Diversity by Design?: Balancing the Inclusion and Protection of Users in an Online Social Platform

Paula Helm, Loizos Michael, Laura Schelenz

Abstract: The unreflected promotion of diversity as a value in social interactions --- including in technology-mediated ones --- risks emphasizing the benefits of inclusion without recognizing the potential harm of failing to protect vulnerable individuals or account for the empowerment of marginalized groups. Adopting the position that technology is not value-neutral, we seek to answer the question of how technology-mediated social platforms can accommodate diversity by design by balancing the often tension-ridden principles of protection and inclusion. In this paper, we present our research program, developed strategy, as well as first analyses and results. Building on approaches from scenario analysis and Value Sensitive Design, we identify key arguments for a "diversity by design''-agenda. Furthermore, we discuss how these arguments can be operationalized and implemented in a diversity-aware chatbot and provide a critical reflection on the limits and drawbacks of the proposed approach.