The document discusses Henry Jenkins' work on participatory culture and the impact of new technologies. It defines participatory culture as individuals contributing media content rather than just consuming it. Technologies like YouTube and social media have made it possible for everyday people to produce and share content online. This has democratized media production and increased competition among outlets to attract consumers. It has also led to greater diversity in available media resources.

1. Henry Jenkins
Participatory Culture
Ella and Chess

2. What is it?
Participatory culture is the opposite to
consumer culture, it is when the individual not
only consumes, but also helps contribute to
the world of media.
New technologies have made this possible.
This is now referred to as Web 2.0.

3. Most content we read online has been
put up by an every day individual…

4. How has this been put into play?
In the past, it has been difficult to produce products
such as films however, this has been broken down
by new technologies.
The equipment used to film footage is now very
affordable and websites such as YouTube allow you
to post your own videos. Many people have now
gained a career out of YouTube, and this was only
released in 2005.

5. How does this relate to Web
2.0?
Social Media. Everybody uses it. It allows you to
submit your own content easily. An internet or data
connection is the only thing needed, which means
many people have access to doing this.
Social networking sites also create online communities
for the production of content, which is part of the
concept of Web 2.0.
This will only expand, as more social network
sites become popular, and new tools will be
engaged with.

6. What has this resulted
in?
There is now an increased number of media resources
available.
Therefore, this increases the competition between
media outlets.
This means that producers of media are now having to
concentrate on the need of consumers. This is in order
to make sure their application is the most popular.
E.g. Snapchat has now introduced ‘Snap maps’ as a
way of offering a technological incentive to their
consumers.

7. Henry Jenkins wrote…
He wrote a paper named: confronting the
challenges of participatory culture: Media
education for the 21st century.He included
some components such as:
Members believe their contributions matter.
Members feel a degree of social connection to each
other, caring about what each one has created.

8. • There are a diversity of voices in the media which are constantly increasing
• 5 mass media giants who control the majority of the information on the
internet.
• As information becomes more analysed from various places it becomes
increasingly difficult to control the flow of information onto the Web.
• Participatory culture is a democratic form of communication, the audience
are given the opportunity to take an active role and to change the flow of
ideas across media formats.
• There is no hierarchy in participatory culture, it is collaborative and self-
organised.
Is Participation becoming easier?

9. • Participatory culture allows society to make contributions to activities
on the Web.
A concern of this is that people may become involved in an activity
which is personally irrelevant to them.
• ‘Do it yourself societies’ encourage individuals to take on tasks by
themselves rather than using a professional.
This can lead to a lack of quality and wrong information being
given.
• Some people are more comfortable with participatory practises, they
are less likely to take advantage of this leverage which comes with
engaging with businesses as a prosumer.
Consumer Concern

10. • Henry Jenkins stated that there is now an increasing concern over the
equal access of technology availability across the world.
• For example, working class individuals who have to use a public
computer (e.g. a library computer) don’t have much opportunity for
storage. They are also likely to be using out-dated and slow computers.
• Middle and upper classes will usually have access to home computers
where they can store their own work and access whatever they would
like to.
Digital Divide

11. • Meta-design is a theoretical framework which aims to define and create
social, economic and technical infrastructures which allows new forms of
design to take place.
• Users can become co-designers and co-developers.
• It assumes that future users and problems cannot always be predicted at
the time of design. These future users will then discover that there are
some gaps between their needs and the support in the system, thus
leading to breakdowns which become a source for new knowledge,
understanding and insights.
Meta-design

12. • Making changes must seem possible to the individual
Individuals mustn't be intimidated or made to believe they can’t make changes.
They will be more willing to participate if they believe the changes aren’t that
difficult.
• Changes must be technically achievable
Systems must be open to be able to make changes.
• Benefits must be seen
Individuals want to see a return in the investment they made. Benefits include
professional (helping for work purposes), social (increased status) or personal (fun
activities).
• The environment must support tasks which people engage in
• Must be low barriers to allow sharing of new changes
Meta-data Supporting Participatory Culture