TALKING TO STRANGERS: CHINESE YOUTH AND SOCIAL MEDIA By Tricia Wang A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology Committee in charge:
Professor Richard Madsen, Chair Professor Benjamin Bratton Professor Barry Brown Professor Jim Hollan Professor Isaac Martin Professor Christena Turner
This is my life…
My family
My friends
My network
Relations are whatmatter to me
The networks I engage in
Relations are whatmatter to me
The networks I engage in
Digital technologies are changing our lives,but not what are important
CommercialDanish telco “3” (2013)
“It’s the contact”
“My grandchildren”
“And the only thing I will go back and get,if I forget it on my way out”
What happened?
Before, our lives used to be defined by…
Family
School
Work
Religion
Today, institutions are no longer as important. But social relations still are.
Digital technologies help us build relationships and shape our identity
This is the Pope
This is the Pope on Twitter
This is Benjamin (14) from Vejle, Denmark
http://instagram.com/benjaminlasnier
Benjamin looks (a little) like Justin Bieber and
has gained more than 1 million followers on Instagram.
We are focused on the present moment
Leisure Work
School
We are focused on the present moment
NowTwitterFacebook
Snapchat
YouTube
SMS Skype
Tinder...
”Our society has reoriented itself to the present moment. Everything is live, real time, and always-on. It’s not a mere speeding up, however much our lifestyles and technologies have accelerated the rate at which we attempt to do things. It’s more of a diminishment of anything that isn’t happening right now — and the onslaught of everything that supposedly is.”
Douglas RushkoffPresent shock (2014)
Following life on Facebook
Liking pictures on Instagram
Calling mom on Skype
Searching for love on Tinder
Sending smileys in text messages
Uploading Sharing
Chatting Commenting
Now
80% of Danish teens answer a a text message within 5 min.Questionary among 600 high school students aged 16-19 Søren Schultz Hansen: “Årgang 2012”
Moderator: Mobilen hvor har I den henne? Helene: I lommen. Altid!Moderator: Har du aldrig nederdel på? Helene: Jo, jo. Så kan den sidde her i BH’en
Søren Schultz Hansen: “Årgang 2012”
“Jeg har sms på vibration. Hvis nu jeg har den i bukselommen, så ligegyldigt hvor meget larm der er, vil jeg stadig kunne mærke den. Jeg har den ALDRIG på lyd.” Irene
Søren Schultz Hansen: “Årgang 2012”
“Det kan godt være, at jeg bliver overvåget, men jeg vil alligevel svare, hvis der er nogen der skriver til mig på Facebook. For det svarer fuldstændig til at nogen prikker sig på skulderen” Sally
Søren Schultz Hansen: “Årgang 2012”
“Teens aren’t addicted to social media. They’re addicted to each other.”
dana boydIt’s Complicated (2014)
Insights
• We expect participation. What is completed is not interesting. We want to create, participate, comment and take part.
• Friends mean everything. We have lost trust in authorities.
• This moment is what’s important. The story of our lives are made of moments with the people around us. What’s happening NOW.
ParticipationWe want to be involved
And do things together
Now!
FriendsIn this moment
Liu Liu
Liu Liu
Mimi
Mimi
Tao Gee
Tao Gee
Tricia Wang
• Sociologist and global tech ethnographer
• PhD in sociology, University of California, San Diego
• Dissertation (2014): “Talking to strangers - Chinese Youth and Social Media”
Chinese youth and social media
Liu Liu, Mimi og Tao Gee 10.37 - 20.09
Talking to strangersand building identities
Phases of the elastic self 27.27 - 30.22
Social media andcensorship
29.58 - 38.22
How honesty can destroy systems
42.56 - 44.44
Question: How does the parents react
47.42 - 49.45
Question: About the internet cafés
49.51 - 49.22
Question: Can you say what you want?
53.32 - 57.15
Question: About managing your profiles
59.02 - 01.00.50
Question: Where does elasticity ends?
01.08.11 - 01.12.16