Footprints in a Digital World

Social media is changing the way we communicate and the way we are perceived, both positively and negatively. Every time you post a photo, or update your status, you are contributing to your own digital footprint and personal brand.

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BLOG 8: SOCIAL GAMING

Social Gaming is climbing the ranks in reference to the way we communicate as we push further into the future of online media. It can be defined as ‘those games specially made for, and profiting from, social network sites like Facebook.’ (Jones, L, 2014)

Whilst they are becoming more popular, many are uncertain as to what social gaming is, and what it means for the future of communication.

(Zynga, 2015)

Farmville is one of the largest known social gaming sites that is connected with Facebook. The game allows users to grow their own virtual farm, thus meaning growing crops and taking care of farm animals. Socially, it allows users to send gifts to one another, and help cultivate a friend’s farm when they cannot.

Between August 2009 and December 2010, Farmville claimed the spot of ‘top game’ as it had the most daily users. However, the game stemmed further from its origin on the social networking site, and branched out to retail ties with 7-Eleven. This in turn allowed them to expand even further, partnering with the iconic music star Lady Gaga to create ‘GagaVilla.’

More information can be found here: https://zynga.com/games/farmville

Runescape

(Reynolds, M, 2011) 

Runescape, much in comparison to the widely popular game World of War Craft, is an online social game that allows the user to create a character and play as them in a virtual world. The user is given the opportunity to build upon their current status as there are different levels of progression to the game. Moreover, they are able to gain skills, undergo challenges and be awarded achievements whilst interacting with others.

“RuneScape is, according to the Guinness World Records, the world's most popular free-to-play MMORPG, with over 200 million players over its lifetime. What that means, exactly, is that more than 220 million player accounts have been created since RuneScape launched in 2001.” (Yin-Poole, W, 2013)

More information can be found here: http://services.runescape.com/m=rswiki/en/Beginners%27_Guide?jptg=ia&jptv=navbar

What does this mean for communication?

“Social interaction between members of multiplayer communities shares similarities to interaction in face-to-face groups. Shared values and goals are the basis on which a shared understanding and a sense of community are built on.” (How Does Online Gaming Affect Social Interactions?, 2007)

As stated above, whilst we are not communicating face to face, we are still harbouring the foundation of what communication is. A common interest that is shared between a individuals.

References:

-          How Does Online Gaming Affect Social Interactions?, 2007, Science Daily, viewed 28 January 2015, from <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070915110957.htm>  

-          Jones, L, 2014, ‘Week 10: Social Gaming: Playing the Crowd’, Communities MDA 20009, Blackboard, Swinburne University of Technology, viewed 28 Jan 2015.

-          Reynolds, M, 2011, ‘RuneScape’, Exclusive: 'RuneScape' new logo, website - first look, Digital Spy, viewed 28 January 2015, from <http://www.digitalspy.com.au/gaming/news/a352083/runescape-new-logo-website-first-look.html#~p2CMB0cBHooXAZ>

-          Yin-Poole, W, 2013, ‘ Runescape 3 attracts over 300,000 new players, Eurogamer.net, viewed 28 January 2015, from <http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-09-06-runescape-3-attracts-over-300-000-new-players>

-          Zynga, 2015, ‘FarmVille’, FarmVilla, Zynga, viewed 28 January 2015, from <https://zynga.com/games/farmville>

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BLOG 7: BUT FIRST, LET ME TAKE A SELFIE

(Ahmad, I, 2013, ‘The Selfie Phenomenon’)

  As technology advances and the internet and social media becomes a more prominent part of our lives, so does the visual aspect that compliments them. In the modern age, we are communicating more and more through the means of visual interaction. This being supported by social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest and many more. Similarly, it is also supported by the advancement in mobile phone camera’s and applications such as snap chat.

But as we continue to define ourselves more in a digital and visual world through the act of taking selfies, is it affecting the person whom is behind the photo?

Why do we take selfies?

A selfie is a ‘new form of visual communication and public intimacy, the presentation of the self and of place and location, and also new interactions with the cult of celebrity.’ (Jones, L, 2014)

The selfie is a means of visual communication, conveying how the person in the photo feels, or what they are doing. Although a photo used to genuinely mean someone taking a photo, nowadays it means much more.

10 different types of Selfies-

1. The “I’m Bored” Selfie.

2. The “I’m At an Event” Selfie.

3. The “Funny” Selfie.

4. The “Hashtag” Selfie. 

5. The “Bragging” Selfie. 

6. The “Mirror” Selfie. 

7. The “I Have a Cool Job” Selfie. 

8. The “We Are SO in Love” Selfie. 

9. The “My New…” Selfie. 

10. The “I Never Post Selfies, But…” Selfie.

(Readers, 2014)

More information regarding the ten different types of selfies can be found at http://hellogiggles.com/age-selfie and are written by readers of the site.

  What is the ‘Selfie’ doing to us?

Whilst many believe that taking a selfie and uploading it to social media sites or mobile phone applications is essentially promoting ones appearance, science has discovered there is much more underlying beneath the camera lens.

The act of taking a selfie is now being linked to an addiction and mental health problems. Thus being said, scientists believe that it is related to past bullying and low self-esteem.

“According to a recent study from the Pew Research Center, 91 percent of teens have posted a photo of themselves online. Many also use photo messaging applications such as Snapchat to attach text.”

(Barakat, C, 2014)

An example of how the selfie can take effect on the person whom is behind the lens, is teenager Danny Bowman. His story can be found here: http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/selfies-narcissism-addiction-low-self-esteem/147769

    References:

-          Ahmad, I, 2013, ‘The Selfie Phenomenon’, The Rise of Selfies, Digital information world, viewed 19 January 2015, from <http://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2013/10/the-rise-of-selfies-infographic.html>

  -          Barakat, C, 2014, ‘Science Links Selfies to Narcissism, Addiction & Low Self Esteem’, Ad Week, viewed 29 January 2015, from <http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/selfies-narcissism-addiction-low-self-esteem/147769>

  -          Jones, L, 2014, ‘Week 9: Visual Communities and Social Imaging’, Communities MDA 20009, Blackboard, Swinburne University of Technology, viewed 19 Jan 2015.

  Readers, 2014, ‘The Age of the Selfie’, Hello Giggles, viewed 19 January 2015, from <http://hellogiggles.com/age-selfie>

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BLOG 6: CROWDSOURCING IN TIMES OF CRISIS

Have you ever been frustrated at your computer as it crashed during a heated debate online? When a site crashes as you are doing a test or ordering the next ‘in-fashion’ clothing online? What about a social networking site crashing whilst a major event takes place, leaving you screaming at your computer to fix it?

You are not alone. 

Andrea, 2011)

  The countless information flows through a number of different channels and are distributed through targeted networks or social media networks. Social mapping platforms have been developed to ‘crowdsource’ on the ground information in real time, and volunteer hackers have often come together during crises to devise tools that can solve problems in disasters like the Haiti earthquake, Japan tsunami, Queensland floods and Black Saturday bushfires. (Jones, L, 2014)

  Crowdsourcing

(Martin, C, 2014)

  Crowdsourcing can be defined as the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people and especially from the online community rather than from traditional employees or suppliers. (Merriam, 2015).

The most commonly known website of crowdsourcing is Wikipedia. Wikipedia allows a user to change and manipulate its content at the user’s free will to inform the public of the internet.

  Social Mapping (crowdmapping)

There are now many tools on the internet that allow a user to post information and images to a publically wide website known as socially generated maps. The world has experienced many disasters and unfortunately amateur videos and photos did not hold enough credibility to gain public attention compared to that of the news.

One of the earliest and most famous tools is called Ushahidi, which is the Swahili word for 'witness' or 'testimony'. It was developed during the civil conflict in Kenya in 2007 and adapted during the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2008. (Jones, L, 2014))

However, crowd mapping may provide misinformation, or inaccurate information that may just be as harmful as no information at all. Due to this negativity, emergency services are reluctant to draw any final conclusions from crowd mapping without system verification first.

  In times of crisis and disasters, innovative means such as crowd sourcing and crowd mapping are becoming available for facilitating and improving the flow of information amongst communities when and where they need it most, whilst also allowing communities around the world get involved in helping those in need. 

REFERENCES:

-          Andrea, 2011, ‘What to do if your computer crashes’, Savings Scoop, viewed 15 January 2015, from <http://www.savingsscoop.com/whattodoifyourcomputercrashes/>

-          Jones, L, 2014, ‘Week 8: Crowdsourcing in times of crisis’, Communities MDA 20009, Blackboard, Swinburne University of Technology, viewed 15 Jan 2015.

