Digital Communities @carmonyleso-blog - Tumblr Blog

Don’t believe everything you see

Social Gaming

Social media has not only changed the way we communicate and connect with one another, share information and do business but it has and is also changing the way we game. Online social games are becoming a significant component in today’s social media sites (Aburahmah. L, AlRawi. H, Izz. Y, and Syed. L. 2016). Facebook has various games available to its users such as Words with Friends, Farmville,.. allowing a whole other level of connectivity. (Me and my partner are currently doing long distance and while we were video chatting on messenger we were also playing ‘Words with Friends’ (social medias version of Scrabble). Now this was news to me that you could even do that but it was amazing! Having grown up mostly without technology I am forever amazed by how far technology has come and the range of opportunities that are now available to us because of it).

Farmville, as one example, is a social networking game that was developed by Zynga in 2009. By 2010 Farmville had approximately 84 million active users. Each day millions of people get out of bed each morning to plough their virtual farms. What’s more, they were willing to shell out money from their pockets doing so (Williams 2017). Due to the popularity of social games such as Farmville, video games and social media have since rapidly merged, increasingly so that these games are taking the place of traditional social apps like Facebook and Twitter with many hardcore gamers socialize primarily through gaming platforms (Williams 2017).

This leads me to question what kind of impact this is going to have on traditional social media sites/apps.

I came across a study that examined whether the integration of social games within social networking sites and apps would increased the likelihood of playing those games with the objective to determine whether or not to include games on social media sites that have yet to implement them such as Twitter, Instagram etc. (Aburahmah. L, AlRawi. H, Izz. Y, and Syed. L. 2016). The study found that social media had no effect on the time users spent playing online games. This comes to no surprise to me. Online gaming is nothing new and is now available on many platforms - PlayStation, Xbox, PC, iPhone, Samsung etc. Typically it comes down to the individual and their preference in terms of console and game style. As seen in the Farmville example above, if a game is appealing enough to its target demographic, they will play it on the platform it is available on, whether that is social media or the latter. And as they say – “build it and they will come”.

References

Aburahmah. L, AlRawi. H, Izz. Y, and Syed. L. (2016). Procedia Computer Science. Online Social Gaming and Social Networking Sites. Accessed at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877050916300254

Williams. T (2017). Ninja Outreach (online). Social Gaming – The Future of Social Media. Accessed at: https://ninjaoutreach.com/future-of-social-media/

imtherealgaylord

May 5, 2016 | Ronny Chieng on The Daily Show talking about selfie culture

carmonyleso-blog

Spending 6 months painting yourself is definitely weirder haha

The Selfie Culture - is it turning us into Narcissists?

The rise in visual communities and social imaging platforms has given birth to what is known as the selfie culture. The term selfie, as defined by Oxford Dictionaries (online) (yes that is correct, it made it to the dictionary… well the online one anyway), is defined as a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone, and shared via social media.

Australia is staking claim to the term after it was used by an Australian man in 2002 in an online forum (ABC Online) where he posted: “Um, drunk at a mates 21st, I tripped ofer [sic] and landed lip first (with front teeth coming a very close second) on a set of steps. I had a hole about 1cm long right through my bottom lip. And sorry about the focus, it was a selfie.” (The Telegraph 2013). Images tagged as #selfie began appearing on the photo-sharing website Flickr as early as 2004 (The Guardian 2013).

Now there is much debate around the act of taking a selfie, it has gotten a bad reputation with many people viewing it as narcissistic behaviour. An article in The Guardian (2014) titled ‘sharing the (self) love: the rise of the selfie and digital narcissism’ noted that narcissism levels have been rising for decades and even though increases pre-date social media, they have clearly exacerbated since its emergence.

Narcissism is defined as the excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one's physical appearance (Oxford Dictionaries Online). And while it does seem that the shoe fits, I would have to disagree. In my personal (and unprofessional) opinion, I don’t think taking selfies is a form of narcissistic behaviour, nor do I think that everyone who takes selfies is a narcissist (disclaimer: my opinion is a tad biased as I am a regular selfie taker; although not a narcissist...). However, I do think individuals who are narcissists are more likely to take more selfies than the average person and also get more enjoyment out of it. An article titled ‘personality and selfies: Narcissism and the Dark Triad’, examined the relationship between narcissism and the frequency of and motivations behind selfie-taking. The results from the study showed that narcissism is associated with taking and posting more selfies, experiencing more positive affect when taking selfies, and self-reported self-presentation motives (McCain et al 2015).

But it’s not all doom and gloom, there are many visual communities and social imaging platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat etc.) around these days that form around liking posts (selfies) and other supportive behaviour (The Conversation 2017). Selfies are a form of social interaction; they are the norm. Embrace it!

References

Ashey. P. (2015). Virtue Online. What do we have to offer a selfie culture? Selfie Silhouette (photo) Accessed at: http://virtueonline.org/what-do-we-have-offer-selfie-culture

Buzz Carrot (online) 2015. Scientists link Selfies to Narcissism, Addiction & Mental Illness. Selfie Syndrome (photo). Accessed at: https://www.buzzcarrot.com/scientists-link-selfies-to-narcissism-addiction-mental-illness/

The Conversation (online) 2017. Selfie culture isn’t the root of all evil. Accessed at: https://theconversation.com/selfie-culture-isnt-the-root-of-all-evil-73581

The Guardian (online) 2013. How Selfies Became a Global Phenomenon. Accessed at: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jul/14/how-selfies-became-a-global-phenomenon

The Guardian (online) 2014. Sharing the (self) love: the rise of the selfie and digital narcissism. Accessed at: https://www.theguardian.com/media-network/media-network-blog/2014/mar/13/selfie-social-media-love-digital-narcassism

McCain et al (2015). Computers in Human Behaviour. Personality and selfies: Narcissism and the Dark Triad. Accessed at: https://ac.els-cdn.com/S0747563216304782/1-s2.0-S0747563216304782-main.pdf?_tid=2609f680-bdda-4467-b281-824475245bce&acdnat=1528075385_e274e7283b65bd6c0bd1a000b8329609

Oxford Dictionaries (online) 2018. Definition. Narcissism. Accessed at: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/narcissism

Oxford Dictionaries (online) 2018. Definition. Selfie. Accessed at: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/selfie

Pearlman. J (2013). The Telegraph (online). Australian Man Invented the Selfie After Drunken Night Out. Accessed at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10459115/Australian-man-invented-the-selfie-after-drunken-night-out.html

Someecards (online). Cry for help memes. Selfie Narcissism (photo). Accessed at: https://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/MjAxNC0zZjhjYzczNjU2YTUyOTJm/?tagSlug=cry-for-help

Crowdsourcing in times of crisis

Crowdsourcing is the practice of obtaining information or input into a task or project by enlisting the services of a large number of people, either paid or unpaid, typically via the Internet (Oxford Dictionaries 2018). Crowdsourcing and the internet have individually contributed to the improvement of disaster response. During an emergency authorities need to gather as much information as possible in order to prepare for the relief of those affected. This task can often be time consuming and so this is where crowdsourcing and the internet (specifically social media) comes into play.

The power of social media in disaster relief cannot be ignored in the disaster-affected area because posted user generated contents may provide valuable information for disaster response (Han, S., Huang, H., Luo, Z. et al. 2018). Social media also has the ability to reach many people in a short amount of time which comes in handy during times of emergencies. Social media has the potential to support the emergency management domain by providing: stakeholders with information as the event unfolds, a mechanism to alert larger audiences in less time, a platform to monitor public activities, as well as a tool where stakeholders can coordinate activities (Luna and Pennock 2018).

My experience of crowdsourcing during an emergency occurred on 17 March 2018 when Cyclone Marcus hit Darwin. It was only a category 2 and having lived in Darwin my whole life it wasn’t the first cyclone I experienced. However, it was the first one I experienced with a prevalent use of social media around. My newsfeed was filled with posts and updates about the cyclone from various organisations, stakeholders, authorities and friends and family. Every single thing was being documented and reported on: business closure, power outages, flooding, areas of devastation (tree’s and infrastructure), traffic light outages, boil water alerts etc. The flow of information was endless. It still continued days later, individuals and authorities taking to social media to keep the public informed and to further seek out information about areas that were still impacted.

The internet is becoming an important information provider when faced with emergency events and there is no doubt that this information is valuable in dealing with the events (Han, S., Huang, H., Luo, Z. et al. 2018). The constant stream of information sharing during Cyclone Marcus proved to be of significance value to both the authorities and public alike. The information provided by authorities was regular and constantly accessible where as traditional media such as television or radio news updates are scheduled and can only be seen or heard during its broadcast. Social media allows its viewers to go back and access the information again and again making it a significant tool to use during times of emergencies.

References

Han, S., Huang, H., Luo, Z. et al. Ann Oper Res (2018). Annals of Operation Research. Harnessing the power of crowdsourcing and Internet of Things in disaster response. Accessed at: https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/10.1007/s10479-018-2884-1

Luna. S and Pennock. M (2018). International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. Social media applications and emergency management: A literature review and research agenda. Accessed at: https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/science/article/pii/S221242091830030X

Oxford Dictionaries (online) 2018. Definition. Crowdsourcing. Accessed at: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/crowdsourcing

Trolling or Cyber-bullying?

The internet and social media in all its glory has revolutionized the way in which we share and obtain information, connect, communicate and do business with one another. And whilst the majority of user experiences have been positive, like with anything, there have also been some negatives.

Enter the Internet Troll.

Trolling is defined in Urban Dictionary (2014) as the deliberate act (by a Troll), of making random unsolicited and / or controversial comments on various internet forums with the intent to provoke an emotional knee jerk reaction from unsuspecting readers to engage in a fight or argument.

Exhibit A:

There is a fair amount of stereotype around the appearance and characteristics of an internet troll.

Exhibit B:

Disclaimer: the above picture is not a true representation of an internet troll, anyone can be an internet troll regardless of gender*, race or sexual preference. (*Trolls dramatically skew male (Gunaratna 2017)).

Researchers at Australian’s Federation University conducted a study on individuals who participated in online trolling to investigate their psychological profile in terms of psychopathy, sadism and empathy. The study found that trolls tend to show higher levels of the traits psychopathy and sadism, as well as lower levels of affective empathy (Gunaratna 2017).

So, is trolling a form of cyber-bullying?

Most people would argue yes. There are some distinctions between the two but there are also some slight differences. Cyber-bullying first came about with the emergence of social media in the early 2000’s (Nicol 2012); however, it is not purely an online issue, bullies have been around for years, they just have another avenue in which to conduct their bullying. Cyber-bullies use technology to deliberately and repeatedly cause harm and destress (Nicol 2012). Cyber-bullies typically know the person they are bullying whereas trolls usually remain anonymous or have no clear relationship with the recipient, however both are conducted in an online setting.

And what can be done about it?

Consensus is (in both instances) to not engage with either an internet troll or a cyber-bully. The rise of internet trolls has bought about the term “don’t feed the trolls” as a warning to fellow internet users as reacting to a troll’s comment/s is the satisfaction they are looking for.

Exhibit C:

Cyber-bullies however, typically require more action to get rid of and usually with the aid of others. Most recommendations involve ignoring the bully, blocking the bully, turning off social media or reporting the bullying to a parent (or guardian) or in some instances a teacher. Sadly though, it’s not always that easy nor does it always guarantee the bully will stop. It is vital that families, schools and communities work together to create a culture in which bullying‐like behaviours are not tolerated (ThinkUKnow).

References

Gunaratna. S (2017). CBS News. Peering into the Psychology of Online Trolls. Accessed at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/psychological-profile-of-online-trolls/

Martin. B. 2014. Deviant Art (online). Internet Troll (Photo). Accessed at: https://brittmartin.deviantart.com/art/Internet-Troll-479500093

Nicol, S. (2012). Cyber-bullying and trolling [online]. Youth Studies Australia, Vol. 31, No. 4. Accessed at: https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=961674521346309;res=IELAPA

Pinterest (online). Internet trolling example (photo). Accessed at: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/285345326360126935/

Pluperfecter (online) 2011. 14 Characteristics of Classic Internet Troll (photo). Accessed at: http://pluperfecter.blogspot.com/2011/08/14-characteristics-of-classic-internet.html

Stereophile (online) 2017. Home. Galleries. Do Not Feed the Troll (photo). Accessed at: https://www.stereophile.com/content/do-not-feed-troll

ThinkUKnow (online). Tech Talk… Cyber-bullying & trolling what is the difference? Accessed at: https://redcliffeshs.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Documents/Parent%20Resources/Tech%20Talk-cyber%20bullying%20vs%20trolling.pdf

Urban Dictionary (online) 2014. Trolling. Accessed at: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Trolling

#Hashtag Activism

Just like Politicians, activist groups use social media to enhance their reach, get their message’s heard and get people involved in their cause / movement. Activists campaign to bring about political or social change. Historically, activists were seen to rally together with megaphones and signs and protest for change but in this modern age this type of approach is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Social media is a useful tool for activist groups, but it should not be the primary platform for activism. Activism goes further beyond a hashtag and / or a liked or shared post. Activists go out and actively endeavour to make social change happen. In this modern age there is a rise in what is known as hashtag activism.

Hashtag Activism has been defined in Urban Dictionary (2012) as the kind of activism undertaken when you "do something" about a problem by tweeting or posting links to Facebook, without any intent of ever actually doing something. Nothing more than a nonsense feelgood gesture so that one can say they "did something about" whatever trendy cause they're pretending to care about. Usually only lasts a week or two before the cause is completely forgotten (i.e. it stops being cool to forward/retweet on the subject).

This is not to say that activist campaigns that utilise social media are ineffective but more that relying solely on a hashtag campaign isn’t going to make much of a difference. There have been numerous hashtag campaigns over the years that have aided in generating awareness of various causes and engaging social media users: #IceBucketChallenge, #Kony2012 and #BringBackOurGirls, however that’s all they did. The #Kony2012 campaign, for example, was an experimental campaign started by the Invisible Children Organisation aimed at making Joseph Kony, Ugandan guerrilla group leader, famous in the hope that he would be captured and arrested for using children as soldiers and sex slaves. The campaign resulted in greater awareness of Kony (via social media) and nearly $20 million raised, however it did not lead to his arrest.

Activist groups should use social media and its affordances to contribute to and complement their campaigns, but not rely on it. In Tweets and the Streets: Social Media and Contemporary Activism, Gerbaudo (2012) concludes that the success of popular movements still lies in the organisational skill of its activists and in their capacity to create a compelling sense of togetherness capable of initiating the coalescence of a disparate constituency. Contemporary movements could get by without the affordances offered by social media but what they cannot do without is the capacity of such media to become the instruments of an emotional narration capable of motivating individuals to take to the streets.

References

Couts. A (2015). The Kernel (online). The Daily Dot. The new era of hashtag activism Accessed at: https://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/11390/hashtag-activism-real/

Gerbaudo, P. (2012). Tweets and the Streets: Social Media and Contemporary Activism. Accessed at: http://ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=501012&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_1

Rutherford. D (2015). Plain Field View. 25 Reasons to be in Saturday’s Million Peoples March. Accessed at: https://plainfieldview.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/25-reasons-to-be-in-saturdays-million-peoples-march/

Thumbpress (online) 2013. Hashtag Activism Illustrated. Accessed at: http://thumbpress.com/hashtag-activism-illustrated/

Urban Dictionary (2012). Hashtag Activism. Accessed at: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hashtag%20activism

Politicians and Social Media

Politics has come a long way since the introduction of the internet and social media. At present, approximately 50% of the world’s population uses the internet and approximately 42% are active on social media (We Are Social 2018). These figures have resulted in the internet and social media acquiring a growth in relevance in real-world politics (Ceron 2017). Nowadays, more than two-thirds of the world’s heads of state and government are active on social media and, in Western democracies, having a Twitter account or a Facebook page has become the rule rather than the exception for politicians (Ceron 2017). This new age approach to campaigning has proven to be quite effective in generating a larger reach, connecting with a younger audience, and increased social talk around elections.

Politicians often try to appear authentic and establish connections with the public and social media helps to facilitate this. Social media helps politicians to cultivate a less formal and relatable image by representing them in ‘private’ or backstage settings such as on holiday, at home and with family (Manning et al 2017). This aids in establishing trust and relating to audiences on a more personal level.

Social media enhances the ability of politicians to present themselves as both ordinary and extraordinary. Politicians can use social media to emphasise ordinary, everyday dimensions of their persona, or the extraordinary dimensions due to associations with other high-profile individuals, luxury goods and / or glamorous lifestyles (Manning et al 2017).

Social media offers politicians a number of affordances such as providing the opportunity to communicate directly with voters and generate personalised content and messages tailored to their supporters. This direct communication can foster transparency, accountability and responsiveness (Ceron 2017). A recent example of this that comes to mind is Lauren Moss, Member for Casuarina (in the Northern Territory), and also the Minister for the Government department that I work in, recently suffered a personal loss. Minster Moss has an active presence on social media (both on Facebook and Twitter), and is regularly posting updates to keep the public (and her followers) informed. Minister Moss was open about her personal loss on Facebook, keeping an open and transparent relationship with her audience and thanking them for giving her space and privacy during a difficult time. Personal posts such as this also aid in normalising politicians to the public. Over the years, political elites have often tried to appear authentic and establish affinity with the public and social media facilitates this to a new degree (Manning et al 2017).

References

A. Ceron (2017). Social Media and Political Accountability: Bridging the Gap between Citizens and Politicians. Accessed at: https://ap01.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/view/action/uresolver.do?operation=resolveService&package_service_id=34316732750001361&institutionId=1361&customerId=1350

Kathurwar. S. (2017). Report Garden. Power of Online and Social Media: Changing the Political Landscape. Accessed at: https://reportgarden.com/2017/09/18/social-media-political-landscape/

N. Manning et al. (2017). Journal of Youth Studies. Politicians, celebrities and social media: a case of informalisation? Accessed at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2016.1206867

News.com.au (2013). Kevin Rudd cuts himself shaving, then shares it on Twitter. Accessed at: http://www.news.com.au/national/kevin-rudd-cuts-himself-shaving-then-shares-it-on-twitter/news-story/b5e16b825471451e204367ec1b9f941c

The Conversaton (2013). Can Social Media Swing Votes in this Election Campaign. Accessed at: http://theconversation.com/can-social-media-swing-votes-in-this-election-campaign-17679

We are social (2018). Digital in 2018: World’s Internet Users Pass the 4 Billion Mark. Accessed at: https://wearesocial.com/blog/2018/01/global-digital-report-2018

✌🏼

How are our social experiences in each of these contexts bound up with social media platforms and their affordances, and how we make use of them?

As stated by Don Norman (2011), the value of a well-designed object is when it has such a rich set of affordances that the people who use it can do things with it that the designer never imagines. Historically, social media platforms were designed to allow for forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (Merriam Webster 2018). Since its creation, social media platforms have multiplied and evolved allowing for a magnitude of affordances.

Each social media platform has its own affordances and are used in various ways and to varying degrees, it all depends on its user. My social experience using a particular platform would differ greatly compared to someone with a much higher profile as the extent to which we utilise its affordances would also differ. Let’s use Instagram as an example; my use of Instagram is quite sporadic. I post the occasional photo but I am primarily an observer and maintain a low profile. The affordance of Instagram that I utilise the most is the countless fitness videos, tips and advice made available (free of charge). Someone who would be described as ‘Insta famous’ on the other hand would have more of an active presence and would be posting photos daily (if not more frequently). This individual would most likely share details about nearly every aspect of their life and be meticulous about the content they post as to ensure it stays consistent with the image they are trying to portray. Due to being ‘Insta famous’ they would also be subject to ridicule and / or trolling (unfortunately it just comes with the territory). This individual, if their following is high enough and their target demographic is suitable, might also be approached by companies wanting them to promote their products in exchange for a commission of sorts (I bet this is an affordance the creators of Instagram wouldn’t have imagined). Due to the significant difference between how each of us use this platform and its associated affordances, it’s only fitting that our social experiences would also differ as a result.

References

Interaction-Design.org 2011, Affordances (Don Norman, 1994). Accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK1Zb_5VxuM

Merriam Webster (Online) 2018. Dictionary. Social media. (n.d.). Accessed at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20media

Is the Evolution of Digital Technology Leading to Our De-Evolution?

Social media has become a prevalent part of our everyday lives; we don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it (Qualman 2014). The 2018 key statistical indicators for the world’s internet, mobile and social media users from the We Are Social Global Digital suite of reports shows that 3.2 billion people (that's almost half of the world’s population) are active users of social media. But is it doing us more harm than good? Now I am not against social media per se, like everything it has its pros and cons, and I am a regular user (more of an observer than anything else), however I do see that it is having a negative impact on society, especially in the way we interact and communicate with one another.

Image credit: spraydisplay.com

In 1995 Robert Putnam predicted that this type of ‘social disengagement’ would occur – “new technologies use up our time in ways that do not allow us to form meaningful social associations with other people, and in satisfying our personal interests, they also remove our motives for associating with others” (Putnam 1995). Real life connections and interactions are becoming few and far between and less necessary with the likes of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and so on.

The video Look Up by Gary Turk (2014) helps to reaffirm the way in which social media and the digital world have changed the way humans interact with one another, leaving us connected but alone. The theme of being ‘connected but alone’ was also touched on by Sherry Turkle (2012) in her TED Talk Connected, but Alone? which studied how our devices and online personas are redefining human connection and communication.

Now, with most of us having busy lives this kind of easy and quick online interaction, also known as the ‘always on’ lifestyle, is more convenient but are our online profiles really true a representation of our real selves? This question poses another problem entirely. Social media gives us the opportunity to manage the aspects of our lives that we make public and accessible to others; we can choose, construct, interpret, negotiate and display who we are to be seen as, enabling a highly managed and edited view of an individual (McCosker and Wilken 2014).

Image credit: amreading.com

I will again reiterate that I am not against social media or technology, I just think we need to be more aware and more mindful of how much it is impacting on society (both good and bad). I look forward to learning further about digital communities and how they have changed us (for better or worse), the way we communicate, work, think and even live our lives.

References:

Qualman. E. (2014). Twitter. @equalman. Accessed at: https://twitter.com/equalman/status/533090727081689088?lang=en

Turk. G. (2014). Garry Turk. Look Up. Accessed at: http://garyturk.com/portfolio-item/lookup/

Turkle. S (2012). TED. Connected but Alone? Accessed at: https://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together

We are social (2018). Digital in 2018: World’s Internet Users Pass the 4 Billion Mark. Accessed at: https://wearesocial.com/blog/2018/01/global-digital-report-2018

Wilken, R & McCosker, A (2014). Social Selves, in Cunningham & Turnbull, The Media & Communications in Australia. Accessed at: http://ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/login?url=http://onlineres.swin.edu.au/99333114083.pdf

Very accurate (and quite humorous) explanation of social media.

Blog post coming soon

Bear with me...

#offprocrastinating #kidding #sorta

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Digital Communities