Joining the world of Reddit this week has been a major highlight for me! I had heard of Reddit before but only partially paid close attention to what individuals could do on Reddit. I assumed it was another place to offer reviews and commentary on topics of interest. As I began to work on the Community Norms assignment, I knew I wanted to participate in the full version; the full version offered a unique perspective to continue enhancing my knowledge and skills with the various digital and social media sites for class. Although I was excited to participate and engage in Reddit communities, there are a TON to choose from. Leaving me to feel overwhelmed by the many options. Continuing to explore Reddit, I joined communities of interest as it relates to Sports (NBA, WNBA), Reality Tv (Real Housewives Franchise, College Hill Celebrity Edition, Married to Medicine, etc.), Black memes, and Twitter communities, NBA 2K. These communities all felt normal and comfortable to me because these are spaces and communities that I engage with daily in my personal life.
While reflecting on Reddit and its purpose, I connected to Babajide Osatuyi's (2013) article on information sharing on social media sites. Reddit is a platform that offers information to individuals who are coming to engage and share information of their choosing. Osatuyi (2013) explored four categories of information sharing that I found to be interesting 1) sensitive, 2)sensational, 3)political, 4) and casual information. The communities that I joined on Reddit follow aspects of casual information sharing. Casual information is "information shared among friends, colleagues, or even business partners such as the discussion of a good restaurant to have lunch or a great resort to go for vacation" (Osatuyi, 2013, p.2623). Reddit is the space to engage in the exchange of casual information. I have enjoyed this because it shows me that when I watch my reality Tv shows, there are several other people with similar or different opinions. Being able to engage and join these communities showcased the reliance on community knowledge and sharing in digital and social media spaces.
Reference:
Osatuyi, B. (2013). Information sharing on social media sites. Computers in Human Behavior, 29, 2622-2631.
Welcome to Reddit!! (i'm a new user as well). It's a nice to be able to curate your "space" based on your interests. So for now, i'll enjoy it :)
ReplyDeleteHello! Reddit has been so overwhelming for me as the influx of information has been a bit intimidating. Regardless, as you said, the community of folks with similar or different opinions has provided me perspective and has truly made me think about my own opinions in a constructive and critical way. I hope you continue to enjoy Reddit and if you feel overwhelmed, know I am right there with you, friend!
ReplyDeleteHi Johnnie, great connections between joining a community and your real experience on Reddit! You can find each Osatuyi categories of information on reddit if you're looking for it.
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