  -          Martin, C, 2014, ‘5 crowdsourcing sites that will save you money’, Decorilla, viewed 15 January from <http://www.decorilla.com/online-decorating/5-crowdsourcing-sites-that-will-save-you-money/ >

-          Merriam, 2015, ‘Crowdsourcing’, Merriam, viewed 15 January 2015, from <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crowdsourcing>

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BLOG 5: YOU GOT TROLLED!

(Tarantola, A, 2012)

The face above is now becoming a face that many take recognition to. It is the face of the troll. And as its name suggests, it causes pain and hurt. Internet trolling is yet another form of bullying, however it has taken a new stand where it is now firmly planting itself in social media, a tool that we use daily.

What is an Internet Troll?

Although there is much variation on what defines a Troll or Trolling behaviour due to the fact that it is something we don’t fully understand, its common characteristics include intentional engagement in the act of disregarding the feelings of others. They are deceptive and deceitful, and much replicate that of a bully.

What do trolls do?

Trolls operate in participatory online communities such as, news discussion boards, blogs, online gaming forums and image sharing sites. Comments vary from fun, light filled banter, to more malicious attacks.

Troll aim to make other users feel overemotional or foolish. This is supported by comments and attacks to fulfil their view of amusement.

Why do they do what they do?

As bullies are the same, trolls thrive off attention. They crave to be noticed, and this very well may stem back towards home life or personal problems.

It gives them power, a strength that is supplied and amplified by the online community at the expense of the feelings of others.

What are the implications of trolling?

The implications of internet trolling replicates that of cyber bullying. It creates and builds upon the stress of the targeted individual over a period of time, thus putting them in a state of feeling alone and scared when the situation has escalated too far.

The implications of trolling across the internet includes the following:

-          An individual not wanting to go to school out of fear.

-          Grades and work performance dropping due to stress.

-          Depression.

-          Self-esteem issues.

-          The use of drugs and alcohol.

-          Suicide.

(2014,The effects of Cyber Bullying)

How can it be stopped?

The internet is a fast growing medium that has concreted itself in the modern world. As we have bullies beyond the confines of a keyboard and screen, there will always be internet trolling. Although they cannot be stopped, there are measures to take to ensure that the implications of trolling do not escalate within society.

These include the following:

-          Don’t give out passwords or private information that can be used against you.

-          Save messages as proof.

-          Block the person conducting the trolling.

-          Report everything.

-          Talk to someone.

-          Educate one another to help protect each other.

-          Turn off your technology, take a break from it.

-          Remember, the internet is not the real world.

(Madizma-Bosha. T, 2013)

References:

- 2014,The effects of Cyber Bullying, No Bullying. Com, viewed 5 Jan 2015, from <http://nobullying.com/the-effects-of-cyber-bullying/ > 

-Madizma-Bosha. T, 2013, Harnessing the power of social media for conflict prevention, Insight on Conflict, viewed 16 December 2014, from <http://www.insightonconflict.org/2013/07/social-media-conflict-prevention/>

- Tarantola, A, 2012, ‘Trolling could get you 25 years in jail’, Gizmodo, viewed 5 Jan 2014, from <http://gizmodo.com/5898585/itll-soon-be-illegal-to-troll-in-arizona>

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BLOG 4: ACTIVISM AND PROTEST

(‘Social media protest’)

The world has had some moving and life changing activists and protests throughout its ages. But no longer does an individual or group have to take a literal stand on the streets to convey their point across.

Technology now is allowing groups to protest over social media, mobilising a new form a movement that is sparking a social media revolution.

  Local Digital Activism

Local activist groups are organisations that make use of various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to convey and spread their message and raise funds for their chosen campaigns.

An example of local activist groups include Greenpeace, GetUp! And Change.org.

(Get up!, 2014), (Greenpeace, 2014), (Change.org, 2014)

  Digital Citizenship

Digital citizenship can be defined as the potential overall benefit for society that stems from using social media tools and the ability to bring a community together in the involvement of a movement.

The most common use of digital citizenship is involved with political processes. It may involve the participation in mainstream politics, or resisting against dominant politics.

