Measuring Online Behavior Change with Observational Studies: A Review
Abstract
Exploring online behavior change is imperative for societal progress in the context of 21st-century challenges. We analyze 148 articles (2000-2023) focusing on behavior change in the digital space and build a map that categorizes behaviors, behavior change detection methodologies, platforms of reference, and theoretical frameworks that characterize the analysis of online behavior change. Our findings reveal a focus on sentiment shifts, an emphasis on API-restricted platforms, and limited integration of theory. We call for methodologies able to capture a wider range of behavior types, diverse data sources, and stronger theory-practice alignment in the study of online behavior and its change.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Misinformation and Its Impacts
Digital Marketing and Social Media
Mental Health via Writing
Publication details
- Journal / source
- ACM Computing Surveys
- Publisher
- Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1–36
- Publication date
- 14 February 2026
- Language
- EN