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The importance of digital communities in gaming (wk10)

Digital communities in gaming, create a public sphere of discussion, allowing players to interact with one another through social games. ‘Social games’ are defined as online multiplayer games that connect others through social channels such as social networks or social media. Platforms such as Facebook, Steam, Twitch COD, Animal crossing, Mario Cart, Clash of Clans, Minecraft and Among us are all examples of gaming communities. 

Twitch holds a huge part of the online gaming conversation with live-streaming of games being their most popular feature. Twitch has enabled creators on the platform to become quite successful with over 2.2 million broadcasters on their platform per month as of 2017. (Taylor, 2018) Creators are earning a profit and “110,000 ‘creators’ in the Affiliates program - content producers that receive revenue from their streams.”(Taylor, 2018) There are over 10 million daily active users on Twitch connecting instantaneously with viewers through live streams.

Viewers connect with these creators and can donate money to them at any stage of the stream. However, the relationship between creators and their audiences is one-sided and can be considered a parasocial relationship. 

Parasocial relationships “resemble those of face-to-face interaction” or in this case screen interactions but these interactions are consistently mediated and one-sided. (Oxford, 2022) Parasocial relationships are powerful due to the fact they hold so much power and control over their viewers without knowing their individual existence. This sort of relationship encourages many creators and the platform to utilise this strategy, by creating a false one-sided ‘friendship’ with their viewers, creating a ‘bond’ from the viewer’s point of view. This tactic also enables businesses and sponsors of certain games to easily promote their products through creators' live streams on Twitch, as a way to capitalise and make revenue. 

Bibliography:

Oxford Reference. (2022). Parasocial Interaction. Oxford Reference. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100305809

Taylor, TL 2018, ‘Broadcasting ourselves’ (chapter 1), in Watch Me Play: Twitch and the Rise of Game Live Streaming, Princeton University Press, pp.1-23

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The digital disfigurement of bodies on social media (Wk 9)

In western society/culture, there is a hyper-fixation of the female body. These beauty standards of women’s body image and how they should appear are considered a ‘desired aesthetic’ amongst women. Due to these unrealistic westernised body standards, more women feel the need to digitally alter their appearance through apps such as face-tune, photoshop and “perfect 365 producing our own notions of normativity.” (Coy-Dibley, 2016)

With the help of digitalised modifications, people have the freedom to critique their bodies, similarly to how we would in mirrors. (Coy-Dibley, 2016) Now it only takes up to a few minutes to make these adjustments to photos. 

Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Patrick Byrne suggests that photo editing of selfies and using filters can really affect someone’s self-image to the point of seeking plastic surgery. (Holloway, 2021)

Filters and editing “have created a culture of body dysmorphic disorder - ranging from depression and anxiety. (Holloway, 2021)

This can have detrimental impacts on passive audiences who aren’t aware of any editing behind the scenes. This then becomes an unethical situation, as there are many people who engage with this type of content daily, consuming and believing that this is how their bodies look in real life. Micro celebrities and influencers typically use editing as a way to live up to society’s expectations of women however, the line between what is real and what is digitally enhanced becomes blurred with more and more vulnerable people falling victim to these tactics.

But are the micro influences to blame? Arguably, they’re just doing their job or they’re just falling into the pressure of what society deems as ‘aesthetically pleasing’…

However, it should come down to honesty and setting the record straight as seeing unrealistic standards on social media platforms “affects our perception of self [individuality].” (Coy-Dibley, 2016)

Bibliography: 

Coy-Dipley, 2016, ‘Digitized Dysmorphia’ of the female body: the re/disfigurement of the image’, Palgrave Communications, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 1-9.

Holloway, 2021, How Photo Editing and Filters Can Harm Your Body Image with Dr. Patrick Bryne, Cleveland Clinic, URL:

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Body modifications on social media (Wk 8)

Body modifications nowadays are quite common on social media and are considered an ‘aesthetic’, to maintain a certain image by enhancing “their appearance on Instagram and other social medias.” (Dorfman, 2018) The main way in which this is achieved is through microcelebrity influencers using apps to modify their bodies or turn to plastic surgery and make physical and permanent modifications. 

Microcelebrities are referred to as people who have a “new form of identity that is linked almost exclusively to online spaces.” (Senft, 2012) Microcelebrities are associated with self-branding and tend to rely on visual tactics to promote and market products. 

