Malmö University Publications
4243444546474845 of 988
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Designing User Experience in Algorithmic Culture: User Agency in Spotify's Algorithm-driven Interface
Malmö University, Faculty of Culture and Society (KS), School of Arts and Communication (K3).
2025 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
Abstract [en]

This study explores how Spotify's algorithm-driven design influences music discovery and shapes user agency. Relying on affordance theory and different concepts of user agency, the research examines how Spotify is designed to monetize user data and how that translates into user experience. Through a mixed-method approach - combining the walkthrough method and media go-alongs sessions - the study analyzes both the app's user interface design (UI) and user experiences (UX). The findings highlight a tension between user agency and structural monetizing-driven platform constraints. This reflects how, in today's platform society, universal practices that once were not platform-based, such as discovering and listening to music are increasingly shaped by digital platforms. Overall, the study shows that users often engage with these data-driven environments in passive ways, allowing platforms to use their personal data without much resistance. This highlights how data collection practices have become normalized - even when user profiling is inaccurate.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2025.
Keywords [en]
Spotify, algorithm-driven design, user agency, affordance theory, music discovery, user experience, user interface, walkthrough method, media go-along method, datafication, platform society
National Category
Media and Communication Studies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-76569OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mau-76569DiVA, id: diva2:1965327
Educational program
KS K3 Media and Communication Studies (master)
Supervisors
Examiners
Available from: 2025-07-03 Created: 2025-06-08 Last updated: 2025-07-03Bibliographically approved

Open Access in DiVA

fulltext(2365 kB)48 downloads
File information
File name FULLTEXT02.pdfFile size 2365 kBChecksum SHA-512
f0500b260b6498d91c61e310c1a84f7aef6ef74edb88cbdf0222c61ec4436ba1611616e188022bd0ee2f8751154a36e9062be1c914a05e9fbcd5f213ba4e7ede
Type fulltextMimetype application/pdf

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Richou, Maria
By organisation
School of Arts and Communication (K3)
Media and Communication Studies

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar
Total: 48 downloads
The number of downloads is the sum of all downloads of full texts. It may include eg previous versions that are now no longer available

urn-nbn

Altmetric score

urn-nbn
Total: 18 hits
4243444546474845 of 988
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf