The Dublin Sketchers use of blogging and social networking technologies Marianne Hennessy 11271973.
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Transcript of The Dublin Sketchers use of blogging and social networking technologies Marianne Hennessy 11271973.
Introduction
• Dublin Sketchers (DS): ‘An informal amateur sketchers group set up to allow fellow artists to share ideas about their work and to meet new people.’
Introduction (continued)
• Group was set up in 2008 by Sarah O’Reilly• Started as a small group of friends, now grown
to over 400 members• Multicultural or migrant element• Regular meetings on Sundays: sketch from 2-
4pm, then meet for coffee
Their Blog:• http://dublinsketchers.blogspot.com/• Open access• Photos of sketches uploaded weekly• Information about next location is posted• Maintains an archive of drawings and a record
of group activities • Comments facility• Hosts members’ individual art blogs
Their Facebook Page:• Set up after the blog • Accessible to members using Facebook• Weekly meetings announced as status update• Photos of sketches uploaded on ad hoc basis• Cannot host members’ art blogs
Research Question
• With regard to the popularity of social-networking sites today, is the group’s use of Facebook impacting negatively upon their use of the blog?
• In comparison to the Facebook page, has the DS blog become less relevant to the group?
Methodology
• Case study using survey methods• Questionnaire: hard-copy and online formats• Online questionnaire distributed through
Facebook – excluded non-users of Facebook• 22 responses, 21 fully-completed• Whole population=400+ Sample pop=22• Not sure if sample population is large enough
to be representative
Results
Background Information:• 59% female; 68% age 21-29 or 30-39• 41% non-Irish members• 62% have been a member for one year or less• 33% have been a member for 3 or 4 years• 81% reported attending once a month or
more• 27% have professional drawing skills
Use of Blog vs Facebook page• 100% used/visited the DS Blog• 91% had a Facebook profile, of whom only one did not
use/visit the DS Facebook page
Q. How do you find blog/Facebook page useful? Answer had multiple options - respondents asked to tick all relevant boxes
• Blog outperformed Facebook Page, except for ‘Professional Networking’ and ‘Keeping in contact with other members’.
• Top two uses of blog and Facebook were the same: ‘To find information regarding Sunday meetings’ and ‘To browse recent drawings’
Respondents found blog more useful for:• ‘Commenting on other members sketches and
posts’ (48%)• ‘Browsing older drawings’ (38%)• ‘Getting feedback on [their] own work (33%)• 43% use blog to browse other members’
personal blogs• 79% find it easier to view weekly sketches on
the blog
Optional Open-ended Questions:• Majority of respondents used positive or neutral
terms to describe the blog e.g. “information-sharing site”, “artistic window”
• Regarding the blog’s cultural significance, written responses again are positive e.g. “it’s a magnifying lens on Dublin’s heritage & history”
• Regarding the Facebook pages’ cultural significance, responses were neutral or negative e.g. “Don’t put your stuff on Facebook – they will own copyright”.
Discussion of Results
• Both the blog and Facebook page are used significantly by the group
• Group’s use of social-networking is part of a wider trend (Dutton and Blank, 2011)
• Pew Internet study reports SNS use among 18-29 year olds at 83%
• Facebook page a significant tool for accessing and sharing information between members
Discussion of Results
The blog:• Easier usability• The “main focus” of the group• Social-networking has not become a
substitute for the blog• ‘Creative expression’ is the most common
reason to blog (Lenhart & Fox, 2006)
Discussion of Results
Gender differences regarding Facebook:• Perhaps reflected in wider trends• Women ‘maintaining a foothold on social-
networking sites’ (SNS) (Madden & Zickurh, 2011)
• 69% ‘online women’ and 60% ‘online men’• On top of this, women more active in their use
of SNS
Discussion of Results
• Migration and technology – not explored here• 41% members non-Irish• Online technologies probably help with the
task of integrating into Irish society
Concluding Points
Exploration of this group has revealed:• The blog has maintained its relevance to the DS
group• Both the blog and Facebook page are used
significantly by the group• Social-networking has not become a substitute
for the blog• More female than male respondents find the
Facebook page useful
Group Discussion
• Content versus Connection• ‘Phatic’ information - ‘Interactions and gestures
that basically convey no information’ (Miller, 2011)
• Real-life phatic communication - nods, winks, waves, small talk, idle chit chat.
• SNS and phatic communication – pokes, likes, brief status updates, comments on status updates
Group Discussion
• Phatic communication is about connection rather than content
• Social-networking contrasts to ‘a content-laden practice such as blogging’
• With rise of SNS and microblogging, will personalised blogs become old-fashioned?
• Has internet use become more about connection than content?