Body modifications have become increasingly popular with a study conducted in 2017 by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery that recorded, “42% of surgeons report that their patients are seeking aesthetic surgery.” (Dorfman, 2017) This is due to them wanting to ‘improve’ and change their appearance for the sake of their social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and Tik Tok.

The platform Instagram is typically one of the more “uniquely visual social media channels,” (Dorfman, 2017) with a total of more than 400 million ‘Insta’ users and more than 80 million photos that are uploaded to this platform per day, as of 2016. Instagram has a wide range of users consuming content of modified and ‘aesthetically pleasing’ bodies which can become a dangerous place for young people who look up to these microcelebrities and prioritise and invest their time into these influencers on these platforms. 

The Popular Kardashian clan is arguably one of the most relevant families of the 21st century. They’re known for their hit reality tv show ‘Keeping up With the Kardashians’ (2007), their businesses, brands and of course theories surrounding plastic surgeries. This family is a prime example of how making modifications can have long-lasting and potentially harmful impacts on individuals’ mental health. The family has had their fair share and experiences with digital modifications including photoshop fails where they have almost immediately removed the image without a trace. The pressure of keeping up with body standards and the ideal ‘slim-thick’ figure is flaunted by them to live up to these standards that they have created, on a daily basis.

Hashtags such as:

#thick

#thicc

#slimthick

all have over 9 million posts combined, with #slimicc having 134million tags on Tik Tok (Kato, 2022) 

Body modifications on social media can be quite damaging for audiences as it encourages false beauty standards if viewers are unaware of any modifications. These unrealistic standards can deteriorate young impressionable minds making them question reality… 

how far is too far?

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Dorfman, R & Vaco, E & Mahmood, E & Fine, N & Schierle, 2018, ‘‘Plastic Surgery-Related Hashtag Utilization on Instagram: Implications for Education and Marketing’, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, vol. 38, no. 3, p. 332-338.

Senft, T 2012, Microcelebrity and the Branded Self. In Hartley, J, Burgess, J & Bruns, A (Ed.), A Companion to New Media Dynamics, Blackwell, UK.

Kato, 2022, Study names Kim Kardashian as star fuelling negative body image, news.com, URL:

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Gaslighting and harassment online (wk7)

Online discourse has always been very prominent within social media forums, leading to negative behaviours and harassment from parties over conflicting ideologies. Although the internet is a popular place for people to come together and communicate, online abuse is quite common. According to Gleeson, gaslighting is an example of a “contemporary thought and vernacular,” (Gleeson, 2018) which is a word originating from the film ‘Gaslight’ (1944) where a husband deliberately manipulates his wife into believing she is insane. 

Gaslight is quite a common word and is identified throughout online forums. Gaslight is defined as the “psychological manipulation of a person in order to erode their sense of self and sanity, (Gleeson, 2018) hence themes present within the 1944 film ‘Gaslight’. In terms of society today, the term has re-emerged and its relevance is commonly associated with abuse and violence against women not just online but in real life. 

Common cliques and stereotypes present degrading women are unfortunately still present and used within our society today, typically by those who are a part of the “manosphere.” (Marwick, 2018) The Manosphere to put simply, are those who associate themselves with anti-feminist content and are linked to “online misogyny and harassment.” They are also people who are associated with blogs, podcasts, men’s rights activists and fringe groups. (Marwick, 2018)

“The crazy ex-girlfriend”

“Psycho bitch”

“Bitches be crazy”

“Hysterical women”

(Gleeson, 2018) 

Unfortunately gaslighting is still existing in today’s society as a way to dismiss women who are a part of the #MeToo movement. These stereotypes are quite damaging for young women and men, as using them with malicious intent about a certain gender can create confusion and conflict between digital citizens. These stereotypes are very much just stereotypes and don’t refer to every woman, which is important for members within the Manosphere to consider. Members who are part of the Manosphere use gaslighting and misogynistic phrases and behaviours about women, as a manipulation tool towards not just women but men too.

Bibliography: 

Gleeson, J 2018, ‘Explainer: What does ‘Gaslighting’ Mean?’, The Conversation, 6 December, https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-does-gaslighting-mean-107888

Marwick, A & Caplan, R 2018, ‘Drinking male tears: language, the manosphere, and networked harassment’, Feminist Media Studies, vol. 18

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Sustainable Fashion (W6)

Eco-, green- and slow- are all interchangeable terminologies relating to ‘sustainable fashion’ that are prominent within the fashion world today. (Carey and Cervellon 2014)

Sustainable fashion is described as ‘slow fashion’ and is considered the complete opposite of cheap, mass-produced ‘fast fashion. (Watson and Yan 2013).

fashion is considered unethical due to the detrimental impacts on the environment, poor working conditions, low wages and pollution, (Vrachovska, 2019) as many brands and corporations had a strong focus on quantity rather than quality. 

