Then you might use instagram. Instagram is a social networking site, it allows people to create an
identity and express themselves in a creative way. More about instagram can be seen HERE
Image from: huffington post
Users can comment on
one another’s photos and share things in their life. The photo format of
sharing information or happenings in ones life allows for the user to portray
this happening in whatever way they choose. While it is a social network site,
unlike facebook, you don’t necessarily follow friends or family.
As the content
posted is not too personal you can follow people either based on them or based
on just their content. A user can create an identity which is essentially
anonymous. For example, they could post photos of only their pets, clothes,
flowers and you may never know the person behind the account. This makes a
social media that allows users to create an identity.
Humans can experience space directly or conceptually. (Vanluyn 2015) Following accounts based on the photos an account posts can allow a user to make Instagram a place full of things that they are interested in and enjoying seeing. For
example, if someone liked Dogs, they could follow Instagram accounts that post
photos of dogs, if they liked flowers they could follow accounts that post
flowers and so on. Space and place
Instagram
can also allow people to create different identities and spaces as they can
keep whatever they want personal, meet new online users, or connect with friends and family. It can also lessen the distance in space and place as it allows people from around the world to connect, allows family members who may live apart to share their day to day life and some shops even turn to Instagram to advertise their goods.
In my posts I will be looking into how instagram relates to networks, space and place.
References:
Vanluyn, A. (2015) BA1002: Our space: Networks, narratives and the making of space, Lecture 3: Space and Identity: genre and transformation [powerpoint slides] sourced from LearnJCU
Lux, K. (2012) What is Instagram and why is it so popular? Retrieved on Aug 14, 2015 from http://infospace.ischool.syr.edu/2011/12/15/what-is-instagram-and-why-is-it-so-popular/
Tuan, Y. (1977) Space and Place: The perspective of experience London, UK: Edward Arnold
Retrieved from LearnJCU
Having only a relatively simple understanding of the basics processes and functions of instagram you’ll have to forgive me if my question seems obvious but I was wondering where Foucault’s Panopticon might fit into the networks and dynamics of the website. You mentioned that Instagram could be used as a means for family members to connect with each other. Does this constant prospect of surveillance from family members or friends also mean that users might censor their behaviour and thus lose some of the power granted to them by anonymity? Or can posts be concealed from certain followers and thus give you the power to control who views what on an account? Aside from that I enjoyed getting an insight into Instagram. In the future you could try explaining the relevance of the quotes to what you are trying to say just to make it a little easier to comprehend your point of view.
ReplyDeleteI loved your first post! I completely agree with Instagram being a space in which one can find place and identity through surrounding themselves with things they identify with, whether openly or anonymously. I feel that it's this quality that allows the user to feel empowered through the personalised aspect of the app. However, I find that Instra profiles, much unlike FB or other social media, have a certain 'high-end' quality about them that make it easy to feel judged by others; almost like behind every post there is a disempowering nervous pressure, (Sloan, 2014). You might also be aware that certain tags and even emoji's are banned from being used, which takes away a certain degree of the users power by only allowing them to post things that are deemed appropriate to post by the higher power that is, Instagram.
ReplyDeleteRef:
Sloan, M. (2014). Rich Kids of Instragram. New York, USA: Gallery Books.