Tumblr
is a wonderful multi-blogging platform on which users can openly express
themselves and share their thoughts; but is it really?
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| Image retrieved from: Tumblr |
As an avid member of the social
networking site for over two years, I have witnessed the influence powerful
users have over the content and presentation of the website. Famous Tumblr
users are the ones who create the new trends as it is their blog posts that are
the most widely spread throughout the site. It is a good example of charismatic
power –power gained through a person’s extraordinary abilities that inspire
devotion among his or her followers –which was mentioned in the lecture during
week two. Tumblr users gain followers by making particularly interesting posts
or sharing their creative works, such as art. People who have a relationship
with a well-known user can also gain more followers by having the famous user
promote their blog, which links to the point made in the week two lecture:
“Power comes out of connections…[and] relationships" (Kuttainen, 2015). However, it is difficult
to befriend other users due to the elitist attitude within the community.
Tumblr
claims to be a platform for free expression, yet bloggers who do not conform to
the views of the powerful and popular users are often verbally abused for it. Yet
despite the obvious presence of bullying, the staff do not involve themselves
with the users and their blogs and rarely remove offensive posts, saying that
they prefer users to dismantle it via debate (Tumblr, 2015). In John Allen’s
book Lost Geographies of Power he
discusses the effect that distance has on power and how “presence and proximity
will inevitably matter to [authority’s] exercise” (2003, 3). Tumblr’s admin
personnel have very little power over the content on the site due to the distance
between them and the users, which was created by their own indifference towards
the bloggers. Although the staff have the power to censor certain posts, the
majority of power lies with the popular users.
Allen,
J. (2003). Lost geographies of power.
Malden, MA.:Blackwell.
Kuttainen,
V. (2015) BA1002: Our space: Networks,
narratives and the making of place,
Lecture 2:
Power.
[Powerpoint Slides]. Retrieved from http://www.learnjcu.jcu.edu.au
Tumblr.
(2015). Community guidelines. Retrieved
13/08/15 from https://www.tumblr.com/
policy/en/community
I agree Annie, being on tumblr myself I remember the constant complaints made by its public, but the staff ignored them, as there was no money involved to do so. Which leads to your view on the Lost Geographies of Power as proximity is close, but the tumblr staff do not get closer to their public which makes the power they have as distant as they are. The issue with the site is that the bigger blogs rake in money which makes tumblr more popular, whereas the smaller niche blogs don't causing a rift. The big blogs are also run by a majority of voices willing to put money into tumblr, whereas the smaller blogs usually run by a single person have lesser sway. As for befriending I completely agree, people are afraid to contact each other as no one knows who is on the other side usually, and the bigger blogs typically have so much requests it becomes hard to have the time for everyone. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi Annie, I completely agree, as I have never even looked at Tumblr, Or honestly don't know what it even is, through your post I can see that it is similar to real-world situations, you get hate for being different and/or the Minority. For the situation with the staff, I can't believe that they don't do anything about bullying, as you said through your post, they have the power to censor certain posts but don't, due to the high rollers bringing in the money and the popularity to the site, they should still be able to do something. Bullying is a serious problem and they should definitely do something about it. But overall great post, I look forward to reading next weeks.
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