This new form of media and digital citizenship allows us to conduct the following:

build and sustain communities with [lower] geographical restrictions

gain visibility and voice - one of the trickier areas where dealing with violent authoritarian regimes

Resist or talk back to dominant views, confront dominant media institutions, politics and structures of power. (Jones. L, 2014)

  Culture Jamming

Culture jamming is the act of using existing media to comment on those very media themselves, and on political and social conditions more broadly. (Jones. L, 2014)

It has always been a part of our society, even before social media. However now, it has been given a new life and the world has now been given a different way of looking at it. The initial idea of culture jamming is to turn advertising against itself so that its flaws are revealed including unethical elements of culture and capitalism.

  The examples given above are but a few of what social media activism and protests can be. It has allowed passionate engagement with not only technology itself, but with communities, individuals and political figures around the world.

References:

-          Getup 2014, viewed 22 September 2014, <https://www.getup.org.au/>.

  -          Greenpeace 2015, viewed 5 Jan 2015, <http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/getinvolved/>

    -          Change.org 2015, viewed 5 Jan 2015, <https://www.change.org/en-AU>.

  -          Jones, L 2014, ‘Week 6: Digital citizenship 2: Activism and Protest’, Digital Communities MDA 20009, Blackboard, Swinburne University of Technology, viewed 5 Jan 2015.

  -          ‘Social media protest’, Social Butterfly, Word Press, viewed 5 Jan 2015, from <http://myersandrea16.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/how-does-civil-disobedience-shows-up-through-social-media/> 

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BLOG THREE: SOCIAL MEDIA AND POLITICS

Social media is becoming vastly intertwined with not only the lives of most individuals, but within the confines of politics. To them, and many, it seems like a good idea. We are able to connect with political figures in ways we couldn’t have many years before the internet changed the modern world.

But with the good, bad always follows.

Throughout this blog, I will discuss the pros and cons of politics power and use of social media, and how it affects us, the people.

  Pros:

Social media has brought many benefits in reference to politics and the people. It has allowed us to connect in ways that we haven’t been able to before. These include: 

These pros all stipulate one thing. That there is no need of a middle man. Social media has allowed a continuous flow of communication between political figures and the public. It most certainly has obtained many benefits. One only has to look at the importance social media played in the election designed by President Obama. It succeeded, because of the active participation of the public

Cons:

Although Social media has done wonders with communication between Political figures and the public, it does harbor cons that can weigh up compared to the pros.

Social media can be used to cause manipulation of facts and current events. This factor is seen throughout the media world beyond the confines of the internet and it political figures don’t necessarily have the ability to shield themselves from giving in to that power.

Social media is a wonderful thing. It brings out the good and bad in all of us, and that include politics. So in your opinion, do you think that social media benefits the world of politics? Or is it a large online space to slander each other and gain power of the people. 

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BLOG 2: A GAME OF SOCIAL MEDIA

We know them by names. By logo. And by popularity. But what is it that the social networking sites we ever engage in really do?

There truly is an endless list to the social network sites that capture the attention of the world today. However, the most popular with the society of the world seem to be Facebook and Twitter. 

                                  (Social Media, Becker, P 2014)

Facebook is a 10 year old social networking site that took the world by storm as it triumphed over the once popular social networking site Myspace. Facebook allows you to interact socially with other people. It also allows you to become a part of a group via liking pages that interest you. However, it is socially more difficult to connect with a wider variety of people as there are not specific links to engage the user with people of similar interests.

This hasn’t stop majority of social media users from creating a profile. The social network has now passed 1.23 billion monthly active users. Of those, daily active users passed 757 million on average during December 2013, and the number of monthly active mobile users hit 945 million. (ProtalinskI, E,  2014)

Twitter, is Facebook leading contender in the social media game.

‘Twitter allows users to maintain a public web-based asynchronous “conversation” through the use of 140-character messages (the length of text messages) sent from mobile phones, mobile Internet devices, or through various websites.

Because tweets can also be directed to specific individual(s), even if she/he is a stranger or a celebrity, Twitter is unique in facilitating interactions across discrete social networks.’

- (Murthy, 2013: 2, 4)

 As Murthy quoted, Twitter is individual unique as opposed to Facebook as interacting and communication stems towards a much larger and broader audience. The number of active users a months sits at a figure of 115 million people as of July 2014. Although it does not harbour as many users as Facebook, figures show that the social networking site has grown immensely in revenue from 2010 ($45,000,000) to 2013 ($405,500,00). (Twitter statistics, 2014)

While many social media networks hold their own unique way of communication, it is Facebook and Twitter that the world turns to the most. And as we communicate and engage with strangers from around the world, they will only grow in strength, popularity and revenue as we are continuously becoming consumed in the game of social media. 

