The social network surge: an investigation on the catalysts of Youtube and it's growth

With YouTube, created in 2005, being at the forefront of social networking sites (SNSs) and Internet usage in 2021, the aim of this thesis is to understand and research the reasoning behind the evolution and progression of YouTube. This will focus on the elements that have aided its growth through an empirical study on 131 young adults. With the exponential growth of the Internet in the past decade and a half, it is fundