lacthehumann

[lacthehumann]

Is Tumblr the New Agora? 🤔 Decoding Digital Communities! #MDA20009 #DigitalCommunities #Tumblr #PublicSphere #PlatformVernacular

Hey guys! 👋 So, today's lecture on digital communities totally blew my mind 🤯. We talked about the public sphere and platform vernacular, and it got me thinking… is Tumblr, like, the new Agora? 🤔

The Public Sphere: Ideal vs. Reality 🏛️

Remember Habermas's idea of the public sphere? (Habermas, 1991) That perfect space for open communication and rational discussion? Yeah, Tumblr kind of fits the bill. We've got access to tons of info, (theoretically) equal participation, and anyone can share their hot takes. It's like a digital town square! 📢

Think about all the times fandoms on Tumblr have rallied around social issues. Remember when everyone was reblogging posts about net neutrality? That's the public sphere in action! People using the platform to discuss important issues and try to influence policy. This aligns with Benson (2009) concept of "strong" public spheres, where deliberation and collective decision-making are emphasized.

But let's be real, it's not all sunshine and rainbows 🌈. We've got barriers to entry (not everyone has equal access or digital skills), surveillance (Big Tech is always watching 👀), algorithm bias (hello, echo chambers!), and harassment (haters gonna hate 🙄). Habermas's ideal public sphere is all about rational discourse, but online, things can get… messy.

While fandoms can be great for social activism, they can also be breeding grounds for cyberbullying and infighting. Remember when [insert a recent example of fandom drama on Tumblr]? Not exactly rational discourse. This illustrates the challenges of maintaining a "strong" public sphere online, as discussed by Benson (2009).

Platform Vernacular: Lost in Translation? 😵‍💫

And what about our unique language? Reblog, dash, RP, shitpost, F4F, OTP, AU… it's like a secret code! 🕵️‍♀️ This "platform vernacular" is what makes Tumblr Tumblr. It's our way of expressing ourselves, of creating our own culture. It's what makes us us.

When someone posts "I'm screaming," you know they're not actually screaming. It's a way of expressing intense excitement or amusement. It's a Tumblr thing. Try explaining that to your grandma! 👵 This is a perfect example of how online communities develop their own unique language and communication styles, as discussed by Battistella (2003) in his work on internet linguistics.

But platform vernacular can also be exclusive. If you're new to Tumblr, it can be hard to understand what everyone is talking about. It's like learning a new language! This highlights the potential for in-group/out-group dynamics within online communities.

So, is Tumblr a public sphere?

Tumblr, like other social media platforms, has the potential to be a public sphere. It offers a space for discussion, information sharing, and community building. However, it also faces challenges related to accessibility, equality, and the quality of discourse. It's a complex ecosystem with both positive and negative aspects.

What do YOU think? Is Tumblr a public sphere? Let's discuss in the comments! 👇

Reference list

Battistella, EL 2003, ‘Language and the Internet: A Linguist Looks at Discourse on the Internet (review)’, Language, vol. 79, no. 2, pp. 432–432.

Benson, R 2009, ‘Shaping the Public Sphere: Habermas and Beyond’, The American Sociologist, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 175–197.Harper, T 2016, ‘The big data public and its problems: Big data and the structural transformation of the public sphere’, New Media & Society, vol. 19, no. 9, pp. 1424–1439.

Blocked 2025, Pinterest.com, viewed 14 February 2025, <https://www.pinterest.com/pin/199636195984363298/>.

[lacthehumann]

✨ Digital Communities: The Internet is My Hometown ✨

Hey! 👋 Your fave media student is back, and OMG?! Today's lecture EXPLODED my brain 🤯 about how we're basically living in digital neighborhoods now, and I'm officially obsessed! Like, we're not just on the internet anymore, we're in it. It's giving digital nomad vibes, but make it academic. 🤓

Okay,lets go! 🌟

You know that one group chat that's more lit than your actual social life? Or that Discord server where you've found your soulmates (even if you've never met IRL)? Turns out, this is a whole academic field, and I'm living for it! It's called the study of digital communities, and it's basically the sociology of the 21st century.

So, spill the tea – what are digital communities, really? 

Picture this: You're a Stranger Things mega-fan (if not, bestie, what are you even doing with your life?!). You're on Reddit or Twitter, connecting with other fans who are just as obsessed with Vecna as you are. (McCosker et al. 2016) That's a digital community! It's connection, but make it online. It's like finding your tribe, but in cyberspace.

But wait, there's more! 🎮

Gamers, rise up! ✊ These digital spaces are where the magic happens. Imagine fragging noobs with someone from across the globe at 3 AM. Geographical boundaries? We don't know her. 💅 Reid (2016) argues that these gaming communities on Discord and Twitch are revolutionizing how we think about social spaces, and I'm here for this digital evolution! It's not just about the game; it's about the camaraderie, the shared experience, the memes.

Now, let's get a little spicy 🌶️

Remember those activism movements that flooded our feeds? #MeToo? Climate action on the 'gram? That's the raw power of digital communities, bestie! Farrell (2016) spilled the tea on how these online spaces are literally changing the game for social justice. It's about amplifying voices, mobilizing action, and holding power accountable, all through the digital realm. We love to see it! 👏

Okay, time for the real academic deep dive (yes, we're going full nerd mode 🤓):

The job market is ravenous for social media experts! Companies are building entire teams just to manage their online presence. (McCosker et al. 2016) Imagine getting paid to scroll through social media all day?! Dream job alert! 🚨 But it's not just about posting cute pics; it's a strategic game.

Speaking of jobs, let's talk 24/7 hustle ⏰

Social media never sleeps! Companies like Telstra have 24/7 support because the internet doesn't believe in business hours. (And neither do Karens in the comments 💀). These platforms have completely transformed customer service. It's about meeting people where they are, when they are.

Plot twist! 🌀

It's so much more than just aesthetic pics now! Social media managers are modern-day superheroes, juggling multiple skills:

Creative queens/kings 👑

Data whisperers 📊

Crisis management ninjas 🚨

Content creation wizards ✨

Community builders 🤝

Trend forecasters 🔮

And don't even get me started on the platform drama! Facebook's "pay to play" era had brands screaming "Ma'am, this is a Wendy's!" 😭 But they had to adapt, because that's the wild west of the digital world. It's a constant evolution.

But beyond the brands and the marketing, digital communities are about something bigger. They're about connection, belonging, and finding your place in the vast expanse of the internet. They're about building relationships, sharing passions, and creating something together.

Digital communities are changing everything – how we connect, work, fight for what we believe in, and even how we define "community" itself. We're not just posting selfies anymore, bestie, we're building digital HOMETOWNS! 🏡 And honestly? I'm here for it. 🙌

References List:

Baban, E. and Güzel, E., 2015. Digital Activism and Social Movements: How the World perceives the Gezi Movement. Amity Journal of Media & Communications Studies (AJMCS), 5.

EDEALO 2019, FREE International Human Rights Law Course DEAL at edX - EDEALO, Pinterest, viewed 14 February 2025, <https://www.pinterest.com/pin/238620480244663074/>.

Jimenez, M 2024, Unity in Diversity Multicultural Hands Together | Premium AI-generated image, Pinterest, viewed 14 February 2025, <https://www.pinterest.com/pin/776448792042033986/>.

McCosker, A., Reid, D. and Farrell, C., 2016. Social media industries: bridging the gap between theory and practice.

‘Reality is broken: why games make us better and how they can change the world’ 2012, Choice Reviews Online, vol. 49, no. 11, pp. 49–609549–6095.

i just downloaded discord to "research" gaming communities... totally not because i got addicted to that new game everyone's playing 🎮*

ps: drop a comment about your fave digital community! are you a reddit girlie? twitter stan? youtube comment section warrior? let's chat! 💕

[lacthehumann]

✧ When Social Theory Meets Social Media: A Student's Deep Dive ✧

#MDA20009 #socialmedia #digitalculture #academia but make it ✨fun✨

hello bestiesss! 👋 your fave media student is back with another deep dive into this week's theories, and omg?? my brain is literally exploding with how these old-school theories perfectly explain our chaotic social media lives??

