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Week 10: Gaming Communities, Social Gaming and Live Streaming

According to Accenture’s report, the total value of the gaming industry now exceeds $300 billion, driven by a surge in mobile gaming and a focus on social interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic (Accenture, 2022). Also, the gaming industry has added half a billion players in the last three years, totalling 2.7 billion people worldwide, and is expected to grow by another 400 million in the coming years (Accenture, 2022). Such data demonstrates that the popularity of the gaming industry has skyrocketed in recent years and has the potential to skyrocket even further. The notion of playing games is most commonly associated with the stereotype that ‘gameplay transcends age, gender, and cultural boundaries’ (Hardwick, T., 2022). It is reported that the respondents who identified as longtime gamers are 61% male, 79% over 25 years old, and 76% identified as white (Accenture, 2022). This perpetuates the stereotype of gamers as being white or East Asian, young, middle-class, and male (Hardwick, T., 2022).

Besides, the growing popularity of social media platforms such as Reddit, Discord, and Twitter has greatly helped in the formation of gaming communities. As the gaming community continues to grow, the social aspect is an increasingly key aspect of gamers’ overall experiences. 84% of respondents believe video games help them connect with others who share similar interests, while three-quarters of them recognize that more of their social interactions now happen on gaming platforms (Accenture, 2022). With a single click, enthusiasts can join or create a community and interact with other players to socialise, share experiences, exchange knowledge or tips about games, and more (Shah, B., n.d.).

Furthermore, the growth of the game industry has led to more and more traffic on gaming streaming platforms. Gaming communities are inherently social and are based around digital citizenship and community, as there is no game without active participation (Hardwick, T., 2022). Taylor (2018) describes this as a rise of a new form of ‘networked broadcasting’, which transforms the otherwise-private play into public entertainment (pp.10). The global gaming live-streaming audience reached 728.8 million in 2021 and is expected to reach 920.3 million by 2024, representing an increase of 9.2% CAGR (Chiovato, L., 2021). By 2017, Twitch, a gaming live-streaming platform, had boasted over 2.2 million unique broadcasters per month and about 10 million daily active users (Taylor, T., 2018, p.3). Users can actively participate as content creators or viewers on live-streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube (Chiovato, L., 2021). The content creators, often known as streamers, live-record themselves playing games while interacting with their viewers in video communication (Chiovato, L., 2021). On the other hand, the audience watches the gameplay and connects with the streamer via ‘a synchronous chat window’ (Taylor, T., 2018, pp.6 and Chiovato, L., 2021).

Electronic Sports (Esports), one of the oldest game genres, is a substantial sector of the gaming industry that is ‘closely tied with online streaming platforms’ (Hardwick, T., 2022). Also, ‘Esports’ is a term used to describe 'formalised competitive computer gaming' (Taylor, T., 2018, p. 3), which involves professional gamers engaging in competitions either individually or in teams. For example, the League of Legends World Championship is held every year by Riot Games (Coltel, M., 2021). Professional players will come from all over the world to compete against each other in teams. The competitions are streamed live on platforms like Twitch and are viewed by millions of viewers around the globe. 

In my opinion, I think one of the reasons that the gaming industry is still on the rise is because the communities and live streaming have grown alongside it over time. I like watching live game streaming because I enjoy listening to the streamers talking about the game. Sometimes it can be more fun to watch someone else play than actually play yourself, as the meme below illustrates:

References:

Accenture, 2022. Global Gaming Industry Value Now Exceeds $300 Billion, New Accenture Report Finds. Viewed 8 May 2022, <https://newsroom.accenture.com/news/global-gaming-industry-value-now-exceeds-300-billion-new-accenture-report-finds.htm>. 

Coltel, M., 2021. Video games and the gaming community: what trends for 2022? - Wild Code School. Viewed 8 May 2022, www.wildcodeschool.com. Available at: <https://www.wildcodeschool.com/en-GB/blog/video-games-community-gaming-trends-2022>.

Chiovato, L., 2021. Game Live Streaming: What Is Live Streaming? How Big Is the Audience? How Did the Pandemic Impact Live Streaming? | Newzoo. Viewed 8 May 2022, <https://newzoo.com/insights/articles/what-is-game-live-streaming-how-big-is-the-audience-pandemic-impact-twitch-youtube/>.

Hardwick, T., 2022, 'Lecture 10, Gaming Communities, Social Gaming and Live Streaming', MDA20009 Digital Communities, Learning materials via Canvas, Swinburne University of Technology, viewed 8 May 2022.

Shah, B., n.d. Why The Gaming Community Is Important To Players - TechShout. Viewed 8 May 2022, <https://www.techshout.com/why-the-gaming-community-is-important-to-players/>.

Taylor, T., 2018, Watch Me Play Twitch and the Rise of Game Live Streaming, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, pp. 1-23.

‘Watching live game streaming’ [image], Gregor, 2015, Waste of Time, LoadingArtist.com, viewed 8 May 2022, <https://loadingartist.com/comic/waste-of-time/>.

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Week 9: Digital Citizenship and Software literacy: Instagram Filters

As the popularity of social media has grown in recent years, many platforms have introduced filters that use augmented reality (AR) to enhance selfies taken by individuals. In this week’s lecture, Lauren Miller (2022) mentioned that the face filters are Augmented Reality (AR) technology that works as a 'digital mask' for adding virtual elements to a real person's face or the surrounding area. Face filters have become so prevalent across social media that they are perhaps the most widespread use of augmented reality in daily life, using artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision to detect and change facial features (Ryan, T., 2021). According to the report from the University of London's Gender and Sexualities Research Centre, 90% of young women reported using filters or editing their photos (Fielding, S., 2021). Built-in social media filters like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook, as well as beauty app filters like Facetune, Meitu and Perfect 365, are the main origins of these filters (Miller, L., 2022).

Like the GIF above, when taking a selfie, it's no longer just a selfie; there are options to transform oneself into a puppy, bear, or even broccoli. FaceTune, an image editing app, was downloaded more than 20 million times in 2018 (The Modems, 2021), and its popularity continues growing as people seek out ways to manipulate their photos. For example, lightening the skin tone, enhancing the cheekbones, and enlarging the eyes are a few examples of photo editing. Thus, it is easier than ever before that an app could make a difference in the way one’s looks. In this week’s reading, Isabelle Coy-Dibley argues that people now no longer critique their bodies in mirrors but instead digitise their dysmorphia through virtually modifying themselves (2016, pp.1-4).

When taking and posting selfies on social media, the filter feature can be deemed as a positive, entertaining and beneficial way to improve one’s appearance or hide one’s body imperfection or disorder. As suggested by Isabelle Coy-Dibley, the filter feature allows people to feel liberated or relieved as it can help to embody unattainable social standards by modifying their images (2016, pp.6). It might help ones to satisfy the ��like-worthy’ of the physical aesthetic standard of social media platforms like Instagram.

However, the concept of filters has gained a reputation for having negative effects on individual self-perception and heightened fixation on one's appearance (Arata, E., 2016). These filters and 'technological modification’ of images have a greater potential to harm women by imposing unrealistic representations and beauty standards on women (Coy-Dibley, L., 2016, pp.2). The majority of the filters improve the appearance by smoothing blemished skin, plumping up lips, smoothing out hair, and even whitening teeth. All of these features are correlated with the ongoing unattainable beauty standards of Westernized society. Almost half of UK girls aged 11 to 21 say they use filters to make themselves look better, and 34% would not post a photo of themselves online without using a filter or app to enhance it first (The Guardian, 2020). It has then resulted in a significant increase in digital dysmorphia, selfie dysmorphia, and Snapchat dysmorphia. 

Body digitised dysmorphia exists on a spectrum with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), but as a socially conditioned dysmorphia, shaped collectively by societal pressures, beauty constructs, and technology currently available to achieve these standards in image form (Coy-Dibley, I., 2016). Isabelle Coy-Dibley also notes that 'the level of digitised dysmorphia depends upon the intentions of the individual in performing alterations of self-image’ (p. 8, 2016).

The YouTube video below discusses how social media filters distort beauty, which then leads to selfie dysmorphia:

Furthermore, according to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), many patients are seeking that real-life filtered look, with 75% of surgeons reporting patients seeking cosmetic procedures to look better in selfies, a 33% increase from when the trend was first identified in 2016. (MedEsthetics, 2021). As we discussed last week, more social media use equals more desire for cosmetic procedures and body dissatisfaction, both of which can be exacerbated by social media, leading to cosmetic surgery. Some patients use surgery to try to replicate the look of their favourite filter. Instead of bringing in a celebrity photo, some patients use edited images of themselves to show a surgeon their prefered perspective (HKB Cosmetic Surgery, n.d). 

The video below is about how the influencer, Levi was inspired by social media to transform his facial appearance in an effort to recreate the look of Instagram photo filters:

References:

Arata, E., 2016, ‘The Unexpected Reason Snapchat's 'Pretty' Filters Hurt Your Self-Esteem.’ Elite Daily, Elite Daily. Viewed 1 May 2022, <www.elitedaily.com/wellness/snapchat-filters-self-esteem/1570236>. 

Coy-Dibley, I., 2016, ‘Digitized Dysmorphia of the female body: the re/disfigurement of the image’, Palgrave Communications, vol. 2, no. 16040.

Fielding, S., 2021. 90% of Women Report Using a Filter on Their Photos. Verywell Mind. Viewed 1 May 2022, <https://www.verywellmind.com/90-of-women-report-using-a-filter-on-their-photos-5116048>.

HKB Cosmetic Surgery, n.d. How Does Social Media Influence Plastic Surgery? Viewed 1 May 2022, <https://www.hkbsurgery.com/how-does-social-media-influence-plastic-surgery/>.

MedEsthetics, 2021. AAFPRS Release 2020 Annual Survey Results. Viewed 1 May 2022, <https://www.medestheticsmag.com/news/news/21283050/american-academy-of-facial-plastic-reconstructive-aafprs-release-2020-annual-survey-results>. 

Miller, L, 2022. ‘Week 9 Guest Lecture Instagram Filters’, MDA20009 Digital Communities, Learning materials via Canvas, Swinburne University of Technology, 20 April, viewed 1 May 2022.

Ryan, T., 2021. Beauty filters are changing the way young girls see themselves. MIT Technology Review. Viewed 1 May 2022, <https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/04/02/1021635/beauty-filters-young-girls-augmented-reality-social-media/>.

The Guardian, 2020. A third of girls say they won’t post selfies without enhancement. Viewed 1 May 2022, <https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/27/a-third-of-girls-say-they-wont-post-selfies-without-enhancement>.

The Modems, 2021. 71% of people edit their selfies — The Modems. Viewed 1 May 2022, <https://www.themodems.com/beauty/71-percent-of-people-edit-their-selfies>.

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Week 8: Body modification on Visual Social Media

In today’s 21st century, it is not surprising to see people seeking plastic surgery across the globe, not to mention other forms of body modification such as tattoos, nose piercing, lip piercing, and visual body modification like photoshop editing and filters. Body dissatisfaction has been shown to be a major motivational factor for plastic surgery among both women and men (Walker, C.E. et, al., 2021, pp.3356). It refers to a person's negative views about their body, which include feelings of dissatisfaction with their current body form compared to an ideal one (Walker, C.E. et, al., 2021, pp.3356). Due to the fact that we live in the digital age, social media has elevated unrealistic beauty standards within the digital communities. Without noticing it, people begin to compare themselves to their peers and celebrities they see on their feeds. This can have a detrimental impact on their self-perception, leading to body modification. 

Since Instagram is a visual platform primarily used for sharing photos of oneself and viewing others, it has become ‘a dominant channel for business marketing to young adults, and its usage in plastic surgery continues to rise’ (Dorfman et al. 2018, pp.333). It has played a significant role in the evolution of beauty standards and in increasing the consequences of body comparisons by exposing users to more idealised images. Due to digital alteration, the images on social media platforms are idealized and unreal, establishing high expectations for individuals in society (Henriques, M., Patnaik, D., 2020). People tend to enhance their appearance on social media platforms by using filters and editing tools (Franchina, V. and Coco, G.L., 2018, pp.8). Digitised apps like Photoshop and Meitu are used to remove imperfections in images by enlarging eyes, whitening teeth, and slimming waists, in order to be accepted as beauty ideals (Henriques, M., Patnaik, D., 2020). Kim Kardashian, a popular microcelebrity, was accused of photoshopping her figure to appear slimmer in a bikini snap in 2021 (Karasin, E., 2021), making unrealistic alterations to look thinner. 'These techniques may further lead to negative consequences of increased body dissatisfaction and body modification' (Henriques, M., Patnaik, D., 2020).

This video below discussed the facetune and video editing escapades of famous influencers Kylie Jenner, Khloe and Kim Kardashian:

For instance, Instagram includes built-in image editing features as well as ‘Instagram filters’ which allow users to modify their appearance before sharing or posting photos (Puglia, D.R., 2017). The use of Instagram filters has also sparked a plastic surgery trend. Some patients use surgery to try to replicate the look of their favourite filter. Rather than bringing in a celebrity photo as an example, some patients use Instagram images of themselves to show a surgeon their prefered perspective (HKB Cosmetic Surgery, n.d).

Moreover, photo-based activities such as commenting on images of oneself and others can play an important role (Franchina, V. and Coco, G.L., 2018, pp.8). Individuals are constantly seeking feedback on social media platforms like Instagram through likes, followers, and comments in order to maintain a perfect and stable image of themselves (Henriques, M., Patnaik, D., 2020). They even rate their own appearance based on the beauty standards established by feedback or verbal messages. For example, Emily Bryngelson, an associate designer struggling with an eating disorder, admits to deleting photographs on social media platforms if she didn't get enough likes (Henriques, M., Patnaik, D., 2020). ‘According to statistics from the American Academy of Facial and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery in 2017, 42% of surgeons reported that their patients sought surgery to improve their appearance on social media channels’ (Dorfman et al. 2017, pp.332). It implies that the majority of plastic surgeries are performed not for personal body empowerment, but rather to gain societal acceptance via followers, likes, and comments.

Besides, no one can deny that microcelebrity is one of the major drivers of body modification. Microcelebrities frequently use social media platforms to share intimate details about the beauty treatments they undergo to bolster their appearance. They post before and after photos of their plastic surgery, blog about getting Botox and Dysport, and even tweet about their upcoming breast augmentation (HKB Cosmetic Surgery, n.d). For example, Kylie Jenner uploaded pictures on Instagram in 2015 promoting lip filler surgery that she had undertaken (HKB Cosmetic Surgery, n.d). In 2018, she also started a vlog detailing her 'lip filler journey.’ (HKB Cosmetic Surgery, n.d) Since they are influential, their followers and the general public tend to emulate what they do. That is why body modification, such as plastic surgery, is no longer something to be ashamed of, but rather is gradually becoming a trend today. 

The video below is about a YouTuber, Jasmine Hand’s lip injections vlog:

This situation has led to many psychological problems, such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), which is defined as a mental problem ‘linked to young people managing the tensions between their offline bodies and whom they aspire to be on social media’ (Mavroudis, J., 2022), resulting in body dissonance. Whether we’d like to admit it or not, social media is shaping our concept of beauty, which has resulted in the body modification trend.

References:

1. Dorfman, R, Vaca, E, Mahmood, E, Fine, N & Schierle, C 2017, "Plastic Surgery-Related Hashtag Utilization on Instagram: Implications for Education and Marketing", Aesthetic Surgery Journal, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 332-338.

2. Franchina, V. and Coco, G.L., 2018. The influence of social media use on body image concerns. International Journal of Psychoanalysis and Education, 10(1), pp.5-14.

3. Henriques, M., Patnaik, D., 2020, 'Social Media and Its Effects on Beauty', in M. P. Levine, J. S. Santos (eds.), Beauty - Cosmetic Science, Cultural Issues and Creative Developments, IntechOpen, London. 10.5772/intechopen.93322.

4. HKB Cosmetic Surgery, n.d. How Does Social Media Influence Plastic Surgery? |. Viewed 24 April 2022, <https://www.hkbsurgery.com/how-does-social-media-influence-plastic-surgery/>.

5. Karasin, E., 2021. Kim accused of photoshopping new bikini pic to appear slimmer. The Sun. Viewed 24 April 2022, <https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/celebrities/15053146/kim-kardashian-photoshopping-bikini-slimmer-khloe-editing/>.

6. Mavroudis, J., 2022, ‘Lecture 8. Public health campaigns and social media influence’, MDA20009 Digital Communities, Learning materials via Canvas, Swinburne University of Technology.

7. Puglia, D.R., 2017. Social media use and its impact on body image: the effects of body comparison tendency, motivation for social media use, and social media platform on body esteem in young women (Doctoral dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).

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Week 7:Digital citizenship and conflict

Digital citizenship is previously defined as the ‘skill and knowledge to effectively use digital technology to facilitate membership and participation in society’ (Mossberger et al. 2008). Everyone in a digital community has the right to share their own thoughts and opinions. Digital citizenship can be observed on social media platforms with users engaging in discussions about society, politics, and government views. Everybody would be able to act as good digital citizens and be integrated in a positive manner.

However, due to the anonymity of the internet, there are certain individuals who engage in bad and dangerous behaviours such as online harassment and cyberbullying.

Online harassment can occur in various ways, such as doxing, revenge porn, shaming and intimidation (Marwick & Caplan 2018, p. 544). Also, it includes a number of harmful activities like calling people offensive names, embarrassing them, physically threatening them, sexually harassing them and so on (Marwick & Caplan 2018, p. 544). Online harassment and cyberbullying are very common because people feel safe saying these things from their homes without suffering the same consequences they would face if they said the same thing to someone in public or in real life.

GIF below has shown as the example of someone who is subjected to cyberbullying:

Online harassment is very common nowadays on the world wide web. Most reported cases originated from social media platforms, damaging the digital communities. According to the statistics below, Instagram is the most common platform for cyberbullying, with 42%, closely followed by Facebook (37%) and Snapchat (31%) (BroadbandSearch, 2022). 

Unfortunately, cyberbullying happens a lot in Australia and around the world. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2021), 44% of Australian young people have experienced cyberbullying, as well as adults experiencing cyber abuse like image-based abuse, harassment, threats of violence, stalking, and hacking. These statistics are extremely shocking to know, especially when finding out how many people are suffering from cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is often focused on personal or physical characteristics (Milne 2021) like physical appearances, race, academic achievement and sexuality are among the most common (BroadbandSearch, 2022) as stated below:

Just like offline violence, online harassment perpetuates negative psychological, social and reproductive health consequences for victims. Furthermore, it also has a significant economic impact. For example, new research by the Australian Institute finds that online harassment and cyberhate have cost Australia an estimated total of $3.7 billion dollars in health costs and lost income (Wang, S. And Addoum, N., 2021)

Besides cyberbullying, some individuals are also subjected to gaslighting, which is another form of abuse. According to this week’s reading, gaslighting is defined as a form of psychological abuse that causes the victim to question their own sanity, perception of reality, and memories (Gleeson 2018). This abuse includes "death threats, slurs, and sexually violent language” (Marwick & Caplan 2018, p. 543). For example, when someone close to you uses their influence and your trust in them to undermine your core confidences, specifically your ability to trust your own senses and judgement, that is gaslighting. It can be as obvious as telling you that something you saw wasn’t real or something you clearly remember didn’t happen.

While gaslighting normally happens in individual relationships or in person, it may also happen through people such as influencers, celebrities, or even politicians, having control over their followers or fans on social media.

A recent example of this often seen in the media is Donald Trump and his various accusations of media outlets spreading "fake news" (Gleeson 2018). He is gaslighting his supporters in a way to turn them against the media and make them rely on him. This is a classic gaslighting technique — telling victims that others are crazy and lying and that the gaslighter is the only source of "true" information. It makes victims question their reality, becoming even more dependent on the gaslighter for “truth.” (Sarkis, S., 2018).

Here is a video that briefly explained the definition and examples of gaslighting:

Although both genders use the Internet, gender plays a role in the types of harassment people are likely to encounter online. It is reported that a higher percentage of women are harassed online compared to men. Young women are more likely than men to report having been sexually harassed online (16% vs. 5%) or stalked (13% vs. 9%), with women under the age of 35 being the most at risk. For instance, women are also the majority of people experiencing revenge porn, the distribution of non-consensual photography, often involving nudity and sex (Chemaly, S., 2014). 

Additionally, women have initiated protests against sexual harassment on social media like Twitter and Instagram. Many hashtags have been created as ‘digital communities’ for women to speak, be heard, and have harassment. For example, the #MeToo movement has shown us the power of collective voice to spotlight the harm of sexual harassment.

Combating online sexual harassment is key to fostering a safe online environment. Although there is no legislation in Australia to protect against cyberbullying and online harassment, a number of acts do, including the Criminal Code Act 1995, the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986, the Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015 and Online Safety Bill 2021 (Milne 2021). Also, Australia has established the world’s first government agency, the eSafety Commissioner, to address complaints of cyberbullying and help citizens be safer online (eSafetyCommissioner, 2022).

I will end my discussion with the following TED talk by Ashley Judd, in which she recounts her ongoing experience of being terrorised on social media for her unwavering activism and calls on internet users, the tech community, law enforcement, and legislators to recognise the offline harm of online harassment:

References:

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2021, Bullying and negative online experiences, viewed 8 April 2022, <https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/negative-online-experiences>.

2. BroadbandSearch, 2022. All the latest cyberbullying statistics and what they mean in 2022. Broadbandsearch.net. Viewed 8 April 2022, <https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/cyber-bullying-statistics>.

3. Chemaly, S., 2014, There's No Comparing Male and Female Harassment Online, TIME. Viewed 8 April 2022, <https://time.com/3305466/male-female-harassment-online/>.

4. eSafetyCommissioner, 2022. About Us- What We Do, Australian Government. Viewed 8 April 2022, <https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do>.

5. Gleeson, J 2018, ‘Explainer: what does ‘gaslighting’ mean?’, The Conversation, viewed 8 April 2022, <https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-does-gaslighting-mean-107888>.

6. Mossberger, K, Tolbert, C.J., McNeal, R.S. 2008, ‘Defining digital citizenship’, in K Mossberger, CJ Tolbert & RS McNeal (eds), Digital citizenship: the internet, society, and participation, MIT Press, Cambridge, pp. 1-20. 

7. Marwick, A.E., Caplan, R 2018, ‘Drinking male tears: language, the Manosphere and networked harassment’, Feminist Media Studies, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 543-559.

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Week 6: Social Media Influencers and the slow fashion movement

Nowadays, people are addicted to fast fashion. ‘Fast fashion’ brands compete against one another by mass-producing clothing and releasing new collections several times a season. Society is consumed with the idea of cheap, trendy fashion even though the devastating effects of the fast fashion industry depict the vast "exploitation of the workforce, social well-being, and drainage of the world’s natural resources" (Henninger et al., 2017).

GIF above is an example of fast fashion waste. Unfortunately, fast fashion is damaging the environment by producing more waste with each passing year. The textile industry is responsible for approximately 17–20% of global industrial water pollution and 10% of carbon emissions. It discards roughly 11.9 million tonnes of clothing and footwear each year, with 8.2 million tonnes ending up in landfills (Milne, E, 2020).

For example, Fashion Nova is one of the best representations of 'fast fashion' brands. With over 20 million Instagram followers, the company’s popularity continues to grow. Despite being active on social media, Fashion Nova is relatively silent about its production and sustainability goals. The brand makes no mention of its production rate, waste reduction efforts, or plans to use sustainable fabrics. Fashion Nova has earned the lowest score on the 2021 Fashion Transparency Index for withholding this information. Like Forever 21, H&M, Shein, and other 'fast fashion' brands, Fashion Nova’s Los Angeles-based facilities have operated unethically (Brightly, 2022). It is reported that Fashion Nova factory workers were being paid 'illegally low salaries' and working in poor conditions (Kitroeff, N., 2019). The brand appears to have no commitments to ethical labour practices or regulatory unions (Brightly, 2022).

The video below is about a YouTuber, Rox trying On Kylie Jenner's Outfits From a fast-fashion brand, Fashion Nova:

The truth about fast fashion is being brought to light, sparking important discussions on social media. Social media wasn’t just a convenient place for fast fashion brands to advertise—it was also changing how we think about our clothes. Society has begun to seek alternative options to less-than-ethically produced, cheap "trendy" pieces in favour of something of high quality and manufactured in ethical conditions (Lai et al., 2017). Slow fashion has gained popularity in recent years on the internet, but it has been around for a long time. It has withstood waves of environmental, social, and economic concerns such as the 60's counter-culture, the 80's anti-fur campaigns, and protests against unethical working conditions (Lai et al., 2017). Slow fashion is defined as "goods and services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimising the use of natural resources, toxic materials, and emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle, so as not to jeopardise the needs of future generations" (Lai et al., 2017). Slow fashion, also known as sustainable or eco-fashion, is the "antipode" of the fast fashion industry (Lai et al., 2017). Slow fashion slows down the current fashion life cycle by generating only four fashion lines annually, with a focus on quality rather than quantity and no mass production (Lai et al., 2017).

However, slow fashion can be inaccessible for many people due to the ethical production and textiles that drive up the prices of products. Most people would rather spend $10 on a fast-fashion tee than $60 on a sustainable organic cotton choice (Brightly, 2022).

It is obvious that slow fashion is still in its early stages. However, no one can deny that it is increasingly rising in different ways. Today, several fashion brands are making the effort to switch to sustainable clothing production. For instance, H&M launched a sustainable line called "the Conscious Line," emphasising the use of organic cotton and sustainably sourced materials (Monroe, R., 2022). In addition, there are many people sharing sustainable fashion content and advocating for a more ethical lifestyle through social media, particularly on YouTube and Instagram.

Here is an example of how social media influencers like YouTubers encourage slow fashion by filming thrifting vlogs: 

References:

Brightly, 2022. Fast Fashion Brands to Avoid and Why: H&M, Shein, Zara, and More. Viewed 4 April 2022, <https://brightly.eco/fast-fashion-brands-sustainability/>.

Henninger, C, Ryding, D, Alevizou, P & Goworek, H, 2017, ‘Introduction to sustainability in fashion’, in Sustainability in fashion a cradle to upcycle approach, Palgrave, Manchester, p. 1-10.

Kitroeff, N., 2019. Fashion Nova’s Secret: Underpaid Workers in Los Angeles Factories. Nytimes.com. Viewed 5 April 2022, <https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/16/business/fashion-nova-underpaid-workers.html>.

Lai, Z, Henninger, C, Alevizou, P, 2017, An exploration of Consumer’s Perceptions Towards Sustainable Fashion – A Qualitative Study in the UK’, in Sustainability in Fashion A Cradle to Upcycle Approach, Palgrave Macmillan. p. 81-100.  

Milne E, 2022, ‘Lecture 6 - Digital citizenship case study: Social Media Influencers and the slow fashion movement’ Learning Materials via Canvas, Swinburne University of Technology, 4 April,  viewed 4 April 2022.

