Lecture 8

Question 1

What is ‘user agency’ in publics theories

Answer 1

User agency varies across theories; it can be low in calculated publics where users lack awareness or high in refracted publics where users manipulate affordances.

Question 2

What distinguishes ‘Networked publics’ from ‘Refracted publics’?

Answer 2

Networked publics focus on platform affordances shaping user actions, while refracted publics focus on user-driven adaptions and circumventive tactics.

Question 3

Why was Abidin’s ‘refracted publics’ introduced as a companion framework?

Answer 3

To address the nuances of modern digital engagement, such as visibility, spreadability, and tactics for flying below the radar.

Question 4

Define ‘refracted publics’

Answer 4

Refracted publics are online spaces where users manipulate visibility, to stay below the radar, often using encoded messages or selective communication.

Question 5

What are examples of ‘below-the-radar’ strategies in refracted publics?

Answer 5

1. Hashtag-jacking: redirect attention
2. Social Steganography: Hiding meaning in something obvious
3. Internet Paralanguage: using emojis or homonyms to avoid censorship.
4. Clickbait: provocative or interesting content to capture viewers interest

Question 6

How do refracted publics impact research methods?

Answer 6

They require analysis of both user behaviour and technical infrastructure, as much of the activity is indirectly observable through user patterns.

Question 7

Persistence vs. Transience

Answer 7

Persistence in Networked publics: content is archived and remains accesable.
Transcience in Refracted publics: content is fleeting, intentionally short-lived or removed after posting.

Question 8

Searchability vs. Discoverability

Answer 8

Searchability in Networked publics: content is easily accessible through search.

Discoverability in Refracted publics: content can only be found by chance or through knowing the context.

Question 9

Replicability vs. Decodability

Answer 9

Replicability in Networked publics: content can be copied and shared.

Decodability in Refracted publics: content can be copied but to understanding requires specific cultural knowledge.

Question 10

Scalability vs. Silosociability

Answer 10

Scalability in Networked publics: content focuses on reaching large audiences and virality.

Silosociability in Refracted publics: content’s visibility is limited to specific subcommunities.

Question 11

Invisible Audiences vs. Impactful Audiences

Answer 11

Invisible Audiences in Networked publics: unseen or future viewers.

Impactful Audiences in Refracted publics: human and machine viewers who shape engagement and self-presentation.

Question 12

Collapsed Contexts vs. Weaponized Contexts

Answer 12

Collapsed Contexts in Networked publics: blur social boundaries, combining various audience.

Weaponized Contexts in Refracted publics: intentionally mix contexts to repurpose content across setting for strategic use.

Question 13

Blurring the Public/Private vs. Alternating the Public/Private

Answer 13

Blurring the Public/Private in Networked publics: making them hard to seperate

Alternating the Public/Private: dynamic shifts depending on platform features and context.