet users from infringement and maintain the harmonious and stable development of society, a new unhealthy webpage discovery system is needed. First, this paper proposed the knowledge of unhealthy webpages and web crawlers, and then the whole system's plan and design were introduced. The test results show that the unhealthy webpage discovery system can meet the needs of users. This experiment uses a CNN algorithm to classify the text and completes the collection and classification of unhealthy information through URL acquisition and URL filtering. The experimental results show that the unhealthy webpage discovery system based on a convolutional neural network can greatly improve the accuracy of unhealthy webpage discovery and reduce the omission rate, which can meet the needs of users for unhealthy webpage discovery.

Digital surveillance: Monitoring the activity of Internet users searching for information related to early childhood caries.

This study evaluated the behavior of Internet users from seven countries through the analysis of the monthly variation of the Relative Search Volume (RSV) for queries related to early childhood caries (ECC), retrieved by Google Trends application programming interface between January 2004 to December 2020. The association of RSV with years lived with disability (YLDs) for untreated dental caries in deciduous teeth and Internet penetration were tested by regression models. Forecasting models were developed to predict the interests until December 2021. Relevant topics linked to searches were assessed qualitatively. Increasing levels of interests were observed in most countries, regarding the comparison of periods 2004-2012 and 2013-2021, without influence of seasonality. These results were associated with YLDs only in France and with the Internet penetration in Mexico and France. Searches were mostly related to the definition, risk factors, and preventive care of ECC. The interests of Internet users in ECC-related information increased in the last years in all seven countries, although it was maintained low over time. It might indicate a lack of awareness about the negative consequences of the disease in the early stages of life. Specific policies should be developed toward the dissemination of oral health information and the prevention of the disease.

Google’s Open Source and Interests of Internet Users on Searching It

This article starts with a discussion on why open source is important, especially for education. Although open source develops for all kinds of matter, but for education it will deliver long term effect for the society. Open source, has two types, one is offered in cheaper price, and other is offered in free of purchasing price, and we know it as Free and open source software (FOSS). Frankly, FOSS is part of technology and knowledge transfer and development to support Global Goals Part 17. Google, has role in FOSS development, and FOSS is as their spirit. When Google first launched their Open Source initiatives openly through opensource.google.com, it is interesting to see what are products that they offer to the society, and since Google is an internet-based information technology company, then we use Google Trends to see interests of internet users on searching for Google’s Open Source. To support this research, we use Google Trends as our research tool, among several information given in Google only information’s that related with user’s interest that will be continue for discussion. Results shows that recently only two countries that show strong interest in Google’s Open Source, they are India and United States. It can also be argued that although Google has been established for more than 10 years as it may be accessible to internet users as society, but Google still need to find ways to promote opensource.google.com to larger numbers of internet users, this resulted when writer tries to compare between Google’s Open Source as keyword and Open Source as keyword, where Open Source as keyword have highest interest user in aggregate.

Interest in universities based on search queries on the Internet

The improvement of global Internet access and the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated mass testing of online teaching methods, have forwarded the competition between higher education institutions from the regional level and the struggle for the rich student into the competition for students in all countries. The paper aims to determine the influence of the rating of higher education institutions on the interest of Internet users by conducting a comparative analysis of the popularity of the official names of higher education institutions in search queries in Ukraine and Poland. To do this, a comparative analysis of the change in the interest in leading higher education institutions in Ukraine and Poland in search queries in the Google search engine is carried out. The analysis is performed using the Google Trends web application. As a result, it is found that a high position of the university in the national ranking does not guarantee more search queries about it on the Internet by both national Internet users and users from the neighboring country. In general, Internet users continue to be most interested in universities located in their region at the time of the search.

Infodemiological study of coronavirus epidemic using Google Trends in Central Asian Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan

Introduction . The coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic has created a unique opportunity to establish patterns in Internet user activity in connection with a new disease. Objective of the study . To assess the relationship between the interest of Internet users in issues related to COVID-19 in the countries of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and the dynamics of the epidemic process of this infection according to search queries in Google Trends. Materials and methods . The analysis of queries on the topic “COVID-19” received from Google Trends from 09.01 to 04.10.20 was carried out. Results . An analysis of search activity for queries in Kazakhstan that may be associated with symptoms of COVID-19 showed that only queries containing the keyword “smell”, “loss of smell”, “shortness of breath”, “temperature” have a correlation with the confirmed number of coronavirus infection (r = 0.65 for the query “smell”, r = 0.53 for the queries “loss of smell” and “dyspnea”, r = 0.60 for the query “temperature”). In Kyrgyzstan, when analyzing queries that may be associated with coronavirus infection, correlations were found only for those that contained the keyword “smell” (r = 0.62) and “temperature” (r = 0.53) from 09.01 to 04.10.2020. Correlations (r > 0.65) were found between the dynamics of queries containing the keywords “coronavirus”, “infection” among Internet users in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. When analyzing inquiries related to the diagnosis of COVID-19 in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, an increased interest of the Internet public in the computed tomography method was revealed, and the peak of interest coincided with the maximum number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 (the correlation coefficient was 0.714). Conclusion . The relationship between Internet inquiries, media reports, and actual incidence rates is multifactorial and requires further study. Nevertheless, the main trends in Internet search queries during a pandemic can serve as an additional component of epidemiological surveillance.

