Category: Interaction Design

This impulse is dedicated to a movement that is taking place directly on Instagram. This should show that positive movements are also taking place on the app itself, that people are recognizing the problems, taking initiative and trying to make the platform a better place. After all, it is important not to forget that you can also reach many people via Instagram and make a positive impact. Nevertheless, it should be added that many of the problems that Instagram draws attention to are created or extremely amplified by the app itself.

The hashtag #BodyPositivity has become an influential movement on social media that promotes acceptance and love for diverse body shapes and sizes. This campaign aims to break unrealistic beauty standards and encourage people to love and accept their bodies of all shapes and sizes. By creating a platform for self-love, the hashtag provides a space for authentic stories, personal journeys and positive images that celebrate the diversity of human bodies.

In the context of my research #BodyPositivity plays a crucial role. The movement not only offers a counterpoint to harmful beauty ideals, but also provides valuable insights into the power of social media to promote positive change. The impulse from the #BodyPositivity movement thus supports my research topic by providing insights into the positive potential of Instagram.

Hashtag on Instagram

Artikel über Body Positivity

In this public radio show from WBUR, listeners call in and share their third places and what they mean to them. After that, the host discusses the history of the third place, the state of third places in The United States post-pandemic, why we should rebuild third places, and how to make that possible. Professor Danielle C. Rhubart, assistant professor of biobehavioral health and demography at Penn State University, explains the importance of third places:

“When the people who coined the term first described it, these places where places of sociality and now we look at coffee shops and they can also be places where you get work done. Right? And you’re not actually engaging with other people. And there’s evidence to suggest that even when we go in a more passive way and are on our laptops, there’s still some benefits in sort of building senses of belonging and identity.

But when we actually engage with people and have conversations that can also yield benefits along measures of mental health and wellbeing as well.”

Below are some excerpts from listeners who called in to the podcast:

ELIZABETH: I would say my third place is the dog park. It’s a great place to meet other people from other neighborhoods, economic situations, jobs, races, religions. It just brings everyone together. And I find myself spending a lot of time there, especially at the start of the pandemic, it seemed like that was the only place where I could see people and life seemed to be normal.

DAVID: My third place is one of four or five local taverns that I tend to frequent. That’s where everybody knows my name. I’m greeted with a smile. They know the drink I want, and sometimes engage in terrific conversation, either with regulars or entirely new faces.

SUSANNA: It’s a cold water swimming group, and it really took me by surprise to find how engaged I was because I love these people so much and it is a head clearing oasis. At the start of my day, three times a week.

SULE: I’m a percussionist, and most Sundays there’s a group of five to 10, sometime up to 15 drummers and musicians out in Piedmont Park. That’s where I go to make friends and absorb good energy and music from other people.

Citations

Chang, Jonathan, and Anthony Brooks. “‘third Places’ Strengthen Community. Here’s How We Can Rebuild Them.” On Point, July 26, 2023. https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2023/07/26/third-places-strengthen-community-heres-how-we-can-rebuild-them.

In Mina Le’s video essay, “third places, stanley cup mania, and the epidemic of loneliness”, she discusses isolation, loneliness, friendship, and community in our modern, technological age. Le dedicates a large portion of the video to the “third place”. First described in the 1980s by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg, a third place is a space for informal, free social interaction, essential to democracy. Exemplified most clearly by the coffeehouse, a third place is neutral ground where friends and neighbours are regulars, but strangers are just as welcome. Third places are inexpensive, unstructured, and local. Conversation is the main activity. In this video, Le speaks specifically to the American condition, where third places have all but disappeared. Although the situation isn’t quite the same in Europe, the digital space has largely replaced the physical third place, and we still don’t yet know what the consequences of that might be. Le ends the video by discussing the importance of communities and in-person friendships/relationships. She notes that, over the phone, we completely miss the facial cues from others’ expressions. We feel less of a communal responsibility, and we lose the culture of generosity without expectation of reciprocation or compensation.

Citations

Le, Mina. “Third Places, Stanley Cup Mania, and the Epidemic of Loneliness.” YouTube, January 22, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqjpuUJQFcM&t=1632s.

Oldenburg, Ray, and Karen Christensen. “Third Places, True Citizen Spaces.” The UNESCO Courier,
March 22, 2023. https://courier.unesco.org/en/articles/third-places-true-citizen-spaces.
the third place

Women at Work (Podcast): Ever Considered Joining a Board?

In the recent podcast that I listened to created by Harvard Business Review, the discussion with women in leadership positions about how they got there, gender discrimination, and their difficulties. Eight women who work in the board service share their experiences, challenges, and how they secured their seats.

One prominent figure contributing to the discussion is Lindsey Shorts, who has been on the board of directors at the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living for 10 years and was its chair for 7. She was honest about how it is sometimes difficult to deal with a lot of people, especially if the field is male-dominated, and how sometimes she had to make people listen to her and her ideas in order to be taken seriously. Lindsey shared that it was difficult for her to have a word in because of that. Because of this, she was feeling confused for a long period of time about her tone of voice (if she sounded not nice), if she said the right word, etc. What helped her was finding a mentor and having a person she could always go to If she wasn’t sure about something. What I liked is that she said that being in a board position is about understanding what people need, and what needs to be done, whereas many people see this only as an opportunity to do what they want.

Podcast Link

In the song “Dear Society” by Madison Beer, which was released in 2019, the singer deals with the social pressures that are amplified by social media. The song explores the negative effects of social media on self-perception and the general worldview, and the lyrics show the narrator’s frustration with unrealistic standards and expectations of society, which are reinforced by social media. It describes how these pressures can affect mental health and self-esteem as we try to live up to these standards. Additionally, the song highlights how social media can distort reality. It suggests that these digital platforms can aspire to a toxic cycle that strives for perfection, which is ultimately harmful to wellbeing.

Madison Beer’s song “Dear Society” provides important insight into the negative effects of social media on self-image and well-being, showing how present the issue is in society and that everyone struggles with it.

Songfacts

Ontology:

In examining the nature of reality in the context of my research topic, I recognize certain assumptions about the phenomena or issues I would like to explore. The nature of reality in this case revolves around the complex relationship between social media, particularly Instagram, and teenage wellbeing. I recognize that I am making assumptions about the existence of challenges and consequences associated with teenagers’ social media use.

These assumptions can be considered as subjective constructs, influenced by personal experiences and cultural factors. The challenges young people face when navigating social media platforms are not objective facts, but are closely linked to the diverse perceptions, experiences and cultural contexts that shape individuals’ interactions with these platforms. Understanding the problems and potential solutions is therefore dynamic and subject to interpretation based on the different perspectives through which different stakeholders view the issues at hand. Kids & Teenagers are struggling with the toxic influence of social media (i.e. the app Instagram) as they start to question their body, their looking, their outfits, the things they do and have and so one. You can also consider these as objective facts as there are several studies about the influence of social media on teenagers and the bad consequences. For example eating disorders, suicide rate, overall dissatisfaction & insecurity.

Epistemology:

In terms of the study of knowledge, my approach is multi-layered and draws on a variety of sources to develop a comprehensive understanding of the research topic. Primary sources include empirical data collected through surveys and interviews that provide valuable insight into the lived experiences and perceptions of youth, parents, and educators regarding social media use.

Theoretical frameworks also play a crucial role in shaping my understanding and provide a conceptual basis for interpreting the complexities of the phenomena. I recognize the importance of combining theoretical perspectives with empirical observations to paint a holistic picture of the research subject.

However, it is important to recognize the potential limitations of this approach. While empirical data and theoretical frameworks contribute significantly to knowledge gain, they may not capture the full range of subjective experiences or cultural subtleties. Furthermore, my own background and perspective inevitably influence the interpretation of research findings. Being aware of these potential biases is crucial to ensure the rigor and validity of the study. I strive to remain open to diverse viewpoints and continually reflect on how my own experiences may influence my interpretation of the research, thus minimizing the impact of potential inherent biases on the study’s findings.