Why we post: social media through the eyes of the world

An extraordinary research project sponsored by the European Research Council has explored the role of social media in people’s everyday lives.  Nine anthropologists spent 15 months living with communities around the world:

• Brazil – Bahia in the north east
• Chile – a municipality in the north
• China – an industrial town and a rural area
• India – five villages near Chennai
• Italy – a small town in the south
• Trinidad – a relatively undeveloped area
• Turkey – a town close to the Syrian border
• UK – two linked villages in southern England

The outputs include OA books and wonderful videos.  Be prepared to shed a tear or two!

Social media is NOT making us more individualistic

• Social media helps to repair social groups who may be separated by migration (Turkey) and to ensure families stay connected (Chile)
• In Italy, people posting ‘styled selfies’ are not narcissistic – they are conforming to social expectations – “looking good is a civic responsibility”
• Groups that may not communicate face to face can become friends on social media (religious groups in Brazil)

Social media as an educational tool

• In England social media is an asset to improve communication between schools, pupils, parents and communities (England)
• YouTube is ‘a school’ for those outside formal education in Brazil and India

Users create social media – not developers

• In England, teenagers get into public arguments on Twitter – re-enacted here.
• Meditation as a daily social media activity in India
• Translating a WhatsApp experience in Trinidad

A visit to the website and to the many resources published there is highly recommended.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/why-we-post