Who Leads Trends on Q&A Platforms? Identifying and Analyzing Trend Discoverers

Q&A platforms are vital sources of information but often face challenges related to their high ratios of passive to active contributors, which can impede knowledge construction and information exchange on the platforms. This study introduced a novel method for identifying trend discoverers, key users who can detect and initiate discussions on emerging question trends, through response order analysis of data from Zhihu and Stack Overflow. This study underscores the significant role of trend discoverers in influencing question popularity. Trend discoverers not only exhibit higher engagement in knowledge-sharing activities but also participate in discussions across a broader range of topics compared to regular users. The insights derived from this research have crucial implications for improving the development and functionality of Q&A platforms.