Abstract
This thesis portfolio explores how digital systems shape human behavior, perception, and decision-making, focusing on both the consumption of information and the exchange of goods within a university community. While the two projects included in this portfolio address different domains, they are connected by a shared concern with how technology structures everyday practices and, in doing so, influences how people navigate complex environments. The STS research paper examines how social media recommendation algorithms shape perceptions of truth, while the technical project, UVA Thrift, applies similar sociotechnical thinking to redesign a student marketplace in a way that improves usability, accessibility, and sustainability. The STS research paper investigates the sociotechnical problem of algorithmic echo chambers on social media platforms. As more people rely on digital platforms for news, recommendation algorithms increasingly determine what information users encounter. These systems are designed to maximize engagement, often by promoting emotionally resonant and belief-confirming content. Over time, this creates echo chambers where users are repeatedly exposed to similar viewpoints while rarely encountering opposing perspectives. This environment contributes to polarization and allows misinformation to spread more easily, not necessarily because it is accurate, but because it aligns with users’ existing beliefs. To better understand why these systems are so effective, the paper applies anthropological theories of ritual. Drawing on Hugh Gusterson’s work, digital news consumption is framed as a ritual practice that reduces uncertainty, provides emotional comfort, and reinforces social identity. The repeated act of scrolling through personalized feeds becomes a structured, familiar behavior that users come to trust. Building on this, the paper incorporates Robbie Davis-Floyd’s theory of ritual to explain how these practices shape not just beliefs, but reality itself. Through repeated, symbolic, and emotionally engaging interactions, users internalize certain narratives and come to experience them as true. Together, these frameworks show that the problem of misinformation is not just about flawed content, but about the interaction between algorithmic systems and human tendencies toward routine, identity formation, and meaning-making. The technical project, UVA Thrift, addresses a different but related sociotechnical problem: inefficiencies and waste in student-to-student exchange systems. At the University of Virginia, many students rely on informal platforms, such as large group chats, to buy, sell, or give away items. One example is the “Things for the Low” GroupMe, which has thousands of members but lacks basic organizational features. As a result, users often struggle to find relevant listings, and many items are overlooked or discarded. This creates both usability challenges and environmental concerns, as usable goods are frequently thrown away due to the lack of an effective redistribution system. UVA Thrift is designed as a centralized, user-friendly platform that allows students to list, search, and filter items more efficiently. Key features include categorized listings, search and filtering tools, and notification systems that alert users when relevant items become available. In addition, the platform integrates with existing sustainability initiatives such as Hoos Reuse, making it easier for students to donate items that can be redistributed within the community. By improving access to secondhand goods and reducing friction in the exchange process, UVA Thrift aims to reduce waste and promote more sustainable consumption practices on campus. The two projects share an underlying perspective: that technology is not neutral, and its design shapes how people behave and make decisions. In the case of social media, recommendation algorithms structure the way users encounter information, often reinforcing existing beliefs and narrowing perspectives. In the case of UVA Thrift, the design of the platform structures how users interact with a marketplace, influencing whether items are reused or discarded. Both projects highlight the importance of intentional design choices in shaping user experience and outcomes. There is also a broader conceptual connection between the two. The STS research paper emphasizes how repeated interaction with digital systems can become habitual, even ritualistic, guiding behavior in ways users may not fully recognize. UVA Thrift similarly relies on shaping user habits. By creating a platform that is easier and more intuitive to use than existing alternatives, the goal is to encourage students to adopt more sustainable practices as part of their everyday routines. In this sense, both projects engage with the idea that technology can influence not just isolated actions, but patterns of behavior over time. Overall, this portfolio highlights the importance of understanding and designing sociotechnical systems with both human behavior and broader societal impacts in mind. The research paper provides a critical lens for examining how digital platforms shape perceptions of truth, while the technical project demonstrates how thoughtful design can address practical challenges in a specific community. Together, they suggest that addressing complex problems requires attention to both the technical systems we build and the social practices they support.
