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Ownership of digital information products in the digital age presents an intricate issue. While research has shown that individuals experience a sense of ownership over their digital possessions, the scope of digital ownership rights in comparison to physical entities remains unclear. Amongst various digital products, e‐books stand out due to their ubiquity. This paper presents the results of an empirical research study that used an online survey to examine e‐book consumers' perspectives on digital ownership and digital rights. The study revealed that while most participants value and desire ownership rights, certain conventional ownership rights, such as reselling, gifting, and lending, are deemed less significant and can be relinquished by consumers due to cost‐related factors. Furthermore, contrary to prevailing assumptions, the study found no discernible generational gap concerning people's perceptions of digital ownership rights. These findings hold implications for researchers, policymakers, and public‐interest groups seeking to advocate for the public's digital rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early social informatics research focused primarily on ethnographic, site‐specific observations within organizations and was based on smaller case studies. The rising of social media and big data availability have made large‐scale data analysis accessible and easier. This has informed social informatics perspectives by examining the roles and impacts of social media in our work and social lives. The panel aims to utilize principles of social informatics approach to understand emerging issues related to social media, which are pervasive in almost every aspect of our daily lives, and to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) more broadly. To push social informatics research forward, the panelists will address the questions regarding the future of social informatics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]