User interest in car sharing as an indicator of sustainable urban agglomeration development

The use of car sharing instead of owning a car minimises the negative impact of logistics activities on the urban environment. This research aims to show that sustainable development of densely populated cities is accompanied by an increase in Internet users’ interest in sharing services. The research of Internet users’ interest in car sharing services was based on Google Trends data on search queries originating from Russia, the United States and Canada over the past five years. In the course of this work, the hypothesis was confirmed that high user interest in car sharing is mainly observed in urban agglomerations with high population numbers and density, where the positive effects of car sharing are most noticeable. The paper emphasises the need to encourage the creation of new services in urban logistics, which will contribute to sustainable development and increase the competitiveness of cities. It also confirms the hypothesis that the growing interest of Internet users in the new service is accompanied by an increase in the market volume. User interest in established car sharing markets is at a stable level, except for the occurrence of significant events (e.g., the emergence of a new major player in the market) that stimulate an increase in interest.

Internet-memes of Ukrainian origin in the cultural practice of modern society

The purpose of the article. The study is related to the attempt at fixation and systematization of the meme Internet content of Ukrainian origin, which is considered in the paradigm of cultural practices expanding of modern society. Methodology. Network communication is analyzed in the context of cultural studies, in which an empirical method of content analysis was used to identify the artifacts of the Ukrainian meme culture on the national Internet space. Scientific novelty. It is the first comprehensive study of Ukrainian meme culture. In this study, some general patterns of the meme as a phenomenon of modern cyberculture are also revealed. Conclusions. The article attempts to characterize the Ukrainian meme Internet culture in general, with already formed dozens of national characters and templates. Basic memes have been identified. As a result of the study, we conclude that such post-folklore materials enrich the Internet with Ukrainian content, so they contribute to the formation of a national cultural field in cyberspace. The laconic and expressive images of memes reflect essential meanings; an interest of Internet users motivates their clip nature, they can aestheticize information – these are the factors that determine the tendency of the Internet to memetic.

The unique Chinese legal approach to online ad blocking: Is it in the right direction?

The legal debate around online ad blocking demonstrates a tension between user's freedom and online content providers' revenue-generating business model. This paper aims to analyze ad blocking from a unique perspective of the Chinese law and practice. Since ad blocking does not violate copyright law, copyright law cannot be a guardian to the ad-based business model. China takes a different approach to protect the ad-based business model under unfair competition law and bans ad blocking software directly by regulation. The Chinese courts held that providing ad blocking software is anti-competitive under a vague general principle of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law. The special policy reason behind these decisions is that the Chinese government and courts want to maintain this business model and strengthen intellectual property protection. These decisions are reinforced by the regulatory ban of ad blocking software in China. However, the Chinese approach is in the wrong direction. The Chinese courts have applied a principle of “non-interference unless in the public interest” to ad blocking cases but never analyzed the public interest seriously. This paper argues that the “public interest” in the Internet context should be the interests of Internet users. The group of Internet users is large enough to constitute the general public. The public have a compelling interest of autonomy to justify ad blocking. The right approach to solving the ad blocking problem should be flexible, easily adjustable and it should not totally fail one side. Compared to direct regulatory intervention, a flexible judicial approach is better because it could take into consideration a variety of interests and strike a balance in specific cases. And, to regulate new technologies, a soft version of guidelines could be easily adjustable than an immature regulation. The Internet itself is a creative industry developed under the process of “creative destruction”. Any legal intervention shall be careful and not impede the emerging technologies, market structure development and autonomous competition.

What Makes Someone a Cyber Balkan? Finding the Linkages Between Social Psychology and Self-Selectivity in U.S. Politics Online

Although the expansion of the Internet has impacted political discourse in the United States and elsewhere, it is unclear whether these changes will have a predominantly positive or negative effect on public discourse. It is found here that the offline environments and the idiosyncratic characteristics of politically interested Internet users in the United States led to differing patterns of self-selective information exposure for both liberals and conservatives. An online survey with 624 respondents showed that high levels of dogmatism and shared family views predict high cyber balkanization for conservatives. However, the opposite was true of liberals, as the highest levels of cyber balkanization were found for those with low levels of dogmatism and a perception that their family members did not share their political values.

Icann’s New Generic Top-Level Domain Names Dispute Resolution Procedure Viewed Against the Protection of the Public Interest of the Internet Community: Litigation Regarding Health-Related Strings

icann’s decision to liberalize the market for Internet Generic Top-Level Domain Names has been giving rise to many concerns, related in particular to the registration of health-related strings, which may favour fraud and the dissemination of misleading health information. However, a very sophisticated mechanism has been put into place by icann, intended to prevent the registration of strings which face opposition from a significant portion of the community they purportedly aim to serve, or which are contrary to generally accepted principles related to morality and public order. Tailored after the model of commercial arbitration, icann rules of procedure are noteworthy in that they give standing to all interested Internet users and to an Independent Objector. Though underlining some of its procedural deficiencies, this article emphasizes the importance of the icann mechanism in the “constitutionalization” of the Internet. It also discusses the contribution of icann expert panels to international human rights discourse, as illustrated by the expert panel determinations walking the tightrope between freedom of expression and the right to health.

