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Week 10 Digital Citizenship and Conflict:Social Media Governance

Social platforms have billions of people logging on every day and connecting with online communities around the world with an endless scroll of news feeds. From disinformation campaigns, to rumors about transportation options, to hate speech around diverse groups, social media is leading to mistrust, information overload, and significant gaps and confusion about news and information (Advisor et al., n.d.). In some bad cases, social media platforms have been used to suppress internal dissent, interfere in democratic elections, incite armed violence, and recruit members of terrorist organizations (Simone Bunse, 2021).

Social media is changing the way conflicts occur by mobilizing and shaping the values of its users, in addition to being a communication tool. False or inflammatory narratives that are popular on the internet can spread through word of mouth, so social media dangers are not limited to social media users (Advisor et al., n.d.).

Not only that, but stories of online harassment have dominated the headlines for years, and a September 2021 study of U.S. adults by the PEW Research Center found that 41 percent of Americans have personally experienced some form of online harassment, including physical threats, stalking, sexual harassment and persistent harassment.

Young people are generally more likely to face serious harassment. Those who were harassed were then asked if they thought certain personal characteristics - political views, gender, race, religion, and sexual orientation - played a role in the attacks (Emily Vogels, 2021).

References

Advisor, A.B.S., Development, T. for, Corps, M., n.d. Scroll and share: The role of social media on conflicts [WWW Document]. Mercy Corps. URL https://www.mercycorps.org/blog/role-social-media-conflicts (accessed 5.12.23).

Emily Vogels S., 2021. The State of Online Harassment. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. URL https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/01/13/the-state-of-online-harassment/ (accessed 5.12.23).

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Week 9 Gaming Communities,Social Gaming and Live Streaming

In recent years, Melbourne has become the epicentre of the digital games innovation boom. The city's ecosystem is strong enough to support game makers of all types and sizes - small independent start-ups coexist with large award-winning developers ("Indie Spirit," n.d.).

Australian games now regularly receive worldwide acclaim, including Untitled Goose Game, Paperbark, Unpacking, Frog Detective and Cult of the Lamb. Slowly, the country has caught up: both state and federal governments have introduced more funding and tax credits, the National Cultural institutions such as the Film and Sound Archive, Sydney's Powerhouse and Melbourne's Acmi have embraced games as art (Brendan Keogh, 2023).

The appearance of games in the Albany government's new National Cultural Policy Revive is an extremely important milestone and a clear sign that games are recognised as making a significant contribution to Australian culture. Australia's first national cultural policy in a decade promises greater support for the arts, including video games, and the reinstatement of Abbott's cancelled Australian Interactive Games Fund (Brendan Keogh, 2023).

"We love games" was the message VicScreen promoted at an event at GamneHub, held at Melbourne's Paper House, where the creative organisation showcased the work of several game developers who had received government funding for their projects (Tran, 2022).

References

Brendan Keogh, 2023. Finally, Australia sees video games are important – but it can’t be only because they make money. The Guardian.

Indie Spirit: Video Games as Art [WWW Document], n.d. . The Wheeler Centre. URL https://www.wheelercentre.com/events/indie-spirit-video-games-as-art/ (accessed 5.12.23).

Tran E., 2022. Victoria’s games industry continues to thrive: other states must take note [WWW Document]. ArtsHub Australia. URL https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/vicscreen-victoria-melbourne-games-industry-state-government-funding-is-key-2572805/ (accessed 5.12.23).

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Week 8 Digital Citizenship and Software Literacy：Instagram Filters

As social media users, we often use filters when posting photos or videos to make them look more attractive. In addition to changing the color tone of photos and videos, filters can also beautify or distort the face, adding some fun decorations. Through this ‘digital adornment’ users experiment with creativity and  self-expression, as with cosmetics and cloth-ing, while forging social connections. However, ilters frequently spark controversy by slimming the  jawlines and noses, enlarging the eyes and lips, and smoothing and lightening the complexions of millions of users. These effects have caused users to consider the powers of self-fashioning and question the standard of beauty being presented.

