Pluralism in Digital Communities
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1. The document discusses pluralism in digital communities and factors that can inhibit pluralism. 2. One-size-fits-all social media platforms and a focus on hyper-efficiency and instant gratification in design can constrain communities by limiting their ability to develop distinct rules and requiring less commitment from members. 3. Competition from alternative platforms and design paradigms as well as uses of digital tools to reform concepts like nations and markets may help address these issues and promote more diverse communities.
Pluralism in Digital Communities
- 1. Pluralism in Digital Communities by Christophe Bruchansky & Shane Saunderson http://plural.world, November 2018
- 2. Digital Using or relating to digital signals and computer technology. Community A collective of individuals who share or have certain attitudes and interests in common. Pluralism Coexistence and diversity of opinions, beliefs, and ways of life. e-nation civic community crowdfunding community blockchain community hobby group peer to peer e-commerce http://plural.world, Nov. 2018 C. Bruchansky & S. Saunderson
- 3. Social scientific research on communities increasingly acknowledges the bi-directionality of online and offline, and the fluidity between digital and analogue. Across examples of crowdfunding, digital and analogue community activity has generally proven to be positive, and reinforcing. “ Alexandra Stiver, anthropologist and researcher (full interview) ”
- 4. community Instant Gratification One-Size-Fits-All Platform Unchallenged Boundaries Inhibiting Factors to Pluralism in Digital Communities Digital technologies enable new forms of communities, but are also destroying older ones. The nature and mechanism of current digital communities are constrained by inhibiting factors. Effects on pluralism The less diverse communities are, the less choice there is for their members and outsiders. LEGEND A constrains B A creates B Monopole multiple A A B B Coercion graph http://plural.world, Nov. 2018 C. Bruchansky & S. Saunderson
- 5. One-Size-Fits-All Platform Authentication Community rules Moderation Ads One-Size-Fits-All Platforms community hobby group hobby group One-size-fits-all social media platform that everybody can join: antithesis of what a community is. Characteristics Universal authentication, moderation, and revenue mechanisms. Effects on pluralism ✔ Allow the creation of many transient communities. ✖ Impossible for communities to invest in deeper connections with their members and develop their own community rules. Coercion graph http://plural.world, Nov. 2018 C. Bruchansky & S. Saunderson
- 6. One-Size-Fits-All Platform Authentication Community rules Moderation Ads Legislation community 1. 2. 3. Conciliation of One-Size-Fits-All Platforms Conciliation process 1. One-size-fits-all platforms are governed by legislation to protect minorities (e.g. against hate speech). 2. As a consequence, designated minorities feel protected. 3. But communities get indirectly constrained by legislation. Effects on pluralism ✖ Platforms’ universal appeal are still at odds with the necessary distinctiveness of the communities composing them. ✖ Communities ecosystem being at the service of both corporations and national interests. Coercion graph http://plural.world, Nov. 2018 C. Bruchansky & S. Saunderson
- 7. platform platform digressive agent Competition of Social Media Platforms platform Authentication Community rules Moderation Ads community 1. 2. 3. Competition process 1. A digressive agent (State, institution, incubator) promotes the creation of alternative platforms. 2. Pre-existing platforms lose their one-size-fits-all status. 3. As a consequence, communities are less constrained by later platforms. Non profit example: Diaspora See also: Unlike Us Coercion graph http://plural.world, Nov. 2018 C. Bruchansky & S. Saunderson
- 8. My guess is that we will look back at the period of Facebook and Twitter dominance as a rare moment of concentration of users in a small number of platforms. “ Professor Jessa Lingel, University of Pennsylvania (full interview) ”
- 9. Hyper-efficiency Gratification Instant Gratification Well-Designed Paradigm Consumer-Centric Design community 1. 2. 3. Well-designed paradigm 1. Design is understood as a purely commercial practice. 2. Dogmatic definition of what makes a well-designed community (hyper-efficiency, instant gratification). 3. Easy for consumers to get involved and interact online. Effects on pluralism ✔ Instant gratification and easy-to-use interfaces make it easier to join and participate in many communities. ✖ There is value and diversity to be found in difficulty and commitment.Coercion graph http://plural.world, Nov. 2018 C. Bruchansky & S. Saunderson
- 10. Multiplicity of Design Paradigms hyper-efficiency gratification community 3. 4. design paradigm design paradigm digressive agent design paradigm 1. 2. Competition process 1. A digressive agent promotes alternative design paradigms. 2. Consumer-centric design is losing its monopole. 3. Hyper-efficiency and instant gratification become more of a choice and less of a dogma. 4. Communities become more diverse, and also sustainable (they require higher personal investment from their members). Design initiative: Center for Human Technology Coercion graph http://plural.world, Nov. 2018 C. Bruchansky & S. Saunderson
- 11. With a lot of digital sharing platforms there is a focus on efficiency, everything faster, easier, better. So in those cases it can eliminate the choice to actually engage with somebody. “ Emily Bitze, founder of Bunz (full interview) ”
- 12. e-nation Nation Unchallenged Boundaries civic group political party Market authority market regulation currency region investment group Nations and markets are communities that have been institutionalized. In the process, their mechanisms have been highly codified, resulting in a loss of sense of community among its members. Effects on pluralism ✔ Codes and rules help protect minority groups against discrimination and abusive practices. ✖ Historical models limit what digital communities can be and can do.Coercion graph http://plural.world, Nov. 2018 C. Bruchansky & S. Saunderson
- 13. National and Market Communities Nations could benefit from the same digital tools as those used by local communities. Examples Bitnation Estonian e-residency Ciwik Markets could benefit when buyers and sellers promote shared values through their exchanges. Examples Start Some Good Eco Coin e-nation civic group political party peer to peer community blockchain community crowdfunding Coercion graph http://plural.world, Nov. 2018 C. Bruchansky & S. Saunderson
- 14. With the pervasiveness of mobile phones, it’s now possible to imagine a ‘nation’ that is a set of mobile apps designed to assist stateless people in finding food, shelter, medical aid, etc. “ Karl Schroeder, futurist and science fiction author (full interview) ”
- 15. Pluralism in Digital Communities Plural think tank, November 2018 Interviews: Emily Bitze, Jessa Lingel, Geert Lovink, Karl Schroeder, Alexandra Stiver, Clare Sullivan, Violette Suquet. Contact & More Information Digressive Society Christophe Bruchansky A manifesto for a post-certainty society, a pragmatic answer to dogmas and monopolies. Artificial Shane Shane Saunderson Blurs the line between humanity and technology.