Augmented Reality Used for Robot Remote Control in Educational Laboratories

One of the main aspects of teaching in engineering education, including robotics engineering, is to experiment. Due to the complexity of the equipment involved, robotics research is expensive, thus limiting the access of researchers/students to perform activities of this kind. One possibility to access these devices is to share them with other universities and research centers from different locations in the world. The research team was focused on building a telerobotic educational lab operated via the web so that interested Internet users should be able – using augmented reality – to manipulate and share with other users the robot control. In this paper the specificity of the robot’s environment is the existence of a grid, drawn on the telerobotic working space.

Credibility of Social Network Sites for Political Information Among Politically Interested Internet Users

Scholars have confirmed that political candidates are increasingly turning to social network sites SNS to persuade voters to vote for them, and that these sites have become prominent sources of political information. But a fundamental question arises about the sustainability of social networks as a campaign tool: How much do users trust the information they find there? This study employed an online survey to examine the degree to which politically interested online users view SNS as credible. SNS were ranked the least credible among the nine traditional and online sources examined. Reliance on social networks proved the strongest predictor of SNS credibility.

Digital Copyright and the Parody Exception in Hong Kong: Accommodating the Needs and Interests of Internet Users

On 11 July 2013, the Hong Kong government released a consultation document on the treatment of parody under the copyright regime. Building on two earlier consultations on digital copyright reform launched in December 2006 and April 2008, this latest consultation identified three legislative options: (1) clarifying the existing general provisions for criminal sanctions; (2) introducing a specific criminal exemption for parody; and (3) introducing a fair dealing exception for parody. In addition to parodies, these options may cover satires, caricatures, pastiches and other forms of imitations.Commissioned by the Journalism Media Studies Centre of the University of Hong Kong and submitted to the Hong Kong government as part of its consultation exercise, this position paper asserts that none of the three identified options alone can adequately address the needs, interests and concerns of internet users. Each option has its strengths and weaknesses, and each serves its own purpose. Because these options are not mutually exclusive, this paper recommends the adoption of all three options in combination with a fourth unidentified option – an exception for predominantly noncommercial user-generated content (UGC). The last option is badly needed because even a broad, unlimited copyright exception for parody, satire, caricature or pastiche would not cover most of the derivative creations generated by internet users.This position paper begins by examining each individual option identified in the consultation document. It argues that both civil and criminal exceptions, with appropriate qualifications, should be created for parodies, satires, caricatures and pastiches. It also explains why a separate criminal exception will be needed even if a fair dealing exception is to be adopted. The paper then articulates the need for the introduction of a predominantly noncommercial UGC exception, similar to the one Canada recently adopted. It further explains why creating exceptions in the copyright regime would benefit both copyright owners and internet users. The paper concludes by identifying four related issues that deserve legislative attention.

The dark side of the boon? Credibility, selective exposure and the proliferation of online sources of political information

While the media industry may consider credibility its most valuable asset, scholars suggest there is a potential “dark side” to credibility: Perceptions of credibility of a source lead to selective exposure and selective avoidance, and both lead to increased fragmentation and polarization of social and political views. The link between credibility and selective exposure and avoidance has not received much academic attention, therefore this study employed a survey of politically interested Internet users during the 2008 presidential campaign to test the influence of credibility and reliance on selective exposure and avoidance after controlling for demographic and political factors. This study found little evidence of a dark side to credibility. Respondents who judge blogs as credible search for information that supports their point of view, as well as challenges their opinions.

Tweeting Politics － An exploratory study to examine the motivations for Twitter use among politically interested Internet users in South Korea

Tweeting Politics － An exploratory study to examine the motivations for Twitter use among politically interested Internet users in South Korea

Interacting is believing? Examining bottom-Up credibility of blogs among politically interested Internet users

This study examines how politically interested Internet users perceive blogs as a credible source of news and information. More specifically, this study aims to identify a new possible factor that has a moderating impact on blog credibility assessment in the collaborative nature of digital media circumstances. This study found that blog credibility was predicted by the interaction between blog reliance and online news activity, indicating that those who more actively interact with news and with other users judge blogs as more credible than those who do less so. Implications of the findings were discussed for future research.

Political blog readers: Predictors of motivations for accessing political blogs

This study examines the motivations for why politically interested Internet users in the United States access political blogs and attempts to discover which factors predict motivations for using political blogs. Political surveillance/guidance motives appeared as the strongest motivation for using political blogs, followed by expression/affiliation, convenience/information seeking, and entertainment. Hierarchical regression analysis reveals that blog users with higher levels of political involvement and strength of party affiliation are attracted to political blogs to freely express their political opinion and communicate with other like-minded people, which may indicate the potential of Weblogs as an interactive political discursive space. Based on the findings, this study presents implications and suggestions for future research.