Story time! 🌟 

So picture this: you're scrolling through tiktok at 2am (as one does), and suddenly you're like "wait why am I doing that dance trend in my mirror rn??" 👀 WELL BESTIES let me tell you there's actually ~science~ behind that 🧠✨

Let's take the butter board trend that literally broke the internet (if you somehow missed it, it was this whole aesthetic thing where people were spreading butter artistically on boards and it was lowkey gorgeous ngl). This trend is literally giving us ALL the social theories in one aesthetic package!!

First up: Bandura's Social Learning Theory 📚

The way it spread? That's literally what Bandura was talking about when he did that famous doll experiment! Like, those kids copied adults hitting dolls just like we're out here copying tiktoks when we see others getting tons of likes and comments Carbonell (2007). it's giving ✨psychology✨ but make it social media

but wait bestie, there's MORE 💅

The Multi-step Flow Theory entered the chat: 

ok so the tea is ☕️: it wasn't just random people making these butter boards. It started with those food influencers we all follow (aka the opinion leaders in fancy academic speak). then their followers were like "omg need to try this" and BOOM 💥 suddenly everyone's feed was just,,,butter?? Boyd (2015) literally predicted this in their research about how influence works in digital spaces and I'm lowkey shook??

Now let's get a bit deeper (yes bestie, we're going there) 🤔

Remember how those philosophers were all about this thing called the "public sphere"?? well social media said "hold my butter board" and created this whole new vibe where trends and serious discussions live together rent free in our heads. BUT (and this is kind of problematic tbh) the algorithms are literally choosing what we see?? like,,,ma'am?? Castells (2005) spilled the tea about how these platforms are literally shaping our reality and I felt that 😩

Speaking of which, can we talk about Cultivation Theory for a hot sec?? 🌱

The way we spend hours on these apps thinking everyone's life is just aesthetic coffee shops and perfect outfit pics?? Gerbner & Gross (1976) were so right about how media exposure shapes our reality bestie. Like, I literally spent three hours trying to get the perfect butter board pic for the gram,,,help??

And here's the real galaxy brain moment: 🌌

The Technological Determinism theory is actually serving looks here. These platforms aren't just showing us content - they're literally changing how we behave?? Like, would anyone have cared about aesthetically pleasing butter without Instagram's visual format?? 

The most relatable part tho?? The Third-Person Effect is sending me 💀

We're all out here like "oh everyone else is so influenced by social media" while making our own butter boards 🤡 (yes i made one, no i won't be taking questions at this time, yes it was for research purposes only obviously)

✧ tl;dr ✧

basically what i learned this week is that even tho we've gone from tv to tiktok, humans are still just,,, vibing and copying each other in the exact same ways but make it ✨digital✨

Reference list

boyd, danah 2015, ‘Social Media: A Phenomenon to be Analyzed’, Social Media + Society, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 205630511558014.

Castells, Manuel and Cardoso, Gustavo, eds., The Network Society: From Knowledge to Policy. Washington, DC: Johns Hopkins Center for Transatlantic Relations, 2005

Carbonell, C 2007, ‘Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide’, The Journal of Popular Culture, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 731–733.

Gerbner, G & Gross, L 1976, ‘Living with Television: the Violence Profile’, Journal of Communication, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 172–199.

‘Technological determinism vs. social shaping of technology : the influence of activity trackers on users attitudes’ n.d.

*note to followers: yes i wrote this while procrastinating on my actual essay due next week 🤪*

*also yes i have 27 tabs open with readings i haven't started yet 📚*

*update: make that 28 tabs because i just found another interesting paper while writing this 😭*

ps: drop a comment if you also fell victim to the butter board trend bestie 👇 we're all in this together ✨