BCM240 DIGITAL STORYTELLING PROJECT
LAURA JESSON
Key Points
The key points I have taken away from my background research is that we use social media in a range of different ways and Facebook is clearly in front as the favoured social media network. Many of us use social media daily and with mobile devices. We also use it mostly to communicate and staying up to date, so its all about maintaining relationships and a feeling of connection to the world on a larger scale then those simply in our immediate eveyday circle.
When we look at why we use social media in a variety of ways it is important to understand the basics of who, what and how often? These questions have been answered by a number of reports published over the years and they present some interesting statistics and patterns which can form an understanding which can be taken into the collection and aggregation of collaborative ethnographic research. If interested below is a few of the findings from my back ground research.
Sensis Social Media Report May 2015
How Australian people and businesses are using social media
A few key points
- In the last year 93% used Facebook, 28% LinkedIn, 26% Instagram, 23% Goodle+, 17% Pinterest and 17% Twitter- The highest percentage use social media in the lounge/living room (72%), 43% in the bedroom, and 14% while on the toilet- The most popular times to use social media are first thing in the morning (45%) and last thing before we go to bed (41%)
This report is in its 5th year and has noticed some trends throughout time. This was especially the case when they asked the question- 'How often, if at all, do you use social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or LinkedIn?'
The trend has surfaced that more and more people are answering 'every day' as opposed to less frequently over prior years.
Sensis, 2015
Sensis, 2015, Sensis Social Media Report May 2015; How Australian people and businesses are using social media, Sensis Pty Ltd, Melbourne, https://www.sensis.com.au/content/dam/sas/PDFdirectory/Sensis_Social_Media_Report_2015.pdf
Wave 8 observed some key characteristics that underpin social behaviour and therefore what we seek from our online content. These characteristics are interesting to look at as we consider the types of social media we use and how we use it.
They are as follows;
Learning- Seek opinion, explore, keep up-to-date, learn
Recognition- Self-promotion, change opinions, express yourself, earn respect
Progression- Make money, build a career
Diversion- Hang out, have fun, be creative, escape
Relationship- Belong, stay in touch, share knowledge
Wave 8, 2014
UM, 2014, Wave 8; The Language of Content, http://wave.umww.com/assets/pdf/wave_8-the-language-of-content.pdf
Wave 8
The Language of Content
Some useful key statistics.
- In 2014, Australian are more likely to use a smartphone first, then a laptop, followed by a desktop computer
- 1/5 Australians spend more time on a smartphone than talking with their partner. Figures rose to almost 1/3 among males aged 25-30.
- The percentage of Australians that check their phone when they wake up is 69%
- 62% of Australians use Facebook daily, 18% Google+, 11% Instagram, 9% Twitter and 8% LinkedIn
- 84% use Facebook to keep up-to-date with family and friends, 77% to communicate with family and friends and 48% to share stories, photos or news about ourselves
This report characterised the Australian consumer by their digital use and behaviour. This labeling of defining characteristics was useful in the exporation of how we use social media in our lives as they can be applied in an indirect manner to users of social media.
The defining characteristics were as follows;
Natives- The internet are a part of natural life
Lifestylers- Actively seek out use and integrate digital devices into life
Inadvertents- Apathetic towards online digital experiences
Cruisers- Love using their smartphone, but it doesn't always have a positive impact
Connectors- Digital devices are fully ingrained into life
Workaholics- Smartphone are an extension of their office and connection to their professional lives
Drifters- Digital devices have a negative impart to cynicism, anxiety, and a lack of engagement
Ernst & Young Sweeney, 2014
Ernst & Young Sweeney, 2014, Digital Australia; State of the Nation 2014, AIMIA, Australia, https://digitalaustralia.ey.com
Digital Australia
State of the Nation 2014
Re-Space-ing Place: "Place and "Space" Ten Years On
Dourish, D. 2006, Re-Space-ing Place: "Place" and "Space" Ten Years On, Department of Informatics, University of California, Irvine, http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.88.1408&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Social media: Implications for everyday life, politics and human agency
Lövhiem, M. et. al. 2013, 'Social media; implications for everyday life, politics and human agency', Approaching Religion, Vol. 3, No. 2, http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:U4HUhrzyCD8J:https://ojs.abo.fi/index.php/ar/article/download/261/216+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au
