E X A @elxarvani - Tumblr Blog

Trolls under the bridge

The concept of trolling is an interesting one. I certainly would never condone the online bullying and belittling that happens over the internet but it must be hard to decipher sometimes. The banter that my friends and I use to communicate could easily be taken out of context by somebody who didn’t know we were friends. Olweus (cited in Boyd 2014, p. 131) defined bullying as an act requiring aggression, repetition, and an imbalance in power, and must contain all three of these factors. Trolling takes a similar mentality online by using controversial online messaging to creating discord and emotive responses (Urbandictionary 2019, n.p.). It is interesting to think about whether trolling meets all of Olweus’s criteria, and I would argue that in a lot of cases trolls are not acting aggressively. But does that mean that it is not bullying? To me bullying is more about how the other person feels, and whether the act continues after the victim has expressed a desire for it to stop.

McCosker (2014, p. 201) argues that acts of trolling should be examined through the correct cultural and geographical context to properly understand both the effect and meaning of act. This is an interesting point as cultural differences or even subtle differences in the use of language can change the meaning/interpretation of a message.

A case in point for me is Shannon Noll’s Facebook page. He gets an absolute barrage of comments and takes it all in good humour thankfully, I personally think they are hilarious but perhaps another viewer may not….

He was even good natured enough to make a sports bet add where he read out some of the comments.

According to Boyd (2014, p. 130) parents and journalists believe that social media significantly increases bullying, an assumption that is refuted by the data. This has led to a strong focus on teen suicide from the unquantified journalistic view that the majority of youths are bullied online (Boyd 2014, p. 131). McCosker (2014, p. 202) aligns social media conflict with agnostic pluralism, speaking to the necessity of having a contested space which allows for passionate debate and contested interactions. A study conducted on a short and highly provocative anti-Islam film found that interactions between the content creator, Dutch MP Geert Wilders, and those who commented was minimal (McCosker 2014, p. 206).

YouTube by numbers (Aslam 2019) link: 1.9 billion monthly active users 5+ billion videos shared to date 150 million hours of YouTube watched daily YouTube services 95% of all internet users

After conducting his analysis on YouTube commentary accrued on videos regarding the Christchurch earthquake and a flash haka, McCosker (2014, p. 213) describes YouTube as a “participatory space that incorporates and perhaps also accommodates conflict and cruelty”. The work of Thelwall and Sud (2012, p. 616) found that certain themes, such as religion, trigger lengthy discussion while other genres such as music and comedy were the least commented on. I think overall these works show that emotive subjects are far more likely to attract comment and debate, which also makes them a likely target for trolls who are able to find easy trigger points to gain a response.

References

Aslam, S 2019, ‘YouTube by the Numbers: Stats, Demographics & Fun Facts’, Omnicore, viewed 11 January 2019, https://www.omnicoreagency.com/youtube-statistics/

Boyd, D 2014, It’s complicated: the social lives of networked teens, Yale University Press, New Haven.

McCosker, A 2014, ‘Trolling as provocation: YouTube’s agonistic publics’, Journal of Research into New Mdia Technologies, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 201-217.

Thelwall, M & Sud, P 2012, ‘Commenting on YouTube Videos: From Guatemalan Rock to El Big Bang’, Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, vol. 63, no. 3, pp. 616-629.

Urban Dictionary 2019, ‘Trolling’, Urban Dictionary, viewed 11 January 2019, https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Trolling

elxarvani

I love this Shannon Noll example of how he took his trolls on. But for some it's not that simple to rebut, online trolls enter the minds people through there in boxes and make them feel awful about themselves. It’s psychological bullying and it’s horrible. I don’t know why suicide is the answer to some young and old people, I wish they could see there are other options, advice and help out there. I wish we could be more informed as a society, we have the most powerful tool at our fingertips being used to destroy others and I hate it.

georxgina

Visual communities and social imaging

During each topic in this unit, we have discussed the importance of visual, including photos and images on social media and the ways in which we connect digitally (Swinburne Online 2018). Using the term ‘networked visuality’, we can understand how imaging is becoming an integral part of the formation and maintenance of social networks (Swinburne Online 2018).

Maintaining a central role in society and culture, photographs have become a medium of communication. “Changes in media technologies have engendered changes in how we capture, remember and communicate personal images of everyday and family life” (Vivienne & Burgess 2013 p. 3). Many platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook have embraced the new hybrid practices of personal image-sharing and networked publics (Vivienne & Burgess 2013 p. 6) by incorporating the camera function on the smartphone enabling new visual methods of expression, sharing and communication through posts or popular app features. The smartphone has paved the way for new kinds of personal photography in the form of the selfie, “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website”(Oxford English Dictionary 2019). In 2013, the Oxford English Dictionary’s chose 'selfie’ the word of the year as it had discovered a rise in mainstream media sources using this term. Companies like Apple and Samsung have since advanced their technology of front-facing cameras making it both easier to produce and to share these types of photographs.

