SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 29
Download to read offline
CRICOS No.00213J
Online Communities and Where to Find Them:
Conceptual and Analytical Frameworks
Prof. Axel Bruns
Australian Laureate Fellow
a.bruns@qut.edu.au | @snurb_dot_info
CRICOS No.00213J
Online Communities and Where to Find Them: Conceptual and Analytical Frameworks
3.7m known Australian accounts
Network of follower connections
Filtered for degree ≥1000
255k nodes (6.4%), 61m edges
Edges not shown in graph
The Australian Twittersphere
Teen Culture
Aspirational
Sports
Netizens
Arts & Culture
Politics
Television
Fashion
Popular Music
Food & Drinks
Agriculture Activism
Porn
Education
Cycling
News &
Generic
Hard Right
Progressive
South
Australia
Celebrities
Horse Racing
https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305117748162
CRICOS No.00213J
US progressives
US conservatives
France /
Germany
Italy
Brazil
India
alternative
health
conspiracies
UK
alternative
finance
FakeNIX Domain Sharing on Facebook, 2016-21
Nodes: public pages, groups, verified profiles / domains in posts
Size: weighted in-degree
Colour: weighted in-degree
FakeNIX domain posts, 1 Jan. 2016 to 31 Mar. 2021
https://snurb.info/node/2625
CRICOS No.00213J
climate change denial
antivax
alternative medicine
alternative food
astrology
UFOs
autism
UK left
UK satire
Detail: Conspiracy Theorists
CRICOS No.00213J
Communities?
Audiences?
Publics?
Crowds?
Groups?
CRICOS No.00213J
Communities? Clusters!
Clusters
Louvain Modularity Resolution: 0.5
Clusters
Louvain Modularity Resolution: 0.25
CRICOS No.00213J
• Nodes in a network, entities in a collection
• Sharing certain measurable properties
(attributes, connections)
• Artificially grouped based on (superficial?)
similarities
Clusters
https://snurb.info/node/2213
CRICOS No.00213J
• Nodes in a network, entities in a collection
• Sharing certain measurable properties
(attributes, connections)
• Artificially grouped based on (superficial?)
similarities
Clusters How and Where to Find Them
• Modularity detection in networks
• Clustering by attributes for other datasets
• Different levels of sensitivity might produce
very different results – no one true answer
• Potential hierarchies: clusters, subclusters,
subsubclusters, …
CRICOS No.00213J
• Small number, known to each other
• Shared interests, values, and aims
• Stable relationships and distinct roles
Groups
Photo
by
Saksham
Gangwar
on
UnSplash
CRICOS No.00213J
• Small number, known to each other
• Shared interests, values, and aims
• Stable relationships and distinct roles
Groups How and Where to Find Them
• Strong, repeated, stable interconnections /
interactions
• Shared language, identity markers, media
objects
• Similar activity patterns
CRICOS No.00213J
• Larger, key members known to each other
• Shared but contestable interests, values,
and aims
• More complex structure involving centre
and periphery, leaders and followers
Communities
Photo
by
Jacinto
Diego
on
Unsplash
CRICOS No.00213J
• Larger, key members known to each other
• Shared but contestable interests, values,
and aims
• More complex structure involving centre
and periphery, leaders and followers
Communities How and Where to Find Them
• Repeated, stable interconnections /
interactions
• Emergence of influential lead participants
• Centre / periphery distinctions (e.g. 1/9/90,
Pareto: creators, contributors, lurkers)
• More interactions within community than
outside it (e.g. E-I Index)
• Broadly shared language, identity markers,
media objects
CRICOS No.00213J
• Much larger and much less knowable
• Transient and temporarily gathered in one
space (online or offline)
• Some shared identity or interests but no
universally shared values
Crowd
Photo
by
Joseph
Chan
on
Unsplash
CRICOS No.00213J
• Much larger and much less knowable
• Transient and temporarily gathered in one
space (online or offline)
• Some shared identity or interests but no
universally shared values
Crowd How and Where to Find Them
• Large to very large number of participants
• Strong activity for limited period of time, or
around defined issues
• Similar activity patterns, but limited
interaction between participants
• Shared language, identity markers, media
objects relating to specific driving issue
CRICOS No.00213J
• Centred around shared interest, issue, text
• Capable of forming and dissolving rapidly
(e.g. ad hoc publics, issue publics, …)
• Aware of each other and able to
communicate publicly
• May develop shared values through their
communication
• Capable of organising in support of a
common goal
Public
Photo
by
Colin
Lloyd
on
Unsplash
CRICOS No.00213J
• Centred around shared interest, issue, text
• Capable of forming and dissolving rapidly
(e.g. ad hoc publics, issue publics, …)
• Aware of each other and able to
communicate publicly
• May develop shared values through their
communication
• Capable of organising in support of a
common goal
Public How and Where to Find Them
• Large to very large number of participants
• Strong activity for limited period of time, or
around defined issues
• Similar activity patterns, and greater levels
of interaction between participants
• Shared language, identity markers, media
objects relating to specific driving issue
• Centring around key values can produce
longer-term structures and leadership
CRICOS No.00213J
• Centred around a shared (media) text
• Large but dispersed and usually unknown
to each other
• Unlikely to share values beyond central
common interest
• Incapable of acting together
Audience
Photo
by
Ben
Tofan
on
Unsplash
CRICOS No.00213J
• Centred around a shared (media) text
• Large but dispersed and usually unknown
to each other
• Unlikely to share values beyond central
common interest
• Incapable of acting together
Audience How and Where to Find Them
• Unified by central text (live performance,
media object, event / issue hashtag, …)
• Participant numbers from niche to very large
• Observing rather than actively contributing
• Therefore invisible to and unaware of each
other
• Often imagined and assumed rather than
tangibly traceable
CRICOS No.00213J
And #Hashtags?
• Very common question in social media research:
• Audiences: if users are simply following the hashtag (#AUSvNZL)
• Crowds: if users are posting into but not following the hashtag (#auspol, for most people)
• Publics: if hashtags are used to coordinate public action (#metoo, #blacklivesmatter)
• Communities: if there is sustained engagement by regular participants (#auspol, for some)
• Groups: if there is a strong sense of shared identity between regulars (#agchatoz)
• Clusters: sure, as long as there is any activity at all
Not every hashtag is a community!
CRICOS No.00213J
And the Public Sphere?
CRICOS No.00213J
• “Mediated political communication”
• “Carried on by an elite”
• “On a virtual stage of mediated
communication”
(Habermas, 2006)
Public
Sphere
Photo
by
Mike
Philipp
on
Unsplash
CRICOS No.00213J
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/1412688.1412691
(Image:
Julien
Beauséjour)
‘The’ Public Sphere, Today
Mainstream media
Niche media
Publics,
communities, …
Everyday
communication
CRICOS No.00213J
• Publics, Crowds, …
• Triggered by issues and events
• Fast-moving and short-lived
• Limited in focus and scope
• Public Spherules (incl. Groups, Communities)
• Defined by topics and themes
• More persistent and stable
• Broader scope but unified by common theme
(cf. Cunningham, “Popular Media as Public
‘Sphericules’ for Diasporic Communities”)
• Public Spheres?
• Domain-, identity-, platform-specific
• E.g. political, Indigenous, Twittersphere
• Persistent and highly visible
• Encompassing relevant publics and spherules
• ‘The’ Public Sphere?
• Traditionally, an arena for public debate amongst
elites in front of mass media audiences
• Now, the sum total of smaller publics, spherules,
and spheres?
(cf. Bruns, “Digital Public Spheres in Australia”)
Digital Publics and ‘the’ Public Sphere
CRICOS No.00213J
Click to edit
Master title style
Thank you!
CRICOS No.00213J
Inputs to this were supported by the ARC Future Fellowship project Understanding Intermedia
Information Flows in the Australian Online Public Sphere, the ARC LIEF project TrISMA: Tracking
Infrastructure for Social Media Analysis, and the ARC Discovery project Evaluating the Challenge of
'Fake News' and Other Malinformation.
Future research is supported by the ARC Laureate Fellowship project Dynamics of Partisanship and
Polarisation in Online Public Debate, commencing in early 2022.
Facebook data are provided courtesy of CrowdTangle.
Acknowledgments

More Related Content

What's hot

The Conversation, Ten Years On: Patterns of Engagement with The Conversation ...
The Conversation, Ten Years On: Patterns of Engagement with The Conversation ...The Conversation, Ten Years On: Patterns of Engagement with The Conversation ...
The Conversation, Ten Years On: Patterns of Engagement with The Conversation ...Axel Bruns
 
Social Media Issue Publics in Australia
Social Media Issue Publics in AustraliaSocial Media Issue Publics in Australia
Social Media Issue Publics in AustraliaAxel Bruns
 
It's Not the Technology, Stupid: How the ‘Echo Chamber’ and ‘Filter Bubble’ M...
It's Not the Technology, Stupid: How the ‘Echo Chamber’ and ‘Filter Bubble’ M...It's Not the Technology, Stupid: How the ‘Echo Chamber’ and ‘Filter Bubble’ M...
It's Not the Technology, Stupid: How the ‘Echo Chamber’ and ‘Filter Bubble’ M...Axel Bruns
 
'Fake News' on Facebook: A Large-Scale Longitudinal Study of Problematic Link...
'Fake News' on Facebook: A Large-Scale Longitudinal Study of Problematic Link...'Fake News' on Facebook: A Large-Scale Longitudinal Study of Problematic Link...
'Fake News' on Facebook: A Large-Scale Longitudinal Study of Problematic Link...Axel Bruns
 
‘Fake News’ on Facebook: A Longitudinal Analysis of Link Sharing between 2016...
‘Fake News’ on Facebook: A Longitudinal Analysis of Link Sharing between 2016...‘Fake News’ on Facebook: A Longitudinal Analysis of Link Sharing between 2016...
‘Fake News’ on Facebook: A Longitudinal Analysis of Link Sharing between 2016...Axel Bruns
 
Shareworthiness and Motivated Reasoning in Hyper-Partisan News Sharing Behavi...
Shareworthiness and Motivated Reasoning in Hyper-Partisan News Sharing Behavi...Shareworthiness and Motivated Reasoning in Hyper-Partisan News Sharing Behavi...
Shareworthiness and Motivated Reasoning in Hyper-Partisan News Sharing Behavi...Axel Bruns
 
A cross-national comparison of Twitter user interactions with leading politic...
A cross-national comparison of Twitter user interactions with leading politic...A cross-national comparison of Twitter user interactions with leading politic...
A cross-national comparison of Twitter user interactions with leading politic...Christian Nuernbergk
 
From Cable Niche to Social Media Success: International Engagement with Sky N...
From Cable Niche to Social Media Success: International Engagement with Sky N...From Cable Niche to Social Media Success: International Engagement with Sky N...
From Cable Niche to Social Media Success: International Engagement with Sky N...Axel Bruns
 
Social media as echo chamber
Social media as echo chamberSocial media as echo chamber
Social media as echo chamberMegan Knight
 
News Diffusion on Twitter: Comparing the Dissemination Careers for Mainstream...
News Diffusion on Twitter: Comparing the Dissemination Careers for Mainstream...News Diffusion on Twitter: Comparing the Dissemination Careers for Mainstream...
News Diffusion on Twitter: Comparing the Dissemination Careers for Mainstream...Axel Bruns
 
The Conversation on Facebook: Patterns of Dissemination in Australia and Angl...
The Conversation on Facebook: Patterns of Dissemination in Australia and Angl...The Conversation on Facebook: Patterns of Dissemination in Australia and Angl...
The Conversation on Facebook: Patterns of Dissemination in Australia and Angl...Axel Bruns
 
Covering Conspiracy: Mainstream and Fringe Reporting of the COVID/5G Conspira...
Covering Conspiracy: Mainstream and Fringe Reporting of the COVID/5G Conspira...Covering Conspiracy: Mainstream and Fringe Reporting of the COVID/5G Conspira...
Covering Conspiracy: Mainstream and Fringe Reporting of the COVID/5G Conspira...Axel Bruns
 
Building Spaces for Hyperlocal Citizen Journalism (AoIR 2008)
Building Spaces for Hyperlocal Citizen Journalism (AoIR 2008)Building Spaces for Hyperlocal Citizen Journalism (AoIR 2008)
Building Spaces for Hyperlocal Citizen Journalism (AoIR 2008)Axel Bruns
 
Sharing Uncertain Science: Mapping the Circulation of COVID-19 Preprint Resea...
Sharing Uncertain Science: Mapping the Circulation of COVID-19 Preprint Resea...Sharing Uncertain Science: Mapping the Circulation of COVID-19 Preprint Resea...
Sharing Uncertain Science: Mapping the Circulation of COVID-19 Preprint Resea...Axel Bruns
 
Social Media and the News: Approaches to the Spread of (Mis)information
Social Media and the News: Approaches to the Spread of (Mis)informationSocial Media and the News: Approaches to the Spread of (Mis)information
Social Media and the News: Approaches to the Spread of (Mis)informationAxel Bruns
 
From #qldfloods to #sandy: Engaging with the Public during Crisis Events
From #qldfloods to #sandy: Engaging with the Public during Crisis EventsFrom #qldfloods to #sandy: Engaging with the Public during Crisis Events
From #qldfloods to #sandy: Engaging with the Public during Crisis EventsAxel Bruns
 
Mapping Movements: Social movement research and big data: critiques and alter...
Mapping Movements: Social movement research and big data: critiques and alter...Mapping Movements: Social movement research and big data: critiques and alter...
Mapping Movements: Social movement research and big data: critiques and alter...Tim Highfield
 
‘Big Social Data’ in Context: Connecting Social Media Data and Other Sources
‘Big Social Data’ in Context: Connecting Social Media Data and Other Sources‘Big Social Data’ in Context: Connecting Social Media Data and Other Sources
‘Big Social Data’ in Context: Connecting Social Media Data and Other SourcesAxel Bruns
 
Social Media and Journalists: Part 1
Social Media and Journalists: Part 1Social Media and Journalists: Part 1
Social Media and Journalists: Part 1Mindy McAdams
 
From the Fringes to the Mainstream: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread a...
From the Fringes to the Mainstream: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread a...From the Fringes to the Mainstream: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread a...
From the Fringes to the Mainstream: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread a...Axel Bruns
 

What's hot (20)

The Conversation, Ten Years On: Patterns of Engagement with The Conversation ...
The Conversation, Ten Years On: Patterns of Engagement with The Conversation ...The Conversation, Ten Years On: Patterns of Engagement with The Conversation ...
The Conversation, Ten Years On: Patterns of Engagement with The Conversation ...
 
Social Media Issue Publics in Australia
Social Media Issue Publics in AustraliaSocial Media Issue Publics in Australia
Social Media Issue Publics in Australia
 
It's Not the Technology, Stupid: How the ‘Echo Chamber’ and ‘Filter Bubble’ M...
It's Not the Technology, Stupid: How the ‘Echo Chamber’ and ‘Filter Bubble’ M...It's Not the Technology, Stupid: How the ‘Echo Chamber’ and ‘Filter Bubble’ M...
It's Not the Technology, Stupid: How the ‘Echo Chamber’ and ‘Filter Bubble’ M...
 
'Fake News' on Facebook: A Large-Scale Longitudinal Study of Problematic Link...
'Fake News' on Facebook: A Large-Scale Longitudinal Study of Problematic Link...'Fake News' on Facebook: A Large-Scale Longitudinal Study of Problematic Link...
'Fake News' on Facebook: A Large-Scale Longitudinal Study of Problematic Link...
 
‘Fake News’ on Facebook: A Longitudinal Analysis of Link Sharing between 2016...
‘Fake News’ on Facebook: A Longitudinal Analysis of Link Sharing between 2016...‘Fake News’ on Facebook: A Longitudinal Analysis of Link Sharing between 2016...
‘Fake News’ on Facebook: A Longitudinal Analysis of Link Sharing between 2016...
 
Shareworthiness and Motivated Reasoning in Hyper-Partisan News Sharing Behavi...
Shareworthiness and Motivated Reasoning in Hyper-Partisan News Sharing Behavi...Shareworthiness and Motivated Reasoning in Hyper-Partisan News Sharing Behavi...
Shareworthiness and Motivated Reasoning in Hyper-Partisan News Sharing Behavi...
 
A cross-national comparison of Twitter user interactions with leading politic...
A cross-national comparison of Twitter user interactions with leading politic...A cross-national comparison of Twitter user interactions with leading politic...
A cross-national comparison of Twitter user interactions with leading politic...
 
From Cable Niche to Social Media Success: International Engagement with Sky N...
From Cable Niche to Social Media Success: International Engagement with Sky N...From Cable Niche to Social Media Success: International Engagement with Sky N...
From Cable Niche to Social Media Success: International Engagement with Sky N...
 
Social media as echo chamber
Social media as echo chamberSocial media as echo chamber
Social media as echo chamber
 
News Diffusion on Twitter: Comparing the Dissemination Careers for Mainstream...
News Diffusion on Twitter: Comparing the Dissemination Careers for Mainstream...News Diffusion on Twitter: Comparing the Dissemination Careers for Mainstream...
News Diffusion on Twitter: Comparing the Dissemination Careers for Mainstream...
 
The Conversation on Facebook: Patterns of Dissemination in Australia and Angl...
The Conversation on Facebook: Patterns of Dissemination in Australia and Angl...The Conversation on Facebook: Patterns of Dissemination in Australia and Angl...
The Conversation on Facebook: Patterns of Dissemination in Australia and Angl...
 
