This Chrome extension is an experimental tool designed to explore the impact of 'framing' on users' understanding of COVID-19 content on Reddit. By changing the presentation of information ( fake comments, vote numbers, or like #'s), the extension allows users and researchers to observe potential changes in audience reaction.
NOTE: This extension is for experimental purposes only.
- Open Chrome and navigate to
chrome://extensions/. - Turn on 'Developer mode' located at the top right corner.
- Click on 'Load unpacked' and select the directory
/path/to/folderwhere the extension files are located. - Once the extension is loaded, you should see its icon in the Chrome toolbar.
Reference link for download instructions: http://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/mv3/getstarted/development-basics/
- Navigate to reddit.com.
- Click on the extension icon in the Chrome toolbar to activate the COVID-19 Framing tool.
- Enter your participant ID to start the experiment.
- Insert Fake Comments: Different posts are inserted to display content in a variety of ways to potential data analysis.
- Modify Vote Numbers: application alters the upvote and downvote counts to give the impression of a post being more or less popular.
- Change Like Numbers: chrome extension can manipulate the number of likes for comments to influence perceived community sentiment.
- Ethical Considerations: Always have proper permissions and ensure participants are informed when running experiments. Do not use this tool to manipulate, deceive, or harm users in any way.
- Data Collection: Collect data responsibly and ensure user privacy is maintained.
- Reporting: When presenting findings, ensure you clearly mention the use of this tool and the artificial nature of the framing.
By using this extension, you acknowledge the potential ethical implications and agree to use it responsibly. Always prioritize user trust, transparency, and informed consent.