Monroe, R., 2022. Ultra-fast Fashion Is Eating the World. The Atlantic. Viewed 4 April 2022, <https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/03/ultra-fast-fashion-is-eating-the-world/617794/>.

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Week5: Digital citizenship and political engagement

In today’s digital age, social media has become an increasingly preferable ‘public sphere’ for citizens around the world. (Kruse, Norris and Flinchum 2018, p. 64). In this week’s reading, Vromen mentions: ‘the ubiquity of social media in people’s everyday lives allows for the development of digital citizenship’ (Vromen, 2017). Digital Citizenship refers to ‘the competent and positive engagement with digital technologies and data; participating actively and responsibly in communities at all levels; continuously defending human dignity and all attendant human rights’ (Council of Europe, 2017, p.10). It is categorised into three aspects which are economic opportunity, civic engagement and political participation (Mossberger, Tolbert and McNeal, 2008).

Here is a brief YouTube educational video that explains digital citizens, which I found really helpful:

The new citizenship norms have allowed for the personalisation and ubiquity of certain issues and ideas, such as politics and other social issues (Vromen, 2017). Among these, political engagement has been found to be closely linked to digital citizenship. Political engagement has changed in the contemporary era (Vromen, 2017). Digital citizenship and political engagement can serve a variety of purposes, including giving ordinary citizens a voice to be heard by decision-makers and advocating for a shift in values (Vromen 2017, p. 2). Many citizens use everyday digitally-based mechanisms to participate in political activities such as voting, activism, and expressing opinions. Also, politicians take the advantage of digital citizenship to become more interactive with their voters. Many politicians, like Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and Narendra Modi, utilise social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to promote their election campaigns and persuade young people and adults to vote for them (Red Herring, 2017).

During the 2016 US Presidential Election, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton used social media to promote their campaigns in divergent ways (Enli, 2017). Enli (2017) suggests that Trump choose an "amateurish" approach, straying from the standard organisation, strategy, and content norms. To emphasise his intense feelings, he even used name-calling, insults, and stylistic elements like all-caps and exclamation marks. In contrast, Hillary Clinton used more "professional" language, which resembled established norms. Her words gave the impression of having been thoroughly researched and chosen before being posted.

A digital citizen is defined as ‘those who use the Internet regularly and effectively’ (Mossberger, Tolbert & McNeal, 2008). In my opinion, Trump is definitely an excellent digital citizen. In an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes, Trump himself declared, ‘I think I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have social media.’ (Belam, M., 2020). Trump, in comparison to the other candidates, made good use of social media and attracted critical attention by using Twitter as a forum to promptly respond to his opponents and tweet about his stance on various issues.

According to Kellener, D. (2017), Donald Trump is the ‘master of media spectacle’ because he was able to ‘use the disturbing underside of American politics to mobilise his supporters,’ which means he is good at using his populism to make headlines and instil fear in voters. After winning the election in 2016, Trump continued to post on Twitter throughout his presidency, until he was banned by multiple platforms for making numerous false statements (Colarossi, J., 2021).

Digital citizenship has developed a strong reliance on online campaigning as social media expands the potential reach of political exposure. The use of hashtags has become politically charged among digital people. Hashtags are able to connect every post or photo that uses the same hashtag, forming a community that revolves around the same topic. Without a doubt, the most common place to see hashtag public and hashtag activism are on Twitter, which was built with a heavy dependence on hashtags. 

Politicians and citizens can easily find the information since hashtags are used to group people with mutual concerns. For example, both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton make good use of hashtags during their elections. Donald Trump includes a hashtag in almost every of his tweet, such as # Trump2016, which was used 279 times, and # MakeAmericaGreatAgain, which was used 186 times (Lüfkens, M., 2016). Hillary Clinton is more restrained, using hashtags in only 14% of her tweets, with the most popular being # DemDebate and # DemTownhall (Lüfkens, M., 2016). Hashtags create a significant surge in what is popular, viewed, or published, not only during political campaigns but also during cultural movements. For example, #AusPol, #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter, and #FreeBritney have been discussed in this week’s lectures and presentations.

In short, the participative culture of digital citizenship allows the public to come together and participate in the discussion, allowing them to have a voice in the 'public sphere'. 

References:

Belam, M., 2020. CBS releases footage of Trump walking out of 60 Minutes interview. the Guardian. Viewed 29 March 2022, <https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/26/cbs-releases-footage-trump-walking-out-60-minutes-interview>.

Council of Europe, 2017. Digital Citizenship Education; Working Conference “Empowering Digital Citizens”; Council of Europe: Brussels, Belgium.

Colarossi, J., 2021. Banning Trump from Social Media Makes Sense. But Beware the Downside. Boston University. Viewed 29 March 2022, <https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/trump-banned-from-twitter-facebook/>.

Enli, G., 2017. Twitter as arena for the authentic outsider: exploring the social media campaigns of Trump and Clinton in the 2016 US presidential election. European journal of communication, 32(1), pp.50-61.

Kruse, L.M., Norris, D.R. and Flinchum, J.R., 2018. Social media as a public sphere? Politics on social media. The Sociological Quarterly, 59(1), pp.62-84.

Kellner, D., 2017. American horror show: Election 2016 and the ascent of Donald J. Trump. Springer.

Lüfkens, M., 2016. Hillary Clinton v Donald Trump: who's winning on Twitter?. World Economic Forum. Viewed 29 March 2022, <https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/08/hillary-clinton-or-donald-trump-winning-on-twitter/>.

