Mapping Social Media
A research project aimed at identifying the “logics” of social media
In his paper “The Case for Digital Public Infrastructure,” published by the Knight Institute in January 2020, Ethan Zuckerman makes a strong case for building public service-minded digital media as a counterweight to the current platform-dominated internet that is destabilizing news production and distorting public discourse. Observing that “[o]ur responses to the challenges of the contemporary media ecosystem are marked by failures of imagination,” Zuckerman argues for thinking beyond the present proposals for regulating the tech giants and their platforms and constructing new models designed specifically to support and further open, democratic discourse.
As the Institute’s Visiting Research Scholar for the 2020-2021 academic year, Zuckerman will work closely with Institute staff to map the current social media space and to identify paths toward possible “alternative” social media. We hope the work will inform efforts to build new online spaces for healthy public discourse and civic and cultural engagement. The work will culminate in a convening of scholars and technologists in the Spring of 2021.
Featured
An Illustrated Field Guide to Social Media
A look at alternative logics for social media published in connection with “Reimagine the Internet”
Podcast
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Ethan Zuckerman Reimagines the Internet
A podcast exploring questions about content moderation and the future of online communities
Deep Dive
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An Illustrated Field Guide to Social Media
A look at alternative logics for social media published in connection with “Reimagine the Internet”
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
Top 100: The most popular social media platforms and what they can teach us
Moving past U.S. and Facebook centrism
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
Social Media Mapping Project Takes Flight with Avian Avatars
Collaboration between Institute researchers, artist pairs various online community “logics” with birds of a feather
By A. Adam Glenn -
Forum Logic: Topical, with a side of toxicity
Looking back at topic-based social networks may offer one way forward for social media
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
Gift Logic: Labors of love flourish online under fandom’s social norms
Fan culture’s cycle of gifting, receiving, and reciprocating helps create and maintain social solidarity
By Casey Fiesler -
Russian Social Media Logic: Between the East and the West
Contradiction is the defining feature of the Runet
By Gregory Asmolov -
Q&A Logic: Questions, answers, and everything in-between
Could social roles help us build healthier communities online?
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
Creator Logic: It's like Uber but for culture
The original gig economy returns online
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
The Great Shopping Mall: The market nationalist logic of Chinese social media
The West tends to focus on security, but entertainment and commerce are the key goals here
By An Xiao Mina & Xiaowei Wang -
Deplatforming Our Way to the Alt-Tech Ecosystem
What happens when you exile users and communities?
By Ethan Zuckerman & Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci -
Local Logic: It's not always a beautiful day in the neighborhood
The advantages and disadvantages of local platforms and their potential to support healthy communities on- and offline
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
Civic Logic: Social media with opinion and purpose
It may be our best chance to build digital spaces that enhance our social and civic life
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
Chat Logic: When you want a living room, not a town square
People want privacy and ephemerality, but can it scale?
By Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci & Ethan Zuckerman -
What if Social Media Worked More Like Email?
Hearkening back to the internet’s good ole days with decentralized networks
By Ethan Zuckerman & Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci -
Crypto Logic Platforms and the Cautionary Tale of Steemit
What makes crypto social media unique?
By Ethan Zuckerman & Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci -
Beyond Facebook Logic: Help us map alternative social media!
Toward a civic-minded social media
By Ethan Zuckerman & Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci
Press Statement
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Ethan Zuckerman to Join Knight Institute as Visiting Research Scholar
Will focus on the need for a public-service-minded digital sphere