Women who experience exploring identity formation and self expression through digital decoration will be attacked by social desires and perfect information. The filter disjointed some natural faces; This process is compared to plastic surgery and virtual violence.

We’ve always had the challenge of images being filtered and doctored to make unrealistic measures for what beauty looks like,But before social media, the source of our insecurity was failing to meet the beauty ideals modelled on magazine covers. Now, we compare ourselves, not only to an airbrushed elite, but to our airbrushed peers, and our airbrushed selves. “What is taking it to the next level with these filters is it’s not just seeing an image of a celebrity who is unrealistic and measuring yourself against that person, it’s measuring your real self against a pretend image of yourself.

Under such filters, it represents a common aesthetic standard. The aesthetic advocated by the whole society is indeed a form of beauty, but it has kidnapped other aesthetics and even ourselves.

In summary, social platforms were initially hailed as a space for true self expression, but now have become a force that actively continues fashionable but unrealistic beauty ideals through the function of filters. These filters, along with their portrayal of beautiful ideals of femininity and embellishment, operate within a system of socio-cultural issues.

References

Dibley, I.C. (2016) "digitized dysmorphia" of The female body: The re/disfigurement of the image, Nature News. Nature Publishing Group. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/palcomms201640 (Accessed: April 17, 2023).

Laine, A. (2022) How to make an Instagram filter using augmented reality, Publer's Blog. Available at: https://publer.io/blog/how-to-make-an-instagram-filter/ (Accessed: April 17, 2023).

Rivas, G. (2022) The mental health impacts of beauty filters on social media shouldn't be ignored - here's why, InStyle. InStyle. Available at: https://www.instyle.com/beauty/social-media-filters-mental-health (Accessed: April 17, 2023).

Lukas, E. (2021) The most popular inspiration for plastic surgery is yourself, InStyle. InStyle. Available at: https://www.instyle.com/beauty/skin/social-media-cosmetic-procedures-influence (Accessed: April 17, 2023).

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Week 7 Digital Citizenship and Health Education: Body Modification on Visual Social Media

Social media has become a visual megaphone for new beauty ideas from celebrities and influencers to ordinary people. Celebrities and influencers are still trendsetters and they are seamlessly integrated into our social networks. In a sense, celebrities and influencers have become our ostensible peers, and we are more likely to see them as ideal targets for comparison (Dara Greenwood, n.d.).

BBL, which has gained traction on social media, refers to the Brazilian Butt Lift, in which fat from the back or abdomen is extracted and injected into the buttocks as a way to have a larger, more proportionate buttock. The risks involved in this procedure are such that even some trained doctors consider it an unethical procedure (Dara Greenwood, n.d.). The topic has received 2.9 billion views on TikTok alone, which is a very scary statistic for such a dangerous procedure, and still so many people take the risk to get closer to the ideal beauty.

Studies show that 88% of women compare their own to the images they see on social media (Support, 2018), and those who have anxiety about recognition or body image also tend to be the most likely to consume, compare themselves to and be influenced by their idealized media images. This can become a vicious cycle in which social media widens the gap between their actual selves and their ideal selves. When women showcase their evolving post-operative bodies on social media and receive millions of likes and positive comments, cosmetic surgery seems to become more desirable and worthwhile (Dara Greenwood, n.d.).

References

Support, C., 2018. How Does Social Media Influence Body Image? EmotionMatters. URL https://emotionmatters.co.uk/2018/10/04/how-does-social-media-influence-body-image/ (accessed 5.11.23).

Dara Greenwood, n.d. The BBL Bubble: How Social Media Fuels Body Modification | Psychology Today Australia [WWW Document]. URL https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/mirror-mirror/202108/the-bbl-bubble-how-social-media-fuels-body-modification (accessed 5.11.23).

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Week 6 Digital Citizenship and slow fashion

Slow fashion encompasses a fashion consciousness and approach that takes into account the processes and resources required to make clothing. Slow fashion is about buying better quality, long-lasting clothing and valuing the fair treatment of people, animals and the planet in the process (Marquis, n.d.).

