Yash Babar

My research agenda deals with the interplay between online and offline interactions, across various contexts. In my thesis, I examine two aspects of this broad theme. First, I study how offline meetups influence individuals’ and groups’ online behaviors, within a large online community. Second, I explore the circumstances under which new online technologies displace or complement existing offline services, with a focus on the relationship between ride-hailing services and public transit. Beyond this central research focus, I have also undertaken work examining the efficacy of costless, online social interventions that can be leveraged to shape online and offline behavior, e.g., health and exercise behaviors.