On Monday, November 4, 2024, Dr. Christina Jeong shared her presentation, “Visibility and Voice: Who Gets Heard in the Digital Space?” as part of the CIS 720 seminar series. Through an exploration of gender disparities in workplace socialization, influence metrics on enterprise social media, and the spread of misinformation, she offered powerful insights into how digital spaces can amplify diverse voices—or reinforce barriers.
Seminar summary: In an increasingly digital world, who gets heard, and how does visibility impact outcomes? This presentation explores how digital platforms influence visibility and voice, affecting both organizational dynamics and societal narratives. Through three interlinked research areas—gender disparities in workplace socialization, influence metrics within enterprise social media (ESM), and the spread of fake news—this work examines the ways digital spaces create or limit opportunities for diverse voices.
1. Gender Inequality and Online Socialization: Traditional workplace socialization often limits women’s visibility due to time constraints and cultural barriers. This research investigates whether ESM offers a more level playing field, allowing women to increase their participation and voice in professional discussions. Findings suggest that online social groups foster psychological safety, helping women engage more confidently in work-related interactions.
2. Composite Interaction Centrality (CIC) as a Measure of Influence: CIC is a new metric designed to capture employee influence within ESM by assessing different types of interactions, such as posts, replies, and likes. CIC highlights “silent influencers,” those whose contributions might be overlooked in traditional hierarchies but who play a critical role in team engagement and productivity. This metric provides a more nuanced view of voice and impact in digital workplaces.
3. The Spread of Fake News and Misinformation: Beyond the workplace, digital platforms play a significant role in shaping public narratives. This study explores why misinformation spreads, focusing on the availability heuristic and personal involvement. Findings reveal that engagement-based visibility amplifies certain narratives, often without regard for accuracy, thus shaping societal discourse.
Biography: Dr. Christina Jeong is an Assistant Professor in the Information and Technology Management department at the Shidler College of Business, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Her research focuses on the intersection of information technology, societal challenges, and business outcomes, particularly how digital spaces shape visibility and amplify or silence voices. She explores issues such as gender inequality, silent influencers in organizations, and the spread of misinformation.
Dr. Jeong’s work has received recognition, including Best Paper Proceedings at the Academy of Management (AoM) in 2020. She earned her Ph.D. in Information and Decision Sciences from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota. Her research contributes to media literacy, organizational communication, and digital equity.
The CIS community greatly appreciated Dr. Jeong’s insights into digital visibility and its broader implications for inclusivity and organizational dynamics.