Decentralization Through Capabilities in Human Centred Technology and Engaging social Media Content: Implications for Social Inclusion

Current academic understanding of the decentralization of social media content, which enables more democratic access and participation in content creation and sharing, and its effects on social inclusion in the creator economy is limited. This study addresses this gap by examining how decentralization develops through social media content creation practices and how it affects the social inclusion of creative individuals from marginalized communities.

Drawing on social inclusion literature, social exchange theory, and recent sociological frameworks for decentralization, this mixed-methods study combines semi-structured interviews and structured surveys with marginalized creators. The findings show that engaging social media content, together with creators' ability to use human-centered technology, increases decentralization and, in turn, supports social inclusion. Analytics capabilities are a key predictor of the relationship between engaging content creation and decentralization.