Without flow, the media would not allow for the vast connectivity we see today. Flow creates connection throughout media platforms, such as social media. In a social media app where we are required to form an online identity, such as Instagram, we are able to meet people from all over the world. Flow allows connectivity from one location to the next. On the Instagram explore page, we are able to constantly refresh the page and receive new content to explore. This flow of information is continuous and there is no end to it. With the short attention spans teens have today, flow allows individuals to remain interested in what they are viewing, since new things are constantly popping up. Also, flow allows popular apps to remain popular, since audiences follow trends. Unlimited content on social media, or having a vast amount of shows to pick from on the internet, are ways that flow helps to grab human attention.
4 thoughts on “Marielle Dibbini: Flow”
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I like how you used the idea of flow to connect people throughout the world, especially through the use of technology like Instagram. The continuous flow of the users on the Instagram explore page not only connects people interested in the same things but can give ideas within the same area whether its a restaurant or a store. Another example is Tik Tok, the continuous flow on the For You Page keeps scrolling to different videos to hold the attention of the audience. As the flow continues, people see different songs, dances, and creators allowing the audience to watch more of whatever content they enjoy.
I think your descriptions of flow through connectivity and continuous flow of information are spot on. They provide a good example of how flow acts in the real world. I also feel as though it is very interesting to see the shortening time spans of our generation in particular. They fact that we need our apps to consistently be bringing in new content and are more likely to opt for a shorter video as opposed to a whole film says a lot about how social media has been altering our lives and minds.
The idea you bring up about the flow of content on social media apps is really interesting. We are so used to this constant flow of content that we often don’t know what to do with ourselves in the rare instances where this flow is interrupted or pauses. When apps like snapchat or instagram are down for a short period of time, other social media platforms blow up with posts as people try to figure out whether an app is down or whether its a problem on their end. This is a great example of how the flow of social media content has become so normalised in our lives, and without it, many of us are thrown off entirely.
It’s true that flow keeps individuals interested in the media they are viewing, as flow is neverending. Every social media platform has flow, whether that be Tik Tok’s For You Page, Instagram’s explore page, or Pintrist’s suggested page. You could scroll on these pages forever, and the more you engage with the app, the more data it collects and the more personalized it becomes, capturing your attention even more. I agree that teens have a short attention span today, which I think has to do with the convenience and efficiency with emerging new media. I’ve noticed that since the rise of Tik Tok, many people’s attention spans have shortened even further. While sitting through a two hour movie may be challenging, the same amount of time spent watching 15 second Tik Tok videos may fly by unnoticed.