Mass self-communication, privacy and user (dis)empowerment

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingMeeting abstract (Book)

Abstract

The media and technology landscape is changing fundamentally, with a shift from mass media and personal media to media for 'mass self-communication'. With that users have become the focus of attention in socio-technological studies of ICT innovation. However in this transitional digital media ecosystem we observe a paradox. On the one hand the instruments and means for empowering users through social computing are proliferating, reinforcing the idea of users effectively becoming empowered. On the other hand we find that empirical evidence about what user empowerment really consists of is too a large extent missing, while also a risk of denial of the empowerment downside exists. Therefore the presentation critically discusses if and how users and communities are empowered - as proclaimed in Web 2.0 manifestos - or on the contrary are becoming more disempowered. This is illustrated by issues of dataveillance and privacy.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationICT&S Podium, organised by Universität Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Publication statusPublished - 17 Jun 2010
EventFinds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet - Stockholm, Sweden
Duration: 21 Sep 200925 Sep 2009

Publication series

NameICT&S Podium, organised by Universität Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.

Conference

ConferenceFinds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet
Country/TerritorySweden
CityStockholm
Period21/09/0925/09/09

Keywords

  • User empowerment
  • Privacy
  • Surveillance
  • Social media

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