Why, how and what specifically does it require to form online communities?Online communities emerge from people in society on many levels of geographic (such as global, local and hyperlocal) and social structure who share common interests. These often niche groups continue or maintain interaction and interest in specific events, issues or media long after the mainstream culture has progressed.
Online communities have developed as a response to a perceived democratic imbalance in decision making processes within the community. Flew claims, " the reason why online communities and networks are developing is a result of... a decline in opportunities for democratic participation and community formation in contemporary industrial capitalist and mass-mediated societies" (2004, 64). People feel like they are losing their voice.
However, online communities provide an intimate and robust environment of networked knowledge systems encouraging personal and professional relationships. Users in these environments can openly interact, share and express information providing a democratic platform for producing and consuming knowledge.
More and more we are seeing a shift from mainstream consumption of media to a niche networked convergence of user produced content. For example, youtube has given users global reach and is generating a wide spectrum of active audiences. A shift away from the mainstream media draws attention to these local and hyperlocal geographic cultures. This shift in media consumption gives the content creators cultural power. As discussed previously, content creation is now spread through online networks giving a wider and more diverse population increased power within the democratic formation of community ideals.
2 comments:
Well described article on online cultures and participation within them. However I must disagree with an aspect of your claim. The internet is not wholy democratic. As long as moderation systems are in place, Flews statement that people feel like they are losing a voice is in my opinion, correct. Many moderators online use their "power" to override the voice other users, much like people in the "real world".
This is an excellent post with well researched and passionate views about the convergence of media. I do however disagree with n6299105’s somewhat biased view of the topic. It is inarguable that the internet, and in particular, Web 2.0 has enabled the online user beyond comprehension allowing access to unfathomed areas of the globe. Shenton and McNealy (in Flew, 2004) note the most commonly cited advantages of becoming a member of an online community. These include;
• the opportunity to form friendships and relationships
• the ability to circulate new ideas
• the opportunity for those who feel marginalised in society to express opinions.
It appears that the option to become a member of an online community is largely encouraged by physiological unrest and dissatisfaction in real-life. By encouraging these individuals to partake in online interaction, are we simply promoting denial? For those that do not embellish or fabricate information, virtual communities can act as an excellent source of professional and personal advancement. However, if internet users are exercising their right to escape to a more comfortable environment, then their inability to properly function in every day life will simply be aggrandized.
Reference
Flew, T. 2005. Virtual Cultures. New media: an introduction. Retrieved April 29, 2008 from Queensland University of Technology Course Materials Database. https://cmd.qut.edu.au./cmd/KCB295/KCB295_BK_57409.pdf
Post a Comment