SofiaUnplugged

In this network report, we will encapsulate the ideation, key learning moments and peer support we received from one another throughout the second-half of the course. Participatory culture refers to a culture where individuals actively engage in creating, sharing, and consuming content, often through digital platforms and social media. Individuals are empowered to contribute their own ideas, express their creativity, and collaborate with others, rather than simply consuming content passively, blurring traditional boundaries between producers and consumers (Jenkins, 2006). Throughout the process of networking, our group has gained a deeper appreciation for participatory culture in regards to sharing the development of our digital artefacts.

(https://youtu.be/CwA0o6snnQQ)

Development Of Digital Artefacts

Following from the last network report, our group found the discussions very beneficial in developing our artefacts, helping each other succeed and reach our end goals. 

Jess, Sophie P., and Sofia’s project has evolved into a TikTok account titled @urfavunigirls1 that aims to provide the group members with a space to post as a collective, following the trends that they find enjoyable within the application and its algorithm whilst also expressing their inner creativity, music tastes and passions. 

Sophie C. used to manage a fashion brand’s weekly blogs, social media’s and promotional emails, however decided that she would focus on her own platform this semester. Throughout this process Sophie C struggled with committing to one particular idea, which can be seen on her TikTok page @SophieinCity. Starting with memes, then developing into learning German content and then finalising on both travel and relatable uni content. 

Michael is working on his Digital Artefact showcasing his TikTok “Michaeldil Music,” featuring songs of all genres. TikTok appealed to Michael due to its high user engagement. He believes sharing his content would promote his music and engage a diverse audience. This can be achieved by TikTok’s features, easy sharing and interactive comments.

Collaboration

It can be seen that all members of this group had similar difficulties at the beginning of the semester, with the initial creation of our Digital Artefacts and figuring out how we were going to approach the semester. Subsequently, we also found as a collective that the constantly changing of ideas in all of our digital artefacts made it difficult to discuss our ideations in detail. For example, the rapidly changing nature of Sofia, Jess and Sophie P’s DA throughout the semester, in conjunction with Sophie C’s constantly evolving TikTok, made it difficult to discuss a shared approach within our content creation, as we were all adjusting our ideas constantly. However, Michael was consistent with his ideation from the beginning, which was easier for him to be able to focus on the quality of content he produced in his media field. Through observing Michael’s approach, Sophie C in particular decided to be consistent on her DA’s creating travel and relatable uni content on TikTok. Subsequently, Sofia, Jess and Sophie P established a suitable and permanent concept for their account and were able to function in an increasingly collaborative manner, engaging in more in-depth conversation with other network members. Being able to share our experiences through this beginning phase, provided valuable insights into the difficult processes of content creation. 

​​Our group also encountered the challenge of time restrictions, maintaining consistency and overall motivations. With each of us juggling multiple commitments from work, university, and personal responsibilities, it became increasingly difficult to keep up with the project’s demands. This lack of time and energy affected our motivation, and as the semester progressed, we found ourselves struggling to keep the project on track. Posting regular content became a challenge, and we began to feel the pressure of trying to create something meaningful while balancing our busy lives. Through this experience, we learned the importance of realistic planning and time management in collaborative projects. Understanding that we all faced similar obstacles helped us empathise with each other and think about alternative approaches. Therefore, despite these difficulties, we as a group supported each other throughout the development of each of our digital artefacts.

In conclusion, this network that we have created throughout the last semester has undoubtedly assisted all participants in the development of their Digital Artefact. As a collective, we have learnt the true significance of a support and networking system, when creating projects based on passions and interests. Our knowledge of concepts such as ‘participatory culture’ have grown immensely and as a result, all participants are able to acknowledge and recognise the importance of this in terms of media production and social networking. 

Jenkins, H., Purushotma, R., Clinton, K., & Robison, A. J. (2006). Confronting the challenges of participatory culture: Media education for the 21st century. MIT Press.