I wanted something that would communicate the power of virtual networks and give you a bit of insight into why we are making you explore and analyse them for the next couple of weeks. I found some great videos & a TEDTalk by Sherry Turkle (the lady who wrote "life on the screen"). I'll post it on the facebook page for anyone that wants to have a look. However, all the videos I watched seemed to be lacking something.
The academic analysis of these networks is really important - don't get me wrong! Virtual networks exist at the indices of sociality and technology; they are re-shaping our social worlds and the way we interact (for better and for worse). They are changing our understandings of freedom, privacy, democracy, and ownership; as well, as the way we do business and educate ourselves. And it's super important to study all this, from all sorts of disciplinary perspectives - psych., sociology, economics, law, criminology, education, politics ... the lot.
But for me, as a so-called "cyber-anthropologist" (it's a thing guys trust me!), the most interesting things about virtual networks are the people within them. How they interact, how they form relationships and communicate, and how they create a sense of community and place online. Basically, how the sprawling global-digital-networks that we are part of influence our lives (online and offline).
And, out of all the videos I watched, I don't think anyone managed to express the power of virtual networks quite as well as this guy in the first few minutes of this youtube clip.
Your task for this week is to find a network (there's more info on that in the tute vid). And from next week (wk3), till week 8, I'm handing the blog over to you guys.
But for now, ....
What are your thoughts on virtual networks/social-networking?
- Is it important to study them/it?
- How does power operate in virtual networks? Who has the power? And how is it used?
- Do you think we rely too much on online interactions - do they enhance our relationships or alienated us from each other?
- And, what about surveillance? Who's watching and why?
Check out the readings and the lecture.
And, then let us know what you think in the comments ...
- Rhian
References:
Turkle, S. (1995). Life on the screen: Identity in the age of the internet. New York: Simon & Schuster
In response the tutorial questions:
ReplyDelete1. I would argue the study of social networks is essential. Like maps, s/n reflect our modern perspective on notions of power and importance of certain values, attitudes and beliefs.
2. Power, who has it and how it operates in virtual networks, still remains an elusive concept to me. Perhaps the larger the social network, the bigger the hub, the more users it has may increase the influence its interconnectedness with the grater cyber world.
3. As to the reliance on online interaction, I speak from personal experience. I find it has enhanced my relationships- but with people I already know in person.
4. For me, surveillance of my cyber action does not alarm me- I’m barely on-line! Yet the idea of panopticism for those intending to use the internet for ‘bad’ may be a good deterrent. However, the article regarding government bodies and their surveillance did freak me out!