The main difference between slow fashion and fast fashion is that it focuses on reducing consumption and production. The fast fashion model that emerged about twenty years ago made clothes cheaper, trend cycles accelerated, and brands like H&M were burning through huge amounts of unsold clothing every year. In the past decade, more and more brands have rejected the principles of fast fashion and opted for sustainable approaches to clothing production (Marquis, n.d.).

According to research, the average American buys a new garment every five days, at a price so cheap it is largely considered disposable. Studies show that 90 percent of clothes are thrown away before they are needed (Marquis, n.d.). It is clear from the research that consumerism is reaching very dangerous heights and that the earth is unable to produce at the rate we are consuming. We are essentially running out of natural resources and with that, changing our climate.

Slow fashion is also making us look at our shopping habits and making us aware of whether we really need these items, social media is influencing our purchases and often we don't need anything at all. Slow fashion invites us to buy one quality product rather than many inexpensive disposable products, which we call an investment ('What Is Slow Fashion?', 2021).

Regarding the recycling of slow fashion items, we can repair, upcycle, recycle, reuse or resell them, creating a cycle that slows down production and reduces unnecessary waste of resources ('What Is Slow Fashion?', 2021).

References

What Is Slow Fashion?, 2021. . Good On You. URL https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-slow-fashion/ (accessed 5.11.23).

Marquis C., n.d. What Does Slow Fashion ‘Actually’ Mean? [WWW Document]. Forbes. URL https://www.forbes.com/sites/christophermarquis/2021/05/14/what-does-slow-fashion-actually-mean/ (accessed 5.11.23).

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Week 5 Digital Citizenship

Digital citizens refer to people who possess the skills and knowledge to effectively use digital technology in a positive way, participate in society, communicate with others, and create and consume digital content. Digital citizens can promote the participation and process of individuals in society, as well as participate in political processes.

The concept of digital citizenship has evolved over time, and it is believed that it can have an impact on social democratization and promote political change（Stacey Featherstone ，2021).

"Hushtag" refers to the topic tag of social media, which is one of the ways that social media promotes citizens' participation in social movements.This idea originated from Chris Messinger, who believed that using topic tags as a way to group information would be more convenient. More than 75% of users now use tags on social media every day（Hugosu，2022）. Social media brings users together for interaction through topic tags, providing an important platform for marginalized groups（Ashlee Humphreys，2016）.With the pandemic, the Internet and social media have become the core of mobilization, not just communication tools (Athina Karatzogiani, 2021). Many extremism guides social media activities, organized through the internet. Notable examples of hashtag activism include: #BlackLivesMatter , #Kony2012 , #StopGamerGate , and #IceBucketChallenge to name a few.（Wasim Ahmed ）After the murder of a Maltese blogger,Daphne Anne Caruana Galizia, a large number of activists organized protests through social media such as Facebook. This kind of activity is transformed into actions below and across the line.This is a Maltese writer and journalist. In the past decade, she has reported many political events in Malta. In October 2017, she died near her home, triggering widespread condemnation locally and internationally.

Matthew Mirabelli

References

Featherstone , S. and Karatzogianni , A. (2022) Digital Citizenship and social movements: Patterns and responsibilities - EAVI conversations, EAVI. Available at: https://eavi.eu/digital-citizenship-and-social-movements-patterns-and-responsibilities/ (Accessed: March 28, 2023).

. (2020) Democracy in the age of Digital Activism: How Our Digital Citizenship is reshaping Democratic Power, Medium. Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@portfoliop/democracy-in-the-age-of-digital-activism-how-our-digital-citizenship-is-reshaping-democratic-power-7d9917dde513 (Accessed: March 28, 2023).

Humphreys, A. (2016) Social Media: Enduring principles. New York: Oxford University Press.

Hugosu (no date) Hashtag activism, MetoDHology. Available at: https://metodhology.anu.edu.au/index.php/2022/03/28/hashtag-activism/ (Accessed: March 28, 2023).

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Week 4 The relationship between reality TV and social media

Reality shows are about people engaging in unscripted actions and interactions. Diversified market and audience participation by social media and multiple platforms; Increased opportunities for stars and fans to interact in the social media space; Creating a digital public for everyday political conversation; Give play to social functions.

