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Reviewing Stranger on the Internet: The Role of Identifiability through “Reputation” in Online Decision Making

Author

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  • Mirko Duradoni

    (Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Firenze, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Stefania Collodi

    (Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Firenze, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Serena Coppolino Perfumi

    (Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Andrea Guazzini

    (Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Firenze, Italy
    Center for the Study of Complex Dynamics (CSDC), University of Florence, 50121 Firenze, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

The stranger on the Internet effect has been studied in relation to self-disclosure. Nonetheless, quantitative evidence about how people mentally represent and perceive strangers online is still missing. Given the dynamic development of web technologies, quantifying how much strangers can be considered suitable for pro-social acts such as self-disclosure appears fundamental for a whole series of phenomena ranging from privacy protection to fake news spreading. Using a modified and online version of the Ultimatum Game (UG), we quantified the mental representation of the stranger on the Internet effect and tested if people modify their behaviors according to the interactors’ identifiability (i.e., reputation). A total of 444 adolescents took part in a 2 × 2 design experiment where reputation was set active or not for the two traditional UG tasks. We discovered that, when matched with strangers, people donate the same amount of money as if the other has a good reputation. Moreover, reputation significantly affected the donation size, the acceptance rate and the feedback decision making as well.

Suggested Citation

  • Mirko Duradoni & Stefania Collodi & Serena Coppolino Perfumi & Andrea Guazzini, 2021. "Reviewing Stranger on the Internet: The Role of Identifiability through “Reputation” in Online Decision Making," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jftint:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:110-:d:544426
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Casandra López-Marcos & Pilar Vicente-Fernández, 2021. "Fact Checkers Facing Fake News and Disinformation in the Digital Age: A Comparative Analysis between Spain and United Kingdom," Publications, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-18, August.

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