Covering Conspiracy: Mainstream and Fringe Reporting of the COVID/5G Conspira...
Covering Conspiracy: Mainstream and Fringe Reporting of the COVID/5G Conspira...Covering Conspiracy: Mainstream and Fringe Reporting of the COVID/5G Conspira...
Covering Conspiracy: Mainstream and Fringe Reporting of the COVID/5G Conspira...
 
Building Spaces for Hyperlocal Citizen Journalism (AoIR 2008)
Building Spaces for Hyperlocal Citizen Journalism (AoIR 2008)Building Spaces for Hyperlocal Citizen Journalism (AoIR 2008)
Building Spaces for Hyperlocal Citizen Journalism (AoIR 2008)
 
Sharing Uncertain Science: Mapping the Circulation of COVID-19 Preprint Resea...
Sharing Uncertain Science: Mapping the Circulation of COVID-19 Preprint Resea...Sharing Uncertain Science: Mapping the Circulation of COVID-19 Preprint Resea...
Sharing Uncertain Science: Mapping the Circulation of COVID-19 Preprint Resea...
 
Social Media and the News: Approaches to the Spread of (Mis)information
Social Media and the News: Approaches to the Spread of (Mis)informationSocial Media and the News: Approaches to the Spread of (Mis)information
Social Media and the News: Approaches to the Spread of (Mis)information
 
From #qldfloods to #sandy: Engaging with the Public during Crisis Events
From #qldfloods to #sandy: Engaging with the Public during Crisis EventsFrom #qldfloods to #sandy: Engaging with the Public during Crisis Events
From #qldfloods to #sandy: Engaging with the Public during Crisis Events
 
Mapping Movements: Social movement research and big data: critiques and alter...
Mapping Movements: Social movement research and big data: critiques and alter...Mapping Movements: Social movement research and big data: critiques and alter...
Mapping Movements: Social movement research and big data: critiques and alter...
 
‘Big Social Data’ in Context: Connecting Social Media Data and Other Sources
‘Big Social Data’ in Context: Connecting Social Media Data and Other Sources‘Big Social Data’ in Context: Connecting Social Media Data and Other Sources
‘Big Social Data’ in Context: Connecting Social Media Data and Other Sources
 
Social Media and Journalists: Part 1
Social Media and Journalists: Part 1Social Media and Journalists: Part 1
Social Media and Journalists: Part 1
 
From the Fringes to the Mainstream: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread a...
From the Fringes to the Mainstream: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread a...From the Fringes to the Mainstream: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread a...
From the Fringes to the Mainstream: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread a...
 

Similar to Online Communities and Where to Find Them: Conceptual and Analytical Frameworks

Gatewatching 10: New(s) Publics in the Public Sphere
Gatewatching 10: New(s) Publics in the Public SphereGatewatching 10: New(s) Publics in the Public Sphere
Gatewatching 10: New(s) Publics in the Public SphereAxel Bruns
 
Gatewatching 11: Echo Chambers? Filter Bubbles? Reviewing the Evidence
Gatewatching 11: Echo Chambers? Filter Bubbles? Reviewing the EvidenceGatewatching 11: Echo Chambers? Filter Bubbles? Reviewing the Evidence
Gatewatching 11: Echo Chambers? Filter Bubbles? Reviewing the EvidenceAxel Bruns
 
Determining the Drivers and Dynamics of Partisanship and Polarisation in Onli...
Determining the Drivers and Dynamics of Partisanship and Polarisation in Onli...Determining the Drivers and Dynamics of Partisanship and Polarisation in Onli...
Determining the Drivers and Dynamics of Partisanship and Polarisation in Onli...Axel Bruns
 
Towards a New Empiricism: Polarisation across Four Dimensions
Towards a New Empiricism: Polarisation across Four DimensionsTowards a New Empiricism: Polarisation across Four Dimensions
Towards a New Empiricism: Polarisation across Four DimensionsAxel Bruns
 
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL MEDIAPRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL MEDIATIMILEHIN OSUNDE
 
Flicc Institute for Library Technicians 2011 @ the Library of Congress
Flicc Institute for Library Technicians 2011 @ the Library of CongressFlicc Institute for Library Technicians 2011 @ the Library of Congress
Flicc Institute for Library Technicians 2011 @ the Library of CongressAileen Marshall
 
Neuroscience 11 17
Neuroscience 11 17Neuroscience 11 17
Neuroscience 11 17Kara Gavin
 
Estratègies per comunicar la recerca
Estratègies per comunicar la recerca Estratègies per comunicar la recerca
Estratègies per comunicar la recerca Xavier Lasauca i Cisa
 
Using Social Media to Amplify Your Stories: Local Engagement Workshop April 2012
Using Social Media to Amplify Your Stories: Local Engagement Workshop April 2012Using Social Media to Amplify Your Stories: Local Engagement Workshop April 2012
Using Social Media to Amplify Your Stories: Local Engagement Workshop April 2012sounddelivery
 
Social media for science communication campus communicators
Social media for science communication   campus communicatorsSocial media for science communication   campus communicators
Social media for science communication campus communicatorsPaige Jarreau
 
Evaluating Social Media: American Association of Museums (AAM) 2010
Evaluating Social Media: American Association of Museums (AAM) 2010Evaluating Social Media: American Association of Museums (AAM) 2010
Evaluating Social Media: American Association of Museums (AAM) 2010Dana Allen-Greil
 
Social media and blogging to develop and communicate research in the arts and...
Social media and blogging to develop and communicate research in the arts and...Social media and blogging to develop and communicate research in the arts and...
Social media and blogging to develop and communicate research in the arts and...EDINA, University of Edinburgh
 
IHPI Clinician Scholars presentation Jan. 2018
IHPI Clinician Scholars presentation Jan. 2018IHPI Clinician Scholars presentation Jan. 2018
IHPI Clinician Scholars presentation Jan. 2018Kara Gavin
 
Social Media: Fueling Modern Movements in the Digital Age
Social Media: Fueling Modern Movements in the Digital AgeSocial Media: Fueling Modern Movements in the Digital Age
Social Media: Fueling Modern Movements in the Digital AgeSam Stern
 
Playing the Past, Seeing the Future: Game Design in the Humanities
Playing the Past, Seeing the Future: Game Design in the HumanitiesPlaying the Past, Seeing the Future: Game Design in the Humanities
Playing the Past, Seeing the Future: Game Design in the HumanitiesSeriousGamesAssoc
 
Towards Distributed Citizen Participation: Lessons from WikiLeaks and the Qu...
Towards Distributed Citizen Participation: Lessons from WikiLeaks and the Qu...Towards Distributed Citizen Participation: Lessons from WikiLeaks and the Qu...
Towards Distributed Citizen Participation: Lessons from WikiLeaks and the Qu...Axel Bruns
 

Similar to Online Communities and Where to Find Them: Conceptual and Analytical Frameworks (20)

Gatewatching 10: New(s) Publics in the Public Sphere
Gatewatching 10: New(s) Publics in the Public SphereGatewatching 10: New(s) Publics in the Public Sphere
Gatewatching 10: New(s) Publics in the Public Sphere
 
Gatewatching 11: Echo Chambers? Filter Bubbles? Reviewing the Evidence
Gatewatching 11: Echo Chambers? Filter Bubbles? Reviewing the EvidenceGatewatching 11: Echo Chambers? Filter Bubbles? Reviewing the Evidence
Gatewatching 11: Echo Chambers? Filter Bubbles? Reviewing the Evidence
 
Determining the Drivers and Dynamics of Partisanship and Polarisation in Onli...
Determining the Drivers and Dynamics of Partisanship and Polarisation in Onli...Determining the Drivers and Dynamics of Partisanship and Polarisation in Onli...
Determining the Drivers and Dynamics of Partisanship and Polarisation in Onli...
 
Towards a New Empiricism: Polarisation across Four Dimensions
Towards a New Empiricism: Polarisation across Four DimensionsTowards a New Empiricism: Polarisation across Four Dimensions
Towards a New Empiricism: Polarisation across Four Dimensions
 
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL MEDIAPRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
 
Flicc Institute for Library Technicians 2011 @ the Library of Congress
Flicc Institute for Library Technicians 2011 @ the Library of CongressFlicc Institute for Library Technicians 2011 @ the Library of Congress
Flicc Institute for Library Technicians 2011 @ the Library of Congress
 
Telling Our Stories 5Mar14
Telling Our Stories 5Mar14Telling Our Stories 5Mar14
Telling Our Stories 5Mar14
 
Neuroscience 11 17
Neuroscience 11 17Neuroscience 11 17
Neuroscience 11 17
 
Estratègies per comunicar la recerca
Estratègies per comunicar la recerca Estratègies per comunicar la recerca
Estratègies per comunicar la recerca
 
Using Social Media to Amplify Your Stories: Local Engagement Workshop April 2012
Using Social Media to Amplify Your Stories: Local Engagement Workshop April 2012Using Social Media to Amplify Your Stories: Local Engagement Workshop April 2012
Using Social Media to Amplify Your Stories: Local Engagement Workshop April 2012
 
Scholars imagined audiences
Scholars imagined audiencesScholars imagined audiences
Scholars imagined audiences
 
Social media for science communication campus communicators
Social media for science communication   campus communicatorsSocial media for science communication   campus communicators
Social media for science communication campus communicators
 
Evaluating Social Media: American Association of Museums (AAM) 2010
Evaluating Social Media: American Association of Museums (AAM) 2010Evaluating Social Media: American Association of Museums (AAM) 2010
Evaluating Social Media: American Association of Museums (AAM) 2010
 
Social media and blogging to develop and communicate research in the arts and...
Social media and blogging to develop and communicate research in the arts and...Social media and blogging to develop and communicate research in the arts and...
Social media and blogging to develop and communicate research in the arts and...
 
IHPI Clinician Scholars presentation Jan. 2018
IHPI Clinician Scholars presentation Jan. 2018IHPI Clinician Scholars presentation Jan. 2018
IHPI Clinician Scholars presentation Jan. 2018
 
Social Media: Fueling Modern Movements in the Digital Age
Social Media: Fueling Modern Movements in the Digital AgeSocial Media: Fueling Modern Movements in the Digital Age
Social Media: Fueling Modern Movements in the Digital Age
 
Playing the Past, Seeing the Future: Game Design in the Humanities
Playing the Past, Seeing the Future: Game Design in the HumanitiesPlaying the Past, Seeing the Future: Game Design in the Humanities
Playing the Past, Seeing the Future: Game Design in the Humanities
 
Axel Bruns - Towards distributed citizen participation
Axel Bruns - Towards distributed citizen participationAxel Bruns - Towards distributed citizen participation
Axel Bruns - Towards distributed citizen participation
 
Towards Distributed Citizen Participation: Lessons from WikiLeaks and the Qu...
Towards Distributed Citizen Participation: Lessons from WikiLeaks and the Qu...Towards Distributed Citizen Participation: Lessons from WikiLeaks and the Qu...
Towards Distributed Citizen Participation: Lessons from WikiLeaks and the Qu...
 
Map Making 101
Map Making 101Map Making 101
Map Making 101
 

More from Axel Bruns

Identifying the Symptoms of Destructive Polarisation
Identifying the Symptoms of Destructive PolarisationIdentifying the Symptoms of Destructive Polarisation
Identifying the Symptoms of Destructive PolarisationAxel Bruns
 
Voices on the Voice Referendum: A Computational Analysis of News and Audience...
Voices on the Voice Referendum: A Computational Analysis of News and Audience...Voices on the Voice Referendum: A Computational Analysis of News and Audience...
Voices on the Voice Referendum: A Computational Analysis of News and Audience...Axel Bruns
 
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...Axel Bruns
 
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...Axel Bruns
 
Types of Polarisation and Their Operationalisation in Digital and Social Medi...
Types of Polarisation and Their Operationalisation in Digital and Social Medi...Types of Polarisation and Their Operationalisation in Digital and Social Medi...
Types of Polarisation and Their Operationalisation in Digital and Social Medi...Axel Bruns
 
