Coping with Inflation in the Age of Social Media: Economically-Disadvantaged Consumers’ Information Behavior on Reddit

Shelton, Amanda

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132965 Copy

Description

Title

Coping with Inflation in the Age of Social Media: Economically-Disadvantaged Consumers’ Information Behavior on Reddit

Author(s)

Shelton, Amanda

Issue Date

2026-03-12

Keyword(s)

• Information behavior
• Information seeking
• Social media
• Poverty

Abstract

Introduction. This grounded theory study is part of ongoing work related to information behavior and poverty. The study contributes to the field of information science through the creation of a tentative model addressing the social media information behavior of economically-disadvantaged people as they seek to cope with inflation’s impact on household budgeting. Method. After data collection from the popular social media platform Reddit’s community r/PovertyFinance, qualitative data analysis proceeded iteratively in accordance with the constant comparative method until a model could be inductively generated based on and grounded in the data. Results. In alignment with the data reviewed, the resulting model addresses economically-disadvantaged individuals’ use of social media to seek and share practical strategies to meet household demands amidst inflation. The model also emphasizes the societal and personal context within which information needs arise for economically-disadvantaged people while addressing the critical importance of affective considerations in information behavior. Conclusion(s). The model reflects a centering of economically-marginalized individuals and their rich information seeking and sharing practices to collaboratively solve problems in the new age of social media and the participatory internet.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2026 Proceedings

Type of Resource

Other

Genre of Resource

Conference Poster

Language

eng

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132965

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2026 is held by Amanda Shelton. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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