Mossberger, K., Tolbert, C.J. and McNeal, R.S., 2007. Digital citizenship: The Internet, society, and participation. MIt Press.

Red Herring. 2017. The Top Politicians on Social Media — Red Herring. Viewed 29 March 2022, <https://www.redherring.com/social/top-politicians-social-media/>.

Vromen, A., 2017. Digital citizenship and political engagement. In Digital citizenship and political engagement (pp. 9-49). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

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Week 4: Digital Community and Fandom: Reality TV Case Study

Reality TV has become a ‘dominant form of television programming’ (Milne, E 2021) in the past few years due to its increasing popularity. Although the reality TV genre is frequently dismissed as 'irredeemably trashy', I don't think it is fair to judge the whole genre based on the 'dramas' and toxicity of a few series. Graham et al.(2011) suggest that reality TV can be a trigger for political discussion crucial to the public sphere (p.27). Reality TV has, to some extent, widened the public sphere merely by allowing a broader range of individuals greater access to it.

GIF below is Gordon Ramsay, a British chef who rose to fame online as a result of his appearances on reality cooking show, Hell's Kitchen:

As Graham et al. (2011) mentioned in this week’s reading, ‘Reality TV can foster mutual communicative spaces for people to discuss political talks outside the realm of traditional politics triggered by its content’ (p.30). Unlike many traditional television shows, which only focus on the content without paying attention to audience interaction, reality TV shows provide the audience with participation to influence the show (Godlewski, L.R. and Perse, E.M., 2010). Along with this, it also allows the public sphere to exist because numerous modes of communication turn viewers into participants (Graham, T & Hajru, A, 2011, p.19). Reality TV shows like The Voice and Big Brother have been transformed into an interactive cross-platform media experience that includes direct audience interaction via phone and other digital technology (Charles, A., 2012).

In today’s digital era, reality TV audiences have a unique ability to discuss the content in real time, as well as debate topics, share information or join in a community of people with similar interests that has never been seen before. Producers are generating audience engagement through social media, and it is now at the heart of their marketing strategy, fostering the development of digital communities. Reality TV shows often have their own pages and accounts on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, where the show is not only promoted, but memes are shared, and the community is invited to participate in the discussion. Producers are using their social media accounts to upload the behind-the-scenes content, as well as show-related memes and videos that viewers want to share. As a result, reality TV provides a platform for political talk to occur about reality TV through the use of social media. The discussions are not directly political, but rather about individual experiences and how they relate to one another (Graham, T & Hajru, A, 2011, p.20).

I do not agree that reality TV is ‘trashy’, but I do agree that most reality TV shows are unrealistic and fake. Reality TV is defined as "a genre of programming that purports to show the unscripted actions of ordinary people, rather than prepared dialogue delivered by actors" (Iyorza, S., p.72). However, most reality television shows today are far from authentic. A lot of what happens in the episodes is staged and exaggerated. Recently, I watched a Netflix reality dating show—Single Inferno. Song Ji-a, one of the most popular contestants on the show, has been highly discussed and followed on social media. However, she has been found wearing fake designer clothing, which has ruined her image of being wealthy and glamorous.

Song Ji-a GIF and her apology video for wearing fake designer clothing are shown below:

Although reality TV is unrealistic, it has generated political talk in the public sphere as it focuses on 'cultivating a public sphere where free, equal, and open communication, deliberation, and exchange of information among citizens can flourish' (Graham, T & Hajru, A, 2011). It establishes a community in which people who share similar feelings can express themselves and have their thoughts shared with others. Reality shows satisfy people’s needs, particularly the desires for gossip, backtalk, nosiness and the pathetic desire to feel superior. According to Pahad, A. Et al.(2015) ‘Entertainment needs are met through reality television because these shows allow people to make comparisons with media images–comparisons that ultimately help them feel better about themselves and their personal circumstances.’ (p.703)

Reality shows send a message that ordinary people may be so influential that hundreds of thousands of audiences tune in to see them. The main attraction for all these viewers is the possibility that they will be the new celebrities the next time. For example, by watching reality TV shows, like The Kardashians, audiences appear to be bonded by a glimmer of hope and inwardly imagine of becoming the celebrities on the shows. 

In conclusion, reality TV created digital communities that triggered political talk and viewer expression. In my opinion, reality TV is just for entertainment. Even though I know they are staged, I still enjoy watching the ‘dramas’ of reality TV, from cooking shows like Hell Kitchen to dating shows like Too Hot to Handle.

References:

Charles, A., 2012. Interactivity: New Media. Politics, and Society, Oxford: Peter Lang.

Graham, T & Hajru, A. 2011. Reality TV as a trigger of everyday political talk in the net-based public sphere. European Journal of Communication. Vol.28:1 pp.18-3

Godlewski, L.R. and Perse, E.M., 2010. Audience activity and reality television: Identification, online activity, and satisfaction. Communication Quarterly, 58(2), pp.148-169.

Iyorza, S., Reality Television and Audience Dilemma for Big Brother Naija Survival in Nigeria. PREDESTINASI, 14(1), pp.72-84.

Milne, E. 2021. Week 4: Digital Community and Fandom: Reality TV Case Study (Powerpoint Slides) Swinburne University of Technology, viewed 20 March 2022.

Pahad, A., Karkare, N. and Bhatt, M., 2015. Influence of reality television shows on society. Social Science, 5(4), pp.703-705.