News Sharing and Partisanship: Tracking News Outlet Repertoires on Twitter ov...
News Sharing and Partisanship: Tracking News Outlet Repertoires on Twitter ov...News Sharing and Partisanship: Tracking News Outlet Repertoires on Twitter ov...
News Sharing and Partisanship: Tracking News Outlet Repertoires on Twitter ov...Axel Bruns
 
The Anatomy of Virality: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread across Socia...
The Anatomy of Virality: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread across Socia...The Anatomy of Virality: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread across Socia...
The Anatomy of Virality: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread across Socia...Axel Bruns
 
A Platform Policy Implementation Audit of Actions against Russia’s State-Cont...
A Platform Policy Implementation Audit of Actions against Russia’s State-Cont...A Platform Policy Implementation Audit of Actions against Russia’s State-Cont...
A Platform Policy Implementation Audit of Actions against Russia’s State-Cont...Axel Bruns
 
Networks of Agonism and Antagonism: Polarised Discourses about COP26 (and COP...
Networks of Agonism and Antagonism: Polarised Discourses about COP26 (and COP...Networks of Agonism and Antagonism: Polarised Discourses about COP26 (and COP...
Networks of Agonism and Antagonism: Polarised Discourses about COP26 (and COP...Axel Bruns
 
The Filter in Our (?) Heads: Digital Media and Polarisation
The Filter in Our (?) Heads: Digital Media and PolarisationThe Filter in Our (?) Heads: Digital Media and Polarisation
The Filter in Our (?) Heads: Digital Media and PolarisationAxel Bruns
 
Gatewatching 5: Weaponising Newssharing: ‘Fake News’ and Other Malinformation
Gatewatching 5: Weaponising Newssharing: ‘Fake News’ and Other MalinformationGatewatching 5: Weaponising Newssharing: ‘Fake News’ and Other Malinformation
Gatewatching 5: Weaponising Newssharing: ‘Fake News’ and Other MalinformationAxel Bruns
 
Gatewatching 4: Random Acts of Gatewatching: Everyday Newssharing Practices
Gatewatching 4: Random Acts of Gatewatching: Everyday Newssharing PracticesGatewatching 4: Random Acts of Gatewatching: Everyday Newssharing Practices
Gatewatching 4: Random Acts of Gatewatching: Everyday Newssharing PracticesAxel Bruns
 
Gatewatching 1: Introduction: What’s So Different about Journalism Today?
Gatewatching 1: Introduction: What’s So Different about Journalism Today?Gatewatching 1: Introduction: What’s So Different about Journalism Today?
Gatewatching 1: Introduction: What’s So Different about Journalism Today?Axel Bruns
 
Gatewatching 8: Hybrid News Coverage: Liveblogs
Gatewatching 8: Hybrid News Coverage: LiveblogsGatewatching 8: Hybrid News Coverage: Liveblogs
Gatewatching 8: Hybrid News Coverage: LiveblogsAxel Bruns
 
Gatewatching 2: From Gatekeeping to Gatewatching: The First Wave of Citizen M...
Gatewatching 2: From Gatekeeping to Gatewatching: The First Wave of Citizen M...Gatewatching 2: From Gatekeeping to Gatewatching: The First Wave of Citizen M...
Gatewatching 2: From Gatekeeping to Gatewatching: The First Wave of Citizen M...Axel Bruns
 
Gatewatching 13: Conclusion: A Social News Media Network
Gatewatching 13: Conclusion: A Social News Media NetworkGatewatching 13: Conclusion: A Social News Media Network
Gatewatching 13: Conclusion: A Social News Media NetworkAxel Bruns
 
Gatewatching 3: #BREAKING: Social News Curation during Acute Events
Gatewatching 3: #BREAKING: Social News Curation during Acute EventsGatewatching 3: #BREAKING: Social News Curation during Acute Events
Gatewatching 3: #BREAKING: Social News Curation during Acute EventsAxel Bruns
 
Gatewatching 7: Management and Metrics: The News Industry and Social Media
Gatewatching 7: Management and Metrics: The News Industry and Social MediaGatewatching 7: Management and Metrics: The News Industry and Social Media
Gatewatching 7: Management and Metrics: The News Industry and Social MediaAxel Bruns
 
Gatewatching 6: Meet the Audience: How Journalists Adapt to Social Media
Gatewatching 6: Meet the Audience: How Journalists Adapt to Social MediaGatewatching 6: Meet the Audience: How Journalists Adapt to Social Media
Gatewatching 6: Meet the Audience: How Journalists Adapt to Social MediaAxel Bruns
 
Gatewatching 12: Platform Power: How Social Media Platforms Reshape the News ...
Gatewatching 12: Platform Power: How Social Media Platforms Reshape the News ...Gatewatching 12: Platform Power: How Social Media Platforms Reshape the News ...
Gatewatching 12: Platform Power: How Social Media Platforms Reshape the News ...Axel Bruns
 

More from Axel Bruns (20)

Identifying the Symptoms of Destructive Polarisation
Identifying the Symptoms of Destructive PolarisationIdentifying the Symptoms of Destructive Polarisation
Identifying the Symptoms of Destructive Polarisation
 
Voices on the Voice Referendum: A Computational Analysis of News and Audience...
Voices on the Voice Referendum: A Computational Analysis of News and Audience...Voices on the Voice Referendum: A Computational Analysis of News and Audience...
Voices on the Voice Referendum: A Computational Analysis of News and Audience...
 
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...
 
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...
What Is Lost When Twitter Is Lost? Reflections on the Impending Death of a Pl...
 
Types of Polarisation and Their Operationalisation in Digital and Social Medi...
Types of Polarisation and Their Operationalisation in Digital and Social Medi...Types of Polarisation and Their Operationalisation in Digital and Social Medi...
Types of Polarisation and Their Operationalisation in Digital and Social Medi...
 
News Sharing and Partisanship: Tracking News Outlet Repertoires on Twitter ov...
News Sharing and Partisanship: Tracking News Outlet Repertoires on Twitter ov...News Sharing and Partisanship: Tracking News Outlet Repertoires on Twitter ov...
News Sharing and Partisanship: Tracking News Outlet Repertoires on Twitter ov...
 