In Australia and the United States, reality TV is the least popular type of entertainment,It's considered 'low-brow' and 'trashy', often referred to as a 'guilty-pleasure'（Polly Cumming，2022）.But in China, reality TV are very popular.

While we are on the topic of social media, it has propelled reality television into the stratosphere.（Taylor Goodman，2021）Social media and reality TV have a very close relationship and can boost each other's popularity. In some reality TV, the show decides its direction by asking viewers to vote on social media. that makes watchers feel part of the programme too and social media is a key passageway to do this（Olivia Newman，2018），let fans and stars have more opportunities to interact. The popular talent shows in China in the past few years adopt this approach. Not only the stars, but also more ordinary people have a chance to stand out. From the point of view of the stars participating in reality TV, it is also a good opportunity to increase their exposure.

Not only that, but reality TV also provide a space to discuss important social issues. In a Chinese show called Star Detective, stars are invited to play different roles and solve murder cases based on evidence searches and discussions. Each episode of the show is related to very important social issues, such as domestic violence, school bullying and so on. While entertaining, the audience can see these social issues directly and spark discussion. There is also the tag of this reality show on social media, where there are always many viewers spontaneously discussing these social issues.

In a word, reality TV provide audiences with a good space for interaction and discussion, and the content of the program is not only limited to entertainment, but also can pay attention to many important social issues.

References

Cumming, P. (2022) The troubling combination of social media and reality TV, LifeBonder Blog. Available at: https://lifebonder.com/blog/2022/07/19/the-troubling-combination-of-social-media-and-reality-tv/ (Accessed: March 27, 2023).

NewmanMeet, O. (2018) Social Media and reality television, Giraffe Social Media. Available at: https://www.giraffesocialmedia.co.uk/social-media-and-reality-television/ (Accessed: March 27, 2023).

Goodman, T. (2021) How reality television changed the Media Industry, Media Update. Media Update. Available at: https://www.mediaupdate.co.za/media/150270/how-reality-television-changed-the-media-industry (Accessed: March 27, 2023).

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Week3 How does Tumblr function as a digital community?

Tumblr was founded by David Karp in 2007. Compared to other social platforms, Tumblr is more like a creative community (Cara Tarbaj, 2017). Users post interesting photos, videos, and other media to their followers.

This is my first time using this website, and I have found that the content of this platform is richer than I expected. I spent an afternoon browsing through the content posted by users, covering various aspects of "fashion, art, pets, movies, etc." This means that everyone can find things of interest on this platform, and bring together a group of like-minded people, providing a platform for mutual communication.

When browsing the makeup tags, I noticed that many photos released by people are not the mainstream aesthetic in the eyes of the public. These photos are particularly prominent on the page. In this era of emphasizing aesthetic diversity, there are still many people who do not fully accept this concept. Users of Tumblr seem to have a higher tolerance and create a harmonious communication environment.

This reminds me of the word public domain. The term public domain was developed by a German philosopher in the 1990s. It is defined as a place where citizens can gather together to exchange views and discuss. Media scholars view social media as a form of public domain. At the beginning of his previous report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression quoted a statement from John Perry Barlow in 1996, in which he stated, "The Internet will bring a world in which anyone, anywhere, can express their beliefs, no matter how unique, without fear of being forced into silence and obedience." (UN Human Rights Council, 2018) Social media such as Tumblr provide an opportunity to establish a public sphere. Users have full access to information and equality, and have a secure environment free from coercion and surveillance.

In summary, I believe that this platform provides users with a good opportunity to communicate and a place to boldly express their views.

Habermas, J.(1991): “The public sphere” In Mukerji, C.; Schudson, M.(Ed.): Rethinking popular culture. Contemporary perspectives in cultural studies. Berkeley/Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp.398-404.

Mwengenmeir (2014) Habermas' Public Sphere, Media Studies 101. BCcampus. Available at: https://opentextbc.ca/mediastudies101/chapter/habermas-public-sphere/ (Accessed: March 17, 2023).

Tarbaj, C. (2013) Tumblr for Business: What is Tumblr?, Social Media Today. Available at: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/tumblr-business-what-tumblr (Accessed: March 17, 2023).