Participatory culture

Web 2.0 provides environment for user-generated content, leading to rise of participatory media culture. Henry Jenkins defined participatory culture as one which ‘fans and other customers are invited to actively participate in the creation and circulation of new content’ (Burgess and Green 2009, p.10). People not only play the ordinary role of consuming information, but also act as producer. Social media clearly illustrated characteristics of virtuality and connectivity in participatory culture.

(image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/kikemb/5428414543/)

According to Heim, virtuality refers to ‘an event or entity that is real in effect but not in fact’ (Raessens 2005, p.374). It is a digitally produced reality. This is seen in social media which simulate virtual communities (Chambers 2013, p.142). Social media allows people to update their status and post photos, sharing with their friends things that happened. People can also send online messages, which enable them to talk to one another and receive reply instantly. This imitates everyday life interactions which people have face-to-face conversation with others and share events that occurred in their daily life. The only difference is that the setting is now online and people face the computer. This virtual community not only helps people to maintain relationship but also reconnect, which can be seen in relation to connectivity.

Connectivity refers to the ability to make connection (Dijck 2013). Social media ties people who have shared values and attitudes (Chambers 2013, p.115). Like when people ‘like’ a page, it then shows people who also like that page, including friends. That bound people together and brings sense of belonging (Chambers 2013, p.144). Social media also allows people to reconnect with past friends through ‘people search’ (Chambers 2013, p.157). They can also enter name of their school, their geographical location, and that will connected to people who also study there or live in that place. This network enables people to regain relationship, finding people they know in the past. This connectivity provided by social media is further enhanced with the convenience of internet connection , where people can access the sites by mobile phones and stay connected.

In sum, social media illustrated virtuality of online community, and connectivity that connect people in network.

References

Chambers, D 2013, Social media and personal relationships: online intimacies and networked friendship, Palgrave Macmillan, UK

Dijck, JV 2013, The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media, Oxford University Press, New York

Raessens, J 2005, ‘Computer games as participatory media culture’, Handbook of Computer Game Studies, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass, pp. 373-388