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Week 3: Digital Community and Blogging: Tumblr Case Study

Tumblr is a platform where we can find anything, including aesthetic photographs, lovelorn quotes, funny memes, gifs, and even videos of our favourite celebrities. Tumblr can be defined as a ‘public sphere' where private people come together to use reason to further critical knowledge, which, in turn, leads to political change’ (Kruse, L.M., Norris, D.R. and Flinchum, J.R., 2018, p.62).

Tumblr allows users to interact with others through the creation of follower networks, which has resulted in the growth of numerous virtual communities. In virtual communities, users can send each other special ‘Fan Mail’ messages, ask questions, and discuss topics. It enables users to follow other Tumblr blogs, track interesting topics based on tags, and "reblog" and "like" other users’ content to express appreciation or join their conversations (Attu, R. and Terras, M., 2017, p.4).

In this case, Tumblr has launched many features to make it easier for users to connect with the community. In 2019, Tumblr launched a new community hub feature called 'tag pages' to keep people engaged with the content they are following. This feature arrives not too long after Tumblr launched 'group chats' to help people connect with each other. 'Tag pages' allow people to follow tags, view the most recent and popular Tumblr posts within a specific tag, and view group chats associated with that tag (Alexander, 2019).

Besides, Tumblr attracts a wide spectrum of international users since it offers a wide range of multimedia posting formats as well as a public content stream (Attu, R. and Terras, M., 2017, p.6). Therefore, people from all walks of life and places can get connected and express themselves through Tumblr communities. At the same time, Tumblr facilitates the creation of online communities that share similar interests and beliefs like hobbies, foods, celebrities, and topics. In this way, Tumblr has become the ideal tool for the creation of online fan communities (DeSouza, M.E., 2013, p.6). It is an immensely popular site for users who seek to engage in fan activities inspired by different cultural trends, such as writing fan fiction. In the era of the One Direction band, it was reported that over 1% of all Tumblr posts were dedicated entirely to the band One Direction, so one can only imagine the fraction of the site that is dedicated to fandoms in general (Attu, R. and Terras, M., 2017, p.21). 

Like the One Direction band (GIF attached above), the Harry Potter fanbase also ruled Tumblr. People created a community called the Marauders community on Tumblr, where they could write stories and swap photo sets, living in the wizarding world. Even today, the Marauders' fandom still exists. The latest fanfiction of the Marauders' time at Hogwarts is currently the most popular fanfiction on Archive of Our Own (Cavender, 2022). 

There are also other famous communities, like ‘Fuckyeah’ blogs on Tumblr. ‘Fuckyeah’ blogs are dedicated to the celebration of a singular topic, and that subject could be anything—a TV show, a celebrity, or a dessert. The concept gained popularity in 2009 and peaked in 2011 when 150 fuckyeah blogs were being created per day (Cavender, 2022). By 2015, there were over 170,000 fuckyeah blogs on the platform (Cavender, 2022). Following a ‘Fuckyeah’ blog was a way to curate the Tumblr Dashboard into a little world where all our favourite interests were represented (Cavender, 2022).

In many ways, the communities like ‘Fuckyeah' blogs represent the ethos of Tumblr (Cavender, 2022). It was a platform where you could find a blog devoted to any interest, no matter how niche or counterculture. People can easily find a community of people to share common interests and beliefs with.

On the other hand, Tumblr is one of the few popular blogging platforms, known to give a voice to writers from different genres. Unlike other social media platforms, like Facebook, Tumblr does not force its users to create any personal profiles or form any networks of friends to join the community (Keller, J. 2019, p. 7). It provides a sense of anonymity as the platform is a private and safe space where individuals can publish their opinions without them being tied to their real names on the internet. Therefore, it should be said that Tumblr has empowered the powerless to raise their voice for their good and offered them the opportunity to form and solidly build their communities (McCracken, A., 2020, p.38). An example of how Tumblr has supported the powerless is observed by this week's reading, ‘Oh, she’s a Tumblr Feminist’which discussed how teenage girls strategically choose how to engage with feminist politics online, carefully weighing issues like privacy, community, and peer support (Keller, J. 2019, p.1).

In my opinion, Tumblr is definitely a good platform for creating digital communities. The beauty of Tumblr is that people are able to connect with one another and speak up for themselves through blogging. Tumblr has been described as the ‘forgotten’  social network when compared to the other major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (Attu, R. and Terras, M., 2017, p.3). However, no one can deny that Tumblr owned a massive universe made up of communities during its peak from 2020 to 2015. 

REFERENCES:

Alexander, J., 2019. Tumblr’s introducing community hubs feature to make following interests way easier, The Verge, viewed 18 March 2022, <https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/25/20981718/tumblr-community-hubs-group-chats-carousel-star-wars-shipping>.

Attu, R. and Terras, M., 2017. What people study when they study Tumblr: Classifying Tumblr-related academic research. Journal of Documentation.

Cavender, E., 2022. Remembering Tumblr's strangest, most formative communities, Mashable, viewed 18 March 2022, <https://mashable.com/article/tumblr-best-communities-nostalgia>.

DeSouza, M.E., 2013. A case of the red pants Mondays: the connection between fandom, Tumblr, and consumption.

Kruse, L.M., Norris, D.R. and Flinchum, J.R., 2018. Social media as a public sphere? Politics on social media. The Sociological Quarterly, 59(1), p.62-84.

Keller, J., 2019. “Oh, She's Tumblr Feminist”: exploring the platform vernacular of girls’ social media feminisms. Social Media+ Society, 5(3).

McCracken, A., 2020, Chapter 3 ‘Going Down the Rabbit Hole: An Interview with Amanda Brennan, Head of Content Insights and Social, Tumblr’, a Tumblr book: platform and cultures, University of Michigan Press.