So, Hi. This is the first week of Networked Media.

And this week we discussed the concept of ‘blogging’.

Admittedly, I’m not a huge “traditional blogger”. But that got me thinking, in this world of us millennials being so consumed by social media; could our Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat profiles could be considered some sort of new-age blogs? Adrian Miles did expand on this in this weeks reading, ‘BLOGS IN MEDIA EDUCATION: A Beginning’, he states that in a blog that posts are automatically archived by date, there are categories to each post, a typical blog has a name, as well other other blogs it follows, and it is supported by an optional commenting option, where other readers can leave their thoughts at the end of a post (p. 66).

This is almost indicative of how we use our personal social medias. We put up pictures/posts with captions, as well as tags as to where we are or what we are doing, other viewers can see who we follow/are our friends, we typically have a name/site name, and there is always a comment section where other users can engage with your post.

Miles also elaborates that “The use of blogs can also explore questions about online identity. As students write about themselves through their blogs, they develop an online persona which they control” (p. 69). This is especially prevalent from even the beginning of the Myspace days; users would create personalised profiles with themes that would match their own personal styles in real life. Especially because the average user at that time would’ve been under 21; this would’ve been a time of either pubescent or post-pubescent attitudes. Learning internet jargon with their peers, and assessing trends via online commenting.

For a content creator, I think it’s important to post some questions on how your online presence might be perceived. Or let me post as wider question, for a media maker;

How do the affordances of Instagram (or all social media) affect the way photos and videos are authored, published and distributed in the network?

To understand the question, one must understand what affordances are. Affordances pertain to the perceived uses of a specific item; as such, it could almost refer to any industry or aspect of life. For example, a tea kettle has a handle, which provides an obvious affordance for holding. When a media maker creates code for a social media platform, they must ascertain how users will utilise their platform and personalise it in their own way.

But more on that next week.

References;

Miles, Adrian. “Blogs in Media Education: A Beginning.” Australian Screen Ed 41 (2006): 66–9. Print.