Fast fashion is considered an unethical way of manufacturing fashion items as it is commonly associated with a 'throw attitude’ attitude. Fast fashion is considered unethical due to the detrimental impacts on the environment, poor working conditions, low wages and pollution, (Vrachovska, 2019) as many brands and corporations had a strong focus on quantity rather than quality. 

At first sustainable fashion did have negative connotations and was perceived as being an excessive means to produce fashion however, it’s clear to see that this perspective was due to a lack of education surrounding this issue. Now sustainable fashion is the future with “both high-street and high-end retailers,” (Lai, 2017) that have introduced more sustainable pieces of clothing such as, ‘the Conscious Line’ at  H&M where they prioritise investing in 50 % sustainable materials like “organic cotton or recycled polyester.” (H&M, 2022) Other places with similar mindsets include ‘Plann A’ (S&M) and ‘Closing the Loop’ (Zara).

This new wave of sustainable fashion is revolutionising the industry in places such as the UK, which consider it a ‘lifestyle’. As mentioned in the reading for this week, governments supporting initiatives can transform and improve the ways their people buy fashion as seen in the UK. With “consumers increasingly demanding garments that are more sustainable, (Wigley, 2012) due to people having a  desire to help the planet and become more ‘green.’  

Ultimately, the goal is to stop purchasing from unethical brands that profit from fast fashion and invest money into ethical brands that will manufacture fashion in a safe, clean and eco-friendly way. Doing so will assist the environment by decreasing any carbon emissions, and greenhouse gasses also putting a stop to child labour and sweatshop factories.

Bibliography: 

Vrachovska, 2019, ‘What are the disadvantages of fast fashion?’, almost zero waste, URL: 

H&M, 2022, ‘conscious choice products explained’, URL: 

Lai, Z & Henninger, C & Alevizou, P 2017, ‘An Exploration of Consumers’ Perceptions Towards Sustainable Fashion – A Qualitative Study in the UK’, in Henninger, C.E, Alevizou, P, Goworek, H, Ryding, D, Sustainability in Fashion, Springer International Publishing, Cham, p. 81-101.

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How digital citizenship and political engagement spark discussions (w5)

In the digital age, we live in now almost anyone can be classed as a ‘digital citizen.’ Digital citizens have a strong influence within the public sphere, shaping their skills and knowledge surrounding digital technology in a positive way to participate with the rest of society, whilst creating, consuming and sharing digital content. There are three main areas of participation in society which are to do with economical opportunities, democratic participation and inclusion in prevailing forms of communication. (Mossberger, 2008)

As mentioned in this week’s reading, it’s important to understand the mainstream influence Australian politics has on its audiences. (Vromen, 2017) Understanding these effects and tactics through digital technology/media is what helps a wide audience of Australians become familiar with “major changes in citizen-based politics in the digital age,” (vromen, 2017) this is especially prominent in advanced democracies. 

Nowadays most citizens engage with politics in “individualised” ways this can be done through online or offline forums such as “online petitioning, donating money, ad hoc volunteering of time, and boycotting…” (Vromen, 2017) Many citizens also used “digitally-based mechanisms” (Vromen, 2017) to engage audiences in politics, enabling them to have the ability to express their point of view through the public sphere. 

The use of hashtags has had a huge part in shaping the public through the use of social channels relating to politics and pressing social justice issues. Hashtags such as;

#Auspol

#MeToo

#ClimateChange

#ImWithHer

#ecofashion

#March4Justice

#BlackLivesMatter

#FreeBritney

These all demonstrate a call to action, engaging citizens and making them more aware of the effects these topics have. Platformization can also be considered a result of the transformation of social networks into social media platforms. Which is relevant to the ways digital citizens engage with content online or offline sparking discussions surrounding these issues.

Bibliography:

Mossberger, 2008, ‘Institution, Policy Innovation, and E-Government in the American states’, Wiley online library, URL: 

Vromen, 2017, 'Intro  Download Intro', 'Digital Citizenship and Political Engagement The Challenge from Online Campaigning and Advocacy Organisations' London : Palgrave Macmillan

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How reality tv has impacted the net-based public sphere through political communication (w4) :

“The internet provides a public space whereby, this everyday-life politicalisation can occur bottom up.” (Graham, Hajru, 2011)

Political talk in today's society is a conversation that addresses a more “lifestyle-base approach to politics,” (Graham, Hajru, 2011) which we see being adopted into communicative public spheres. Political talk in relation to the public sphere welcomes discussion allowing others to connect and discuss their opinions on society through social media.

Net based researchers have discovered that the public sphere has a strong focus on entertainment and reality tv. Reality tv shows such as, Big Brother, Wife Swap and Married at first sight are examples of reality tv shows that provoke ideas surrounding the fact that “communication [has] a political dimensions.” (Van Zoonen, 2005). With reality tv having such an influential impact on its audience, these members are typically considered as active participants that like to engage freely in a communicative public sphere. Active audience can initiate these intellectual and informed discussions surrounding political talk in the net-based public sphere whether they’d like to be anonymous or not. 

A popular way people tend to communicate ‘politics’ is through hashtags on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #MAFS is the abbreviation of well known reality tv show, ‘married at first sight’. This hashtag creates a public sphere for those to engage in an online discussion with others in the ‘community’ who want to share their opinions. Reality tv shows such as MAFS, encourages political talk and evokes strong ideas and questions surrounding bullying, gender identity, business and public image. In a more positive light reality tv has “offered space for the representation of populations with limited public voice, challenging viewer prejudices… ” (Klein, 2021) this has definitely helped audiences whom may be apart of minorities to speak up, and become involve in political communication in the online forums.

Klein, 2021, ‘Look at me, I’m on TV: political dimensions of reality television participation,’ media, culture & society, sage journals, viewed on 16th of march 2022, URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01634437211036979

Graham, Harju, 2011, ‘Reality TV as a trigger of everyday political talk in the net-based public sphere,’ sage journals, sage publications, viewed on 16th March 2022, URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0267323110394858

Todd Graham and Auli Hajru Reality TV as a trigger of everyday political talk in the net-based public sphere  Download Reality TV as a trigger of everyday political talk in the net-based public sphere, European Journal of Communication 26(1) 18–32, 2011.

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How has social media (Tumblr) shaped the ‘feminism movement’ for young girls? (W3)

Feminism is something that has been around for forever, however it’s only recently gained popularity on social media platforms such as Tumblr and Twitter. Keller argues, that this movement is primarily “teenage girls” who are strategically deciding on what sort of ‘feminist’ content they would like to engage with. (Keller, 2019) #Croptopday was a hashtag apparent on twitter in late spring of 2015. This hashtag encouraging protests surrounding gendered dress code for teenage girls. Keller mentions how a “19-year-old sophomore,”  used this hashtag to protest and bring awareness to the subjection and “policing of girls bodies,” and how harmful it can be to young people. (Keller, 2019) 

It’s also important to acknowledge how different platforms have different Vernaculars which can be related to a specific demographic or gender. For example, the language and content typically distributed on Facebook is considered more “conservative” as their audience caters for typically, older people. Keller mentions how Marlo, (19 year old girl) feels uncomfortable posting feminist content on Facebook, in fear of a dispute with family members who may not be familiar or understand such a movement. Tumblr has always been a place for people to express their interests or hobbies whether it be anonymous or not, it didn’t really matter as there was a large interest and appreciation for people who had similar interests. 

Tumblr has helped spread awareness on social justice issues and feminism movements through the ways they operate as a platform. Since Tumblr is a public forum for discussion, it has allowed many young women to connect with other women and share similar stories and experiences, which has had a strong and empowering impact. Tumblr has taught and will continue to teach “new and important things about feminism.” (Halloran, 2017) the feminism movement is also something that is still “evolving and [is] more determined than ever.” (Halloran, 2017)

Keller, 2019, “Oh She’s a Tumblr Feminist”: Exploring the Platform Vernacular Girls’ Social Media Feminism,’ social media + society, https://swinburne.instructure.com/courses/40896/pages/week-3-readings?module_item_id=2529002

Halloran, 2017, ’How Tumblr provided  with a community of strong, independent woman,’ Thetab,

https://thetab.com/us/2016/06/19/tumblr-spreading-feminism-14529