The Anatomy of Virality: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread across Socia...
The Anatomy of Virality: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread across Socia...The Anatomy of Virality: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread across Socia...
The Anatomy of Virality: How COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread across Socia...
 
A Platform Policy Implementation Audit of Actions against Russia’s State-Cont...
A Platform Policy Implementation Audit of Actions against Russia’s State-Cont...A Platform Policy Implementation Audit of Actions against Russia’s State-Cont...
A Platform Policy Implementation Audit of Actions against Russia’s State-Cont...
 
Networks of Agonism and Antagonism: Polarised Discourses about COP26 (and COP...
Networks of Agonism and Antagonism: Polarised Discourses about COP26 (and COP...Networks of Agonism and Antagonism: Polarised Discourses about COP26 (and COP...
Networks of Agonism and Antagonism: Polarised Discourses about COP26 (and COP...
 
The Filter in Our (?) Heads: Digital Media and Polarisation
The Filter in Our (?) Heads: Digital Media and PolarisationThe Filter in Our (?) Heads: Digital Media and Polarisation
The Filter in Our (?) Heads: Digital Media and Polarisation
 
Gatewatching 5: Weaponising Newssharing: ‘Fake News’ and Other Malinformation
Gatewatching 5: Weaponising Newssharing: ‘Fake News’ and Other MalinformationGatewatching 5: Weaponising Newssharing: ‘Fake News’ and Other Malinformation
Gatewatching 5: Weaponising Newssharing: ‘Fake News’ and Other Malinformation
 
Gatewatching 4: Random Acts of Gatewatching: Everyday Newssharing Practices
Gatewatching 4: Random Acts of Gatewatching: Everyday Newssharing PracticesGatewatching 4: Random Acts of Gatewatching: Everyday Newssharing Practices
Gatewatching 4: Random Acts of Gatewatching: Everyday Newssharing Practices
 
Gatewatching 1: Introduction: What’s So Different about Journalism Today?
Gatewatching 1: Introduction: What’s So Different about Journalism Today?Gatewatching 1: Introduction: What’s So Different about Journalism Today?
Gatewatching 1: Introduction: What’s So Different about Journalism Today?
 
Gatewatching 8: Hybrid News Coverage: Liveblogs
Gatewatching 8: Hybrid News Coverage: LiveblogsGatewatching 8: Hybrid News Coverage: Liveblogs
Gatewatching 8: Hybrid News Coverage: Liveblogs
 
Gatewatching 2: From Gatekeeping to Gatewatching: The First Wave of Citizen M...
Gatewatching 2: From Gatekeeping to Gatewatching: The First Wave of Citizen M...Gatewatching 2: From Gatekeeping to Gatewatching: The First Wave of Citizen M...
Gatewatching 2: From Gatekeeping to Gatewatching: The First Wave of Citizen M...
 
Gatewatching 13: Conclusion: A Social News Media Network
Gatewatching 13: Conclusion: A Social News Media NetworkGatewatching 13: Conclusion: A Social News Media Network
Gatewatching 13: Conclusion: A Social News Media Network
 
Gatewatching 3: #BREAKING: Social News Curation during Acute Events
Gatewatching 3: #BREAKING: Social News Curation during Acute EventsGatewatching 3: #BREAKING: Social News Curation during Acute Events
Gatewatching 3: #BREAKING: Social News Curation during Acute Events
 
Gatewatching 7: Management and Metrics: The News Industry and Social Media
Gatewatching 7: Management and Metrics: The News Industry and Social MediaGatewatching 7: Management and Metrics: The News Industry and Social Media
Gatewatching 7: Management and Metrics: The News Industry and Social Media
 
Gatewatching 6: Meet the Audience: How Journalists Adapt to Social Media
Gatewatching 6: Meet the Audience: How Journalists Adapt to Social MediaGatewatching 6: Meet the Audience: How Journalists Adapt to Social Media
Gatewatching 6: Meet the Audience: How Journalists Adapt to Social Media
 
Gatewatching 12: Platform Power: How Social Media Platforms Reshape the News ...
Gatewatching 12: Platform Power: How Social Media Platforms Reshape the News ...Gatewatching 12: Platform Power: How Social Media Platforms Reshape the News ...
Gatewatching 12: Platform Power: How Social Media Platforms Reshape the News ...
 

Online Communities and Where to Find Them: Conceptual and Analytical Frameworks

  • 1. CRICOS No.00213J Online Communities and Where to Find Them: Conceptual and Analytical Frameworks Prof. Axel Bruns Australian Laureate Fellow a.bruns@qut.edu.au | @snurb_dot_info
  • 4. 3.7m known Australian accounts Network of follower connections Filtered for degree ≥1000 255k nodes (6.4%), 61m edges Edges not shown in graph The Australian Twittersphere Teen Culture Aspirational Sports Netizens Arts & Culture Politics Television Fashion Popular Music Food & Drinks Agriculture Activism Porn Education Cycling News & Generic Hard Right Progressive South Australia Celebrities Horse Racing https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305117748162
  • 5. CRICOS No.00213J US progressives US conservatives France / Germany Italy Brazil India alternative health conspiracies UK alternative finance FakeNIX Domain Sharing on Facebook, 2016-21 Nodes: public pages, groups, verified profiles / domains in posts Size: weighted in-degree Colour: weighted in-degree FakeNIX domain posts, 1 Jan. 2016 to 31 Mar. 2021 https://snurb.info/node/2625
  • 6. CRICOS No.00213J climate change denial antivax alternative medicine alternative food astrology UFOs autism UK left UK satire Detail: Conspiracy Theorists
  • 11. CRICOS No.00213J • Nodes in a network, entities in a collection • Sharing certain measurable properties (attributes, connections) • Artificially grouped based on (superficial?) similarities Clusters https://snurb.info/node/2213
  • 12. CRICOS No.00213J • Nodes in a network, entities in a collection • Sharing certain measurable properties (attributes, connections) • Artificially grouped based on (superficial?) similarities Clusters How and Where to Find Them • Modularity detection in networks • Clustering by attributes for other datasets • Different levels of sensitivity might produce very different results – no one true answer • Potential hierarchies: clusters, subclusters, subsubclusters, …
  • 13. CRICOS No.00213J • Small number, known to each other • Shared interests, values, and aims • Stable relationships and distinct roles Groups Photo by Saksham Gangwar on UnSplash
  • 14. CRICOS No.00213J • Small number, known to each other • Shared interests, values, and aims • Stable relationships and distinct roles Groups How and Where to Find Them • Strong, repeated, stable interconnections / interactions • Shared language, identity markers, media objects • Similar activity patterns
  • 15. CRICOS No.00213J • Larger, key members known to each other • Shared but contestable interests, values, and aims • More complex structure involving centre and periphery, leaders and followers Communities Photo by Jacinto Diego on Unsplash
  • 16. CRICOS No.00213J • Larger, key members known to each other • Shared but contestable interests, values, and aims • More complex structure involving centre and periphery, leaders and followers Communities How and Where to Find Them • Repeated, stable interconnections / interactions • Emergence of influential lead participants • Centre / periphery distinctions (e.g. 1/9/90, Pareto: creators, contributors, lurkers) • More interactions within community than outside it (e.g. E-I Index) • Broadly shared language, identity markers, media objects
  • 17. CRICOS No.00213J • Much larger and much less knowable • Transient and temporarily gathered in one space (online or offline) • Some shared identity or interests but no universally shared values Crowd Photo by Joseph Chan on Unsplash
  • 18. CRICOS No.00213J • Much larger and much less knowable • Transient and temporarily gathered in one space (online or offline) • Some shared identity or interests but no universally shared values Crowd How and Where to Find Them • Large to very large number of participants • Strong activity for limited period of time, or around defined issues • Similar activity patterns, but limited interaction between participants • Shared language, identity markers, media objects relating to specific driving issue
  • 19. CRICOS No.00213J • Centred around shared interest, issue, text • Capable of forming and dissolving rapidly (e.g. ad hoc publics, issue publics, …) • Aware of each other and able to communicate publicly • May develop shared values through their communication • Capable of organising in support of a common goal Public Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash
  • 20. CRICOS No.00213J • Centred around shared interest, issue, text • Capable of forming and dissolving rapidly (e.g. ad hoc publics, issue publics, …) • Aware of each other and able to communicate publicly • May develop shared values through their communication • Capable of organising in support of a common goal Public How and Where to Find Them • Large to very large number of participants • Strong activity for limited period of time, or around defined issues • Similar activity patterns, and greater levels of interaction between participants • Shared language, identity markers, media objects relating to specific driving issue • Centring around key values can produce longer-term structures and leadership
  • 21. CRICOS No.00213J • Centred around a shared (media) text • Large but dispersed and usually unknown to each other • Unlikely to share values beyond central common interest • Incapable of acting together Audience Photo by Ben Tofan on Unsplash
  • 22. CRICOS No.00213J • Centred around a shared (media) text • Large but dispersed and usually unknown to each other • Unlikely to share values beyond central common interest • Incapable of acting together Audience How and Where to Find Them • Unified by central text (live performance, media object, event / issue hashtag, …) • Participant numbers from niche to very large • Observing rather than actively contributing • Therefore invisible to and unaware of each other • Often imagined and assumed rather than tangibly traceable
  • 23. CRICOS No.00213J And #Hashtags? • Very common question in social media research: • Audiences: if users are simply following the hashtag (#AUSvNZL) • Crowds: if users are posting into but not following the hashtag (#auspol, for most people) • Publics: if hashtags are used to coordinate public action (#metoo, #blacklivesmatter) • Communities: if there is sustained engagement by regular participants (#auspol, for some) • Groups: if there is a strong sense of shared identity between regulars (#agchatoz) • Clusters: sure, as long as there is any activity at all Not every hashtag is a community!
  • 24. CRICOS No.00213J And the Public Sphere?
  • 25. CRICOS No.00213J • “Mediated political communication” • “Carried on by an elite” • “On a virtual stage of mediated communication” (Habermas, 2006) Public Sphere Photo by Mike Philipp on Unsplash
  • 26. CRICOS No.00213J https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/1412688.1412691 (Image: Julien Beauséjour) ‘The’ Public Sphere, Today Mainstream media Niche media Publics, communities, … Everyday communication
  • 27. CRICOS No.00213J • Publics, Crowds, … • Triggered by issues and events • Fast-moving and short-lived • Limited in focus and scope • Public Spherules (incl. Groups, Communities) • Defined by topics and themes • More persistent and stable • Broader scope but unified by common theme (cf. Cunningham, “Popular Media as Public ‘Sphericules’ for Diasporic Communities”) • Public Spheres? • Domain-, identity-, platform-specific • E.g. political, Indigenous, Twittersphere • Persistent and highly visible • Encompassing relevant publics and spherules • ‘The’ Public Sphere? • Traditionally, an arena for public debate amongst elites in front of mass media audiences • Now, the sum total of smaller publics, spherules, and spheres? (cf. Bruns, “Digital Public Spheres in Australia”) Digital Publics and ‘the’ Public Sphere
  • 28. CRICOS No.00213J Click to edit Master title style Thank you!
  • 29. CRICOS No.00213J Inputs to this were supported by the ARC Future Fellowship project Understanding Intermedia Information Flows in the Australian Online Public Sphere, the ARC LIEF project TrISMA: Tracking Infrastructure for Social Media Analysis, and the ARC Discovery project Evaluating the Challenge of 'Fake News' and Other Malinformation. Future research is supported by the ARC Laureate Fellowship project Dynamics of Partisanship and Polarisation in Online Public Debate, commencing in early 2022. Facebook data are provided courtesy of CrowdTangle. Acknowledgments

Editor's Notes

  1. Colour + size: weighted indegree