Digital leisure for development: Reframing new media practice in the global south.

Photoshopping of newlyweds, downloading the latest movies, teens flirting on social network sites and virtual gaming may seem like typical behavior in the West; yet in the context of a village in Mali or a slum in Mumbai, it is seen as unusual and perhaps an anomaly in their new media practice. In recent years, some studies (Ganesh, 2010; Mitra, 2005; Arora, 2010; 2012; Rangaswamy & Nair, 2012; Kavoori, Chadha & Arceneaux, 2006) have documented these leisure-oriented behaviors in the global south and argued for the need to emphasize and reposition these user practices within larger and contemporary discourses on new media consumption. Yet, for the most part, studies in the field of Information and Communication Technologies for Deve

Transconnective Space, Emotions and Skype: The Transnational Emotional Practices of Mixed International Couples in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract included in text

Transconnective Space, Emotions and Skype: The Transnational Emotional Practices of Mixed International Couples in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract included in text

The best of both worlds? Online ties and the alternating use of social network sites in the context of migration

While an ever-growing body of research is concerned with user behavior on individual social network sites (SNSs)—mostly Facebook—studies addressing an alternating use of two or more SNS are rare. Here, we investigate the relationship between alternating SNS use and social capital in the context of migration. Alternating SNS use avoids some of the problems associated with large networks located on one site; in particular the management of different social or cultural spheres. Not only does this strategy hold potential for increased social capital, it also provides a particular incentive for migrants faced with the challenge of staying in touch with back home and managing a new social environment. Two survey studies are presented that focus on the relationship between alternating SNS use and online ties in a migrant context involving Indian nationals. Study 1 looked at migration within India, whereas Study 2 compared international with domestic SNS users. In both studies, alternating SNS use added to the prediction of online network size and accounted for differences in network size found for migrant and non-migrant users. Differences were due to the number of peripheral ties, rather than core ties. Findings suggest that alternating SNS use may constitute a compensatory strategy that helps to overcome lower levels of socializing represented through a single SNS

Média e integração de imigrantes

Este artigo tem por base a investigação de doutoramento “A importância dos média e da língua de acolhimento na integração de imigrantes. Estudos de caso: a comunidade nepalesa de Portugal e a comunidade portuguesa em Macau”, defendida em dezembro de 2015. A pesquisa focou-se na comunidade imigrante portuguesa em Macau e na comunidade imigrante nepalesa em Portugal. Analisou os usos dos média – étnicos, mainstream e transnacionais - por imigrantes durante o processo de integração: na manutenção de laços com o país de origem e na adaptação à sociedade de acolhimento, em que a língua de acolhimento assume um papel crucial. A investigação enquadra-se nos estudos de audiências e baseia-se na teoria dos Usos e Gratificações dos Média (Katz, Blumler, & Gurevitch, 1974). No que respeita à integração assenta no modelo de estratégias de aculturação de Berry & Sam (2001, 2006). Quanto à língua, assenta na teoria do poder e da prática de Bourdieu (1991), especificamente na parte relativa ao poder simbólico da língua. Quanto à metodologia, foram realizadas oito entrevistas em profundidade na comunidade nepalesa e 29 entrevistas na comunidade portuguesa. A amostra foi de conveniência e teoricamente sustentada. A seguir às entrevistas, foi feita uma análise de conteúdo individual e transversal. Para o presente livro, atendendo ao tema, vamos focar-nos apenas na parte relativa à importância dos média.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Jobs and family relations: Use of computers and mobile phones among Hispanic day laborers in Seattle

This paper presents the results of a research project on the use of computers and mobile phones by Hispanic day laborers at Casa Latina, a non-profit organization in Seattle, Washington. Drawing from over 100 interviews, participatory observations and a focus group, we found that information and communication technologies (ICT) help immigrant day laborers to remain connected with their families and their employers. Mobile phones complement but do not replace the use of computers: mobile phones are used primarily to obtain jobs, while computers and the Internet are used mostly to communicate with family and friends. The results of this study offer new insight regarding the way day laborers use ICT to facilitate their navigation and integration into society as immigrants with precarious existences in the US. This study can also inform programs to help provide better support services and training that can effectively meet the needs of these extremely underserved populations.published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewe

Producción y consumo musical juvenil en África

Davant la necessitat de promoure perspectives que van més enllà de les narracions familiars dels problemes socials entre els joves, aquest article examina la seua contribució a la producció i al consum de la música popular a l’Àfrica. Les dades utilitzades per a aquest article es van extreure d’una revisió sistemàtica de la bibliografia pertinent i de les teories com ara l’estructuració, l’africologia, la difusió de la innovació i el comportament planificat. Aquestes teories es van sintetitzar per comprendre millor el paper que juguen els joves en la producció i el consum de la música popular a l’Àfrica. Les troballes van revelar que molts joves han contribuït significativament a la producció de música popular a l’Àfrica, mentre que alguns també han fomentat el seu consum mitjançant el desenvolupament de l’esperit emprenedor en la indústria de la música a l’Àfrica. En conclusió, la producció musical s’ha convertit en una font viable de supervivència per a molts joves, així com un mitjà segur d’entreteniment per a particulars i organitzacions corporatives a l’Àfrica. En examinar diversos casos de producció i consum de música a l’Àfrica, aquest article estableix una conversa intercultural sobre la visibilitat i la importància dels joves en la producció i el consum de la música popular a l’Àfrica. Això demostra que els responsables polítics i altres actors del desenvolupament juvenil poden animar els joves a explorar oportunitats empresarials en la indústria musical com a catalitzador del desenvolupament sostenible a l’Àfrica.In view of the need to promote perspectives that move beyond the familiar narratives of social problems among young people, this article examines their contribution to the production and consumption of popular music in Africa. The data used for this article were taken from a systematic review of the relevant literature and insights from theories such as structuration, Afrikology, diffusion of innovation and planned behaviour. These theories were synthesised for a better understanding of the role young people play in the production and consumption of popular music in Africa. The findings revealed that many youths have contributed significantly to the production of popular music in Africa, while some have also encouraged its consumption by developing entrepreneurship in the music industry in Africa. In conclusion, music production has become a viable source of survival for many youths, as well as a reliable means of entertainment for individuals and corporate organisations in Africa. By examining several cases of music production and consumption across Africa, this article establishes a cross-cultural conversation about the visibility and significance of youths in the production and consumption of popular music in Africa. This shows that policymakers and other stakeholders in youth development can encourage youth people to explore entrepreneurial opportunities in the music industry as a catalyst for sustainable development in Africa.En vista de la necesidad de promover perspectivas que van más allá de las narrativas familiares de los problemas sociales entre los jóvenes, este artículo examina su contribución a la producción y el consumo de música popular en África. Los datos utilizados para este artículo se tomaron de una revisión sistemática de la literatura relevante y de las perspectivas de teorías tales como la estructuración, la afrikología, la difusión de la innovación y el comportamiento planificado. Estas teorías fueron sintetizadas para una mejor comprensión del papel que los jóvenes juegan en la producción y el consumo de la música popular en África. Los resultados revelaron que muchos jóvenes han contribuido significativamente a la producción de música popular en África, mientras que otros también han fomentado su consumo mediante el desarrollo de la iniciativa empresarial en la industria de la música en África. En conclusión, la producción musical se ha convertido en una fuente viable de supervivencia para muchos jóvenes, así como un medio confiable de entretenimiento para individuos y organizaciones corporativas en África. Al examinar varios casos de producción y consumo de música en África, este artículo establece una conversación intercultural sobre la visibilidad y la importancia de los jóvenes en la producción y el consumo de música popular en África. Esto muestra que los encargados de formular políticas y otras partes interesadas en el desarrollo de la juventud pueden alentar a los jóvenes a explorar las oportunidades empresariales en la industria de la música como un catalizador para el desarrollo sostenible en África

"I Just Go on Wi-Fi": Imagining Worlds Through Professional Basketball Migrants' Deployment of Information and Communication Technology

The connection between athletes and technology has developed in recent years, with the focus on how lives are augmented and presented through this relationship. Building on previous reflections concerning the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to support the sometimes fractious experiences of sport migration, we suggest a need to develop our understandings of migrant athletes’ use of ICT by interrogating socially-embedded processes driving its usage. In so doing, we draw on 18 semistructured interviews with professional basketball migrants based (at the time) in the United Kingdom but whose seasonal work moves them frequently across the globe. We explore these participants’ experiences through the lens of Appadurai’s model of scapes and disjuncture. With this framework we explore themes of negotiation, need, expectation, and barriers. Consequently, we propose expanding how we understand migrant athletes’ relationships with technology