Readers
This studies focuses on recipients of literary work – i.e. readers – and their engagement in the social media environments related the Flemish initiative Iedereenleest.be. It involves an observation of 490 users who participated on the website or in the Facebook group of Iedereenleest.be, and includes in-depth interviews with 10 highly active participants and the developer and supervisor of the initiative. Based on content analysis and qualitative thematic analysis the researcher was able to identify the practice in which readers engage through social media en how they characterize literary communication.
Practice influenced by media design
Meeting, sharing,
creating ...
Based on a content analysis of the observation material, the researcher identified five main types of practices in which recipients regularly engage: formulating opinions, sharing advice, sharing information, displaying reading activities, and discussing general topics. Comparison of the practice patterns, illustrates how media design facilitates particular kinds of literacy practices while inhibiting others.
More than passion
& democratic spaces
The participating readers recognize the potential of social media to establish democratic environments where people can participate equally and take up various social roles. However, they also point out that opportunities for participation and the presence of an intrinsic passion are not enough to involve people in a participatory culture.
Thematic analysis indicated how people perceive and try to take advantage of these opportunities to act. The participating readers argue that social media environments stimulate people to meet with other enthusiasts, to share experiences, to create identities through networks of taste and experience, and to acknowledge and encourage participation.
Leading by example
According to the participating readers, it is necessary that active participants lead others by example, acknowledge and encourage them, and take collective action in case unproductive conflicts or abuse arise. In light of this, the readers also explain that social media developers help to support this by acknowledging diversity and by interfering as little as possible.