The use of visuals has raised legal and ethical issues surrounding privacy and control of our content. Some tools have enabled users vulnerable to unauthorised distribution of their content. Additional concerns surrounding body image have arisen due to favourite social influencers using programs and apps to manipulate their images. Influencers are caught using these apps to create an unrealistic version of themselves by airbrushing pores, lines and pimples, whitening their teeth and even going as far as to change their facial structure and waistline. In recent years the mobile app, Facetune, has become a success by allowing consumers to download their app for free but then charging a monthly rate to unlock all features. Due to its accessibility, user interface and low cost compared to Photoshop and Lightroom it is endorsed by multiple Instagramers and celebrities. People compare these manipulated images to themselves, in turn, experiencing a high level of body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. As more and more young people are exposed to these images asking the question ‘Why don’t I look like that?’ it is essential we communicate and promote self-love.

References:

Oxford English Dictionary 2019, ‘Definition - Selfie’, Oxford University Press, viewed 9 January 2019, <https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/selfie>.

Oxford English Dictionary 2013, ‘Word of the Year 2013′, Oxford University Press, viewed 9 January 2019, <https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/word-of-the-year-2013>

Swinburne Online 2018, Lecture ‘9.1 This week’s focus’, MDA20009 Digital Communities, Learning materials on Blackboard, Swinburne University of Technology, 9 January 2019, <https://swinburneonline.instructure.com/courses/704/pages/9-dot-1-this-weeks-focus?module_item_id=60106>

Swinburne Online 2018, Lecture ‘9.3 Networked visuality’, MDA20009 Digital Communities, Learning materials on Blackboard, Swinburne University of Technology, 9 January 2019, <https://swinburneonline.instructure.com/courses/704/pages/9-dot-3-networked-visuality?module_item_id=60109>.

Vivienne, S & Burgess, J 2013, ‘The Remediation of the Personal Photograph’, Journal of Material Culture, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 279-98.

elxarvani

Facetune, Photoshop and other editing Apps have created an extremely harmful place for young women and men. We are constantly getting flooded with perfect skinned images, perfect lighting, and filtered photos. I’m not perfect, I’ve edited my photos and blurred out a spot. But some take it to another level. Some girls edit their images to the point where they don’t look human almost a digital character version of themselves... I understand why people do it, but I don’t understand why it’s come to this point. When did this begin and why didn’t it stop.

annagpellegrino

Play The Game

In week 10 we looked at the gaming community and the social and controversial aspects about it. We also looked at the Magic Circle theory which explains that a person crosses a physical or mental boundary when playing a game that separates it from the real world (Calleja 2015, p. 211). This theory has its flaws though as there are many factors that influence gameplay and the crossing of a physical and/or mental boundary. Real life experience can affect each individual’s own unique experience within the game.

People often feel very connected to games and can get lost in it. I know myself even playing games like Mariokart I feel disheartened when I lose. These emotions become problematic when it comes to online games based on social networks like Fortnite in which individuals must communicate with each other throughout the game. This can cause problems such as cyberbullying within the gaming world. Cyberbullying in gameplay is just like what we discussed with online trolls on social media, it’s the same thing but a different outlet. There is also the debate over whether video games can influence one’s behavior in a negative way. Violent video games aren’t real but can put ideas into players heads. The addictive nature of video and social games can cause players to implement too much of the ‘real world’ into the game and vice versa.

Video game addiction can actually be considered a mental disorder as it has negative short term and long term effects on mental health. Players may stop sleeping and eating and start to develop aggression or other extreme emotions (Psych Guides 2019). The isolation from the real world can also have extreme effects on one’s social behavior. Gaming is innocent for the most part but when it comes to extensive use it can become an addiction. Gaming also creates another space for bullying to occur with not many strategies in place by gaming companies to stop this.

References:

Calleja, G 2015, ‘Ludic identities and the magic circle’, in V Frissen, S Lammes, M de Lange, J de Mul & J Raessens (eds), Playful Identities: The Ludification of Digital Media Cultures, Amsterdam University Press, pp. 211-224.

Psych Guides 2019, Video Game Addiction, Symptoms, Causes and Effects, Psych Guides, viewed on January 25 <https://www.psychguides.com/guides/video-game-addiction-symptoms-causes-and-effects/>

elxarvani

I also get disheartened when I lose Mario Kart, I have had family members who are so addicted to gaming that its all they do. I find it sad to watch but its there escape from reality, which I think we all need to do from time to time. I wonder if gaming will ever become less popular or with our advances in technology if kids are going to start gaming from younger ages? My nephew is 4 and he knows how to play Minecraft... such a strange world

the-digital-communique-blog

Hold on, I’m just taking a quick selfie....

The use of social media selfies and Snapchat has become the new norm for digital natives. A topic of ‘considerable debate’, the selfie dominates social media and sometimes considered narcissistic (Murray 2015, p. 490). Murray (2015, p. 490) believes that when studied collectively, the self-representations of young women feels like an aggressive and revolutionary reclamation of the female body. The selfie has further evolved on Facebook and Instagram to allow the same short videos made popular by Snapchat, and everyone is doing it. On Saturday night, I was heading into Brisbane CBD in an Uber and noticed a car driving pretty erratically in front of ours. When we pulled alongside at the lights, sure enough it was some young women taking a selfie. The popularity of Snapchat has led its creator, Evan Spiegel, to declare that profile based social media experiences are being phased out in favour of Snapchat’s more communicative features (cited in Herman 2014, n.p.). Snapchat’s goal is to communicate through photos not around them, with the primary tool being the selfie (Herman 2014, n.p).

“The selfie is both adored and reviled; yet it flourishes as one of the most effective outlets for self-definition” (Murray 2015, p. 490).

Prior to the readily accessible Snapchat selfies YouTube was the main form of video communication, bringing the potential for both fame and fortune for a successful user. Lange (2009, p. 70) believed that at the time of writing, YouTube videos were mainly evaluated by their value as a marketable product. While it is difficult to ascertain just how much YouTube makes as a part of Google, an estimated $5.6 billion in revenue was brought in during 2013 (Worstall 2013, n.p.). After a period in which YouTubers were really cashing in, several high-profile advertising scandals have seen a change in policy (Bishop 2018, n.p.). The change has been brought about due to concerns regarding YouTube’s inability to regulate its content, leading to big names such as Mars and Pepsi to leave the platform (Bishop 2018, n.p.).

YouTube’s most popular video is Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee which has made approximately $3.3 million dollars from advertising on the platform.

Like it was alluded to by the owner of Snapchat, people are now using videos and pictures to tell a story. I recently got back from Japan where every mechanism and selfie taking device was in play. People at the snow had GoPro’s either on a selfie stick or attacked to their helmets to record and publish their experiences. Elsewhere the increasingly popular selfie stick was visible around every major (or minor) Japanese landmark. This fits in neatly with the theory of an attention economy, proposing that a certain amount of effort and originality is required to gain and maintain somebody’s attention (Lange 2009, p. 72). Over the 10 years since Lange’s article was published, we have seen these changes from posting photos and status updates, to the micro videos that people now use to communicate. Murray (2015, p. 490) sees the selfie as a powerful modern tool for self-expression, encouraging users to share the most pronounced and intimate experiences of their lives. One thing is clear to me, these forms of new media communication form the connective tissue that binds the online generation together.

References

Bishop, S 2018, ‘Why it’s harder than ever to make money on YouTube’, The Conversation, 07 February, viewed 14 January 2019,

Herrman, J 2014, ‘Meet The Man Who Got Inside Snapchat’s Head’, Buzzfeednews, 27 January, viewed on 14 January 2019, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jwherrman/meet-the-unlikely-academic-behind-snapchats-new-pitch#3dlvjg2

Lange, P 2009, ‘Videos of affinity on Youtube’, in P Snickars (ed), The Youtube Reader, National Library of Sweden, Stockholm, pp. 70-88.

Mamiverse Team 2016, ‘In Defence of the Selfie Stick’, Mamiverse, 16 January, viewed 15 January 2019, http://053.f7d.mwp.accessdomain.com/defending-selfie-stick-91170/

elxarvani

The way we communicate now as a society through photos is incredible but also has its downsides. I personally know I love to be out with friends and get a nice photo or funny video to upload to social media. I absolutely love that I can share so freely but I’ve also been in the situations of traveling and just seeing people not live in that moment. Santorini Greece, perfect example It’s almost like people just came there to get a photo not to take in those amazing views and its a shame. I feel sometimes that we are so focused on capturing the moment that we often miss it. I've watched vloggers take breaks as they feel there life revolves around the camera and sometimes they want to sit at home and be boring. I wonder how far this form of communication will take us.

annagpellegrino

Politics and Civic Cultures

We now live in a world driven by new technology and primarily social media, so much so our politicians are now jumping on the social media bandwagon. Overall I’d say there is more engagement from American politicians than Australian ones, this is simply evident in their followings on social media. On Instagram, US President Donald Trump has 10.9 million whereas Australian PM Scott Morisson only has 24,000. There's an ongoing joke that Australians don't know who their prime minister is and this could be a result of their interaction with social media. I know that if all our politicians were more active in online communities like Trump is, they would probably be better recognized.

