The Correa and Jeong (2011) article attempted to identify differences among racial groups when it comes to their use of participatory online technologies. The findings identified many possible differences. One set of findings that I found most interesting was the different ways that the groups expressed using participatory tools for enacting the self. For example, African-American students discussed using these tools to express themselves while White students discussed using the tools to showcase their work. However, Asian students talked about using the tools for keeping records. Personally, I can see myself using participatory tools for all three reasons, but it is interesting to see how the discussions among the groups appeared to be somewhat different.

The Blank and Reisdorf (2012) article was somewhat interesting in that they looked at web 2.0 from the user perspective. In their literature review, they discuss some of the areas that have done research on web 2.0. The business literature appeared to be one of the major areas. The article said that some of this literature has discussed how small companies should add certain Web 2.0 features (As used by bigger successful businesses) to their online presence to better their business. However, there does not appear to be much research on the issue from a users perspective. Blank and Reisdorf (2012) state, “In summary, prior work on Web 2.0 has focused typically on organizational producers of content. There is little work examining how users actually interact with Web 2.0 platforms” (p. 541). This is an interesting point, especially for the business literature. I think that I have probably discussed this before, but in a business that utilizes the marketing concept, the consumer’s needs should be placed first. The business should learn about the consumer/user, and find out what he or she wants. Therefore, it is somewhat surprising to me that there has not been much research from the user’s perspective.

The readings in “New Media and Cultures” focused on the Internet’s impact on culture. Chapter 2 also discussed the term interactivity. This term has been discussed many times in our class, and I have grown to rely on its use in my own definition of new media. Finally, we had two readings from “The Social Media Reader” as well. Chapter 7 focused on Journalism, and how different movements within the field have had different views of the audience, and chapter 16 was a short piece on what we do with our free time. Though chapter 16 was short, I found the subject matter to be interesting. The chapter discussed how the younger generation might not be satisfied with standing still and enjoying the “show.” This generation is looking for the mouse. They want to interact with what they are viewing.

References

Blank, G., & Reisdorf, B. (2012). The participatory web: A user perspective on Web. 2.0. Informa- tion, Communication & Society, 15, 537-554.

Correa, T., & Jeong, S. H. (2011). Race and online content creation: Why minorities are actively participating in the Web. Information, Communication & Society, 14, 638-659.

Mandiberg, M. (Ed.) (2012). The Social Media Reader. New York: NYU Press.

Marshall, P. D. (2004). New Media Cultures. London: Hodder Arnold.