Identity and Community
Identity and community
Introduction
Many people like being researchers, but they are depressed by the inaccessibility of the outcomes of their research, which could add value, inspire, or provoke thoughts of people who receive information. This implies that the creativity of an individual is rendered futile as a result of lack of OA (open access). The networked and digital technology has led to the reconfiguration of publicness by altering the engagement in public life. According to Baym and Boyd (2012), the affordance of digital media and architecture is what shapes publicness. The existence of digital technology has blurred the boundaries, enabling people to socially interact and perform personal identities with multiple audiences. Thus, culture and public life have changed in the socially interconnected society. However, Baym and Boyd (2012) noted that the ability to navigate socially mediated publicness need new skills and mechanisms of control. The paper will discuss what is meant by socially mediated publicness and the mechanisms of control and skills, and connect this discussion to my personal online experience.
Body
The capacity of people to access information regardless of their location has led to increased social networking. The information so received increases knowledge, social interaction, inspiration, and provoke thoughts. As a result, the value of life increases fundamentally. The emergence of digital technology has enabled individuals to manage their identities (Jenkins, Wright, & Johnson, 2013). Thus, by socially mediated publicness, the author referred to socially networked practices that help to shape various characteristics of individuals such as amateurish, friendship, and professionalism. Additionally, socially mediated publicness refers to the capacity of individuals to socially disseminate information to facilitate communication across the globe. It means the absence of limits and boundaries that would hinder the access to any form of information that people would wish to gain access to.
Connecting the discussion with my personal online experience
Communication through the social media has facilitated cultural exchange among the global community as well as increasing social interaction (Sawyer & Chen, 2012). However, control mechanisms are required to regulate how information is disseminated. Various negative incidences such as cyber bullying, terrorism, and moral hazard have been contributed by the lack of control in the accessibility of information. The networked mediation tends to blur the boundaries between public and private. Furthermore, from what I have experienced with different online communication platforms, individuals and communities who cannot afford the digital technology are denied access to the social space for interaction. Therefore, new skills are needed to enhance the affordability of digital technology to enable as many people as possible to interact in the social space.
Conclusion
The study discusses what Baym and Boyd meant by socially mediated publicness and the new skills and control mechanisms needed to navigate this issue. Socially mediated publicness encompasses various issues relating to communication through the social media channels. The new skills and control mechanisms are required to create a rich environment in which social publicness can be achieved.
References
Baym, N., & Boyd, D. (2012). Socially mediated publicness: An introduction. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 56(3), 320-329.
Jenkins, A., Wright, S. L., & Johnson, B. (2013). Development and validation of a social media use integration scale. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 2(1), 38–50
Sawyer, R. & Chen, G.M. (2012). The Impact of Social Media on Intercultural Adaptation. Intercultural Communication Studies, 21(2), 151-169.
