Study reveals three ways to disappear down a Wikipedia rabbit hole
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03454-7
Curiosity is more complex than it seems—and a new study analyzing Wikipedia browsing patterns reveals three unique types of search behavior: the “hunter,” the “busybody,” and the “dancer.” Using data from over 482,000 users across 50 countries, researchers found that these styles are not only widespread but may also connect to broader social trends. For example, countries with higher inequality had fewer users exploring diverse topics, hinting that social factors might shape curiosity. This large-scale study, the first of its kind, opens new doors to understanding online information habits and could inform how we build better knowledge-sharing tools.