Online presence, for the most part, can be a great way for politicians to gain followers and voters, however, these social media platforms can bite you back. In 2012 Peter Watson, ALP candidate, was forced to resign as an old homophobic comment of his resurfaced (Jericho 2012).

Digital Citizenship, What is it?

Digital citizenship can be defined as a person with the skills and knowledge to effectively use digital technologies to participate in society, communicate with others and create and consume digital content (eSafety 2018). It is simply your engagement with political issues and human rights through the use of social media, it is an expression of opinion. When I think of digital citizenship what I find most relevant to me is the same-sex marriage vote we had in the previous year. I saw heaps of people I knew posting about it and creating funny memes to do with the postal vote. A lot of this content was shared across social media bringing attention to the issue. This encouraged the outcome of the vote as the plebiscite passed and same-sex marriage was finally legalised.

Social media and politics can go well together if taken with care and responsibility. Politicians like to bite back sometimes online which won’t get them far. If we look to the future I believe it is those who are more engaged with their younger voters online that will succeed. The younger voters are the future of the country, therefore, should be most important in addressing. As technology is rapidly advancing and new social media platforms are being introduced the possibilities are really endless. My advice to politicians would be to stay on top of it!

References

Jericho, G 2012, ‘How many votes are there on Twitter?’, in The Rise of the Fifth Estate, Scribe, Victoria, Australia

Esafety Commission Office, 2018, ‘Digital Citizenship’, Australian Government, <https://www.esafety.gov.au/education-resources/classroom-resources/digital-citizenship>

elxarvani

I completely agree that those that engage with younger voters will be the ones who get the votes. We as a young society are so out of touch with our politicians and it’s something that we can do now that will help our futures later. Social media is an amazing tool that far too many don’t utilize, and you want it to be direct from the source not just from there teams. Hopefully, more of them start to increase this and be connected.

bridiedigitalcommunites-blog

Culture Jamming

Through digital citizenship and civic participation, activist groups are able to digitally protest their opinion and spread their message. Adbusting is a form of culture jamming whereby activists challenge the common opinions within a culture. The group Adbusters (www.adbusters.org) have effectively challenged cultural beliefs such as American Thanksgiving, by ways of an ad that displayed a pig snorting in the background while a strong voice spoke about how Americans consume more than any other country, the campaign was called “Buy Nothing Day”.

Adbusters - USA (2007) <http://bit.ly/1q908LP>

With the proliferation of new technologies comes the increase of activist groups being able to voice their opinions and make noise within digital communities and in a digital space such as social media. This accessibility that many of us have to protest and participate in civic communities, means that there is more ‘slacktivism’ and ‘clicktivism’ (Bakardjieva 2009, p. 103). These terms refer to the easy actions of digitally participating activists that have no real impact or lasting result for the cause.

A campaign in 2012 called “KONY” by Invisible Children Inc is an example of activism that has been widespread through the help of digital communities by minor efforts of a large group of people. The campaign was shared across various social media sites and participants were made to feel empowered as they got behind a cause for justice. The aim of the campaign was for a Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony to be arrested for his crimes of mass indoctrination of child soldiers and other offenses including rape and murder. The campaign managed to raise 20 million dollars towards the cause, however, one year on there was no change and Kony was still free. The activism portrayed in the Kony campaign backfired on the Invisible Children Inc organisation as supporters were left feeling disappointed as their efforts had not translated into results. Some said that the campaign did not display the correct information as some footage was a decade old, as well as simplified the issue when it was far more complex than the campaign portrayed it to be (Truthloader 2013).

Joseph Kony 2012: What happened to invisible children? – Truthloader (2013)<http://bit.ly/1pk3M06>

adbusters.org, 2019, Adbusters Media Foundation | Journal of the Mental Environment. https://www.adbusters.org/ viewed 28.01.19

Bakardjieva, M. (2009). Subactivism: Lifeworld and Politics in the Age of the Internet. The Information Society, p.103.

elxarvani

Exactly right here, the explanation of Adbusting is great and it’s something that we see a lot of now too on social media. With people having the freedom to explore there ideas and opinions more freely. I know many people are involved in online activism and I think its a really awesome thing to be a part of. Obviously, you want to be doing it for the right reasons but I think this new expression and freedom we have as a society is the most powerful thing! Love your explanation of it.