             (Connecting through social media, Saragossi, J, 2013

REFERENCES:

-          2014, ‘Twitter statistics’, Statistic Brain, viewed 21 November 2014, <http://www.statisticbrain.com/twitter-statistics/ >

  -          Becker, P 2012, ‘Social Media’, Social media marketing is ludicrously complicated [infographic], The Wall, viewed 21 November 2014, <http://wallblog.co.uk/2012/05/21/social-media-marketing-is-ludicrously-complicated-infographic/>

  -          Murthy, D 2013, Twitter: Social Communication in the Twitter Age, Wiley, pp 1-13

  -          ProtalinskI, E,  2014, ‘Facebook passes 1.23 billion monthly active users, 945 million mobile users, and 757 million daily users’, TNW, 29 January 2014, viewed 21 November 2014, <http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2014/01/29/facebook-passes-1-23-billion-monthly-active-users-945-million-mobile-users-757-million-daily-users/>

  -          Saragossi, J, 2013, ‘Connecting through social media’, Facebook is for grandparents: What we need in a next-gen social network, TNW, viewed 21 November 2014, <http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2013/11/24/facebook-grandparents-need-next-gen-social-network/ > 

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BLOG 1: Social Media and Our Society

We constantly continue to walk into an every growing age of technology. We no longer leave the house without a mobile phone in hand, or go to sleep without checking our Facebook. So what is it that has consumed our every thought and changed the way we perceive the world?

Social Media.

Social Media has many definitions depending on the varying personalities that use it. A rather accurate definition on the term can be defined as ‘the many relatively inexpensive and widely accessible electronic tools that enable anyone to publish and access information, collaborate on a common effort, or build relationships’ (Jue et al., cited in Murthy, 2013: 7-8).

Furthermore, Social Media has pushed its way into our lives, firmly cementing its place as one of our defining communication tools. But what makes up Social Media?

The Internet is a world that constantly awaits to be explored. Within that world, are Social Networks. These networks can be defined as ‘web services which facilitate users maintaining a ‘public or semi-public profile within a bounded system’ and through which they can ‘articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection.’ (Murthy, 2013: 7).

To the modern world today, they are more commonly referred to as Facebook, Twitter, Google +, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snap Chat and many more.

Picture 1 below shows statistics conducted for the month of January 2014 to depict the social indicators of the Australian public. It is known that 73% of the Australian population have a profile on a social media website, leading us to focus our attention on social media for 2 hours and 5 minutes a day. 

Picture 2 situated below displays the statistics of the month of January 2014 and what social networks the Australian public are using most. A startling statistic of 81% of Australians have a Facebook account, leading it to be the biggest social networking society in Australia.

Early in the 21st century, sociologist Ferdinand Tönnies asked one very important question. What holds a society together when we are all strangers? He defined this question into two distinct answers. A community, formed around organic and natural will. And a Society, formed through rational will that fulfils the needs of modern society. (Jones, L 2014).

So I leave you with this question, are you engaging in Social Media out of natural will? Or are you succumbing to the pressures of the modern world?

Picture 1:  (Australian Social Indicators, 2014)

Picture 2: (Australian Social Media Use, 2014)

REFERENCES:

-          'Australian social media use January' 2014 [infographic], 3rd Sense, viewed 21 November 2014, <http://3rdsense.com/blog/09012014-1121/australian-digital-statistics-2014>.

  -         'Australian social indicators' 2014 [infographic], 3rd Sense, viewed 21 November 2014, <http://3rdsense.com/blog/09012014-1121/australian-digital-statistics-2014>.

  -          Jones, L 2014, ‘Week 2: Social theory and social media’, 2014- SO3- MDA2009 Digital Communities’, Learning materials on Blackboard, Swinburne University of Technology, 10 November, Viewed 21 November 2014.

  -          Murthy, D 2013, Twitter: Social Communication in the Twitter Age, Wiley, pp 1-13.

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As we grow ever more into an age of Digital Media, the symbols above are all we seem to see. Tell me, do you like the direction in which the world journeys to? Or would a thumbs up by your own hand lead to a better place.