Networks are all around us and are a large part of our identities. Networks can form over shared interests, goals, fears, or even arbitrary things like location, language, or nationality. For thousands of years, people have created communities based on these networks. In the modern era, technology has allowed each of us to become a part of more and more networks. Online, anyone has the ability to meet people on forums or through social media. As a die hard fan of the Baltimore Ravens, through Instagram, i found myself a part of an online Ravens fan community. In this community, people share Ravens news, opinions, or interesting fun facts. I have met people through this community that I likely would have never come into contact with if it wasn’t for Instagram. Seeing new posts as games happen in real time allow me to celebrate with other like minded fans or share in their frustrations. It feels as if I am watching with a large community. Networks can be used to make a variety to different connections, including casual ones like mine, or ones that help with a professional career. It is undeniable that the internet has increased our collective ability to be a part of more of these networks.
4 thoughts on “Network – JT Windle”
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I agree with the concept that networks influence identity because people tend to engage with others under the basis of similar values and our identities are also usually shaped by those around us or in the same networks . Being a Ravens fan in a way adds up to the actor network theory from the reading. The strength of a sports team is fueled by fans community. These fans may personally not know each other although they all contribute to the strength of the Raven fans network.
I agree that the creation of online networks has created online communities that would have never existed if social media had not mediated. People that would never have interacted with each other end up interacting with each other and this creates scenarios that were not possible before. To feel that sense of community if you were a fan of a sports team you actually had to go to a game before this. If you were a fan of a team and you did not live in that state it would be harder for you to feel that sense of community before social media.
I think your use of an online community of sports fans is a great example of a really common type of network. There are so many opportunities to join fan networks online, and one of the great parts of the internet and social media is the ease at which people can find and join these communities. I think this is one element of technological advancements that isn’t addressed enough, as people are quick to identify the negative aspects of social media networks instead of acknowledging the many positives.
I never considered networking as making arbitrary connections like the ones you listed. However, I think this can be connected to most social media. Facebook, for example, utilizes these types of connections to create a social network. A person’s profile contains information like location, language, and nationality of which the algorithm takes advantage to connect this person to other people with the same attributes. In class we have seen this idea of networking through shared pieces of identity through how Facebook promotes ads about community. These ads are targeted towards specific groups to improve and grow their social network.