The Connectedness of Sharing

This week’s readings and class discussion focused on defining social media and addressing their deep connection with the concept of ‘sharing’. Not only does sharing involve the production, distribution, and consumption of symbolic content, but it also has the ability to create a sense of community. Nicolas John (2017) explains that sharing is the constitutive activity of social media and defines it as “the myriad of activities we carry out online” (p.58). In his chapter ‘Sharing and the Internet’, John focuses on the notion of sharing in the context of digital communication. He touches on the idea of sharing as form a connectedness (p.59). This ultimately refers to the ways in which interfaces get us to share information with others through engaging in activities such as posting statuses, uploading photos, etc. That being said, I would like to argue that the connectedness aspect of sharing is what essentially creates a sense of community. By sharing content online, it helps to strengthen the social bonds amongst one another. An example of sharing as a form of connectedness can be seen in the following article: https://www.euronews.com/2018/10/12/hurricane-affected-communities-rely-on-social-media-for-help-in-michael-aftermath-thecube

Following the disastrous catastrophe of Hurricane Michael, communities in Florida have been turning to social media as method to keep loved ones updated in the aftermath of the storm. By sharing statuses on platforms like Facebook, residents were not only able to update their family and friends of their situations, but they were also able to ask for help. Via social media, they were able to request for financial assistance, donated supplies, etc. As you can see, through sharing, people from all the world could feel connected to the victims affected by the hurricane.