Becoming visible in digital worlds 7. May 2009, 15:38

Disappearing without a trace… That can become literally true in digital social environments. In different social networking sites and community platforms the individual becomes visible through constant activity and participation. Accordingly, without continuous visible activity one shifts silently to the margin, the huge infinite sphere of invisible digital entities.

Latest of latests will rule us all

The focus of attention is substantially narrow in the popular, socially orientated digital environments such as Facebook, Twitter or Flickr. In these services latest material piles on top of older content. Subsequently the “newness” is prioritized as the content expires through its invisibility.

Accordingly, the constant stream of status updates, micro-blogging entries, comments and other forms of digital participation affirm and manifest one’s existence and significance in digital social realities. Thus a true paradox emerges; in the abstract, non-physical virtual environments an entity is perceived only through active production of material (content).

Terror of expiration and the race for attention

Critical observer of such an environments might get worried about the quality of the content as it seems that the quantity and efficiency of delivery is appreciated more than the quality. The faster you are, the better. The most important thing is, who will be the first to “tweet” the next big thing or an interesting remark about the hottest topic.

The main stages of digital social environments are populated by ceaselessly active individuals and other actors seeking attention (e.g. artists, activists and celebrities). Quite recently social networking sites have witnessed a growing interest by profit-seeking companies and celebrities, that see these environments as a useful territory for efficient self-promotion and guerrilla advertising. Attention is everything.

All in all, the attraction of the social media environments is kindled and maintained by active minority, the real actors in the center of digital stages that provide the drama, “inspiration” and entertainment for us all.

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Jarno M. Koponen - Personal Digital Nexus » journal