Writer/journalist
Stephanie Wood recently published a compelling feature article on loneliness. In
addition to addressing the deep seated experience
of emotional and physical isolation, she challenges the notion that social media can
help to alleviate loneliness. See http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/all-the-lonely-people-20130826-2skkz.html.
It would appear, indeed, that social media platforms can invite mere comment rather than engagement – or even just envy as we appraised others’ seemingly more enriched lives.
We’ve all heard about the potential of Facebook to cause
loneliness. But a study intent on proving this actually found the opposite. See
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/30/facebook-loneliness_n_3839003.html
Aiza
has commented on this blog that social media shows evidence of ‘the Existence of certain
protocols and rules of use which can only be learned and internalised through
constant exposure and use’.
By virtue of this
definition, we can envision proficient social media users as those who are true
community members – they have adopted the language, use the protocols for engaging
in dialogue, and are engaged in regular interchange.
And other
commenters have shown how constant exposure and the next step- response – have enhanced
feelings of belonging:
Sally Morgan: ‘social
media can help us feel like we belong and decrease feelings of isolation’.
Denise: 'the
bottom line for me is that I see Facebook as a very positive medium and a
fabulous vehicle to connect with other like-minded human beings and make
friends.'
According to Spanish
scholar Jose Luis Orihuela, in an article in Comunicação
e Sociedade (translated into English!)
‘The blogosphere is community and
conversation’.
Please
continue the conversation- let me know what you think about the question,
Can social media build community?
Want
to know more from these commentators?
Denise: http://greyisok.blogspot.co.uk/
Jose
Luis Orihuela: Email: jlori@unav.es; Blog: http://ecuaderno.com/.
Sally Morgan: https://plus.google.com/107611860416207398724/posts
As a PR practitioner, I find sm v useful for engagement. Great site.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Your comment raises the issue of defining engagement. Is engagement a prerequisite for community membership? Is it possible to be disengaged, and still part of a community? Would those who are regular workers be considered members? And can workers be categorized as either engaged or underengaged?
ReplyDeleteHi Avril,
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of what classifies as engagement does come into play, but i also think that you need to consider how being engaged in an 'online' community hinders involvement and engagement in everyday 'real' life. This can be thought of in terms of the opportunities available through social media (eg. facebook) enabling people to link in with like-minded communities and being able to make connections they might not have otherwise been able to make. BUT the phenomenon of seeing people at a cafe 'socialising' but then all being on their phones checking in and looking at their newsfeed automatically hinders the idea of social face-to-face interaction. So a battle here between pros and cons indeed!!
Kez
Hey Avril
ReplyDeleteI'd have to agree with the comment from Aiza that 'social media shows evidence of the existence of certain protocols and rules of use which can only be learned and internalised through constant exposure and use’.
For instance I know that because I am not part of any regular on line community my ability to internalise the protocols and rules around social media use is being hampered and in turn so is my ability to gain more skills and without more skills so is my ability to engage and participate in on line communities.
So engagement and community and social media for me ...importantly all go together...
As to your question about whether you can be disengaged and be pat of community...yes I think so as I think it depends on how you define 'disengaged'.....for example ....the stats suggest the majority of people on social media are just looking or 'lurking' as they say ....they are passive not active contributors....they observe but don't comment .....yet something keeps them engaged enough to keep coming back to the same sites ..and maybe eventually one day something may capture their attention enough for them to post a comment or a link or something ......etc...and then they are away..
Thanks for prompting anther good discussion.
Rox
Since the social media becomes greater power in changing human communication from door-to-door to place-to-place and person-to-person, i believe that community of interest is undoubtedly created.
ReplyDelete