From Web 2.0 to Networked Lives: Navigating Real and Parasocial Connections
I've been reading about Web 2.0, and I have to admit, I didn't really know what it was until this week. It turns out, it's not just a technology or an application but a whole philosophy. It's basically the second version of the World Wide Web, and it's all about interaction and shifting from static to dynamic content. It's not a sudden change but more of a gradual shift.
With the rise of Web 2.0, we've seen a significant societal shift towards what Rainee and Wellman call "networked individualism” in their 2012 book Networked: The New Social Operating System. Basically, it means that people are no longer confined to tight-knit community groups and are thriving in more diverse networks. Some folks worry that this shift could lead to social isolation, but Rainee and Wellman argue that it's actually making us more connected, thanks to the opportunities provided by Web 2.0.
But here's where things get interesting. Since the concept of networked individualism was first described, a lot has changed. Social media influencers have become a big deal, and they're really good at cultivating what are called "parasocial relationships." I didn't even know what a parasocial relationship was until this week! It's a one-sided relationship where you feel like you have a connection with someone, but in reality, it all comes from one side. Influencers are pros at creating this kind of connection. I mean, who doesn't feel like they know their favorite podcaster or YouTuber?
I stumbled upon a podcast from The Atlantic called How To… and the first episode was about “How to Know if Your Friends Are Real.” In it, they discussed parasocial relationships, and I couldn't help but connect it back to the idea of networked individualism. At first, I thought influencers and their parasocial relationships might contradict the whole concept, but then I realized that our connections with other followers of the same influencer are often authentic and not one-sided.
In fact, influencers create online communities among their followers; in some cases, those one-sided connections can become more genuine. I heard about a case where an influencer I follow lost her house to flooding, and the support from her followers turned into genuine, meaningful relationships. So even though influencers cultivate parasocial relationships, the communities that form around them are often exceptionally social.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you think we're more socially isolated as networked individuals? Is Web 2.0 filled with parasocial relationships, or do you think there's something to this whole networked individualism idea?
It's interesting considering that we may be more socially isolated when we are so connected to networking online. I've seen this in schools with students, but also in my everyday life. At parties, we can be sitting next to each other in silence while commenting on each other's newest Instagram post. Or pull out our phone to scroll through Pinterest at the doctor's office instead of saying hello to the other people in the waiting room.
ReplyDeleteI also have become more recently aware of parasocial relationships. It can be easy to think you have a connection with those who share so much detail of their life with their viewers and followers. I notice the same with celebrities. For example, Reddit threads dedicated to Taylor Swift have thousands of posts dissecting her every lyric as if we know with certainty what she has been through in her life.
Thanks for bringing to light some interesting connections!
Hi, Kaley! You make some good points here. While I was reading your comment, I thought about the song The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel. I don’t know what’s it really about, but I’ve always thought of it as a kind of prophetic song about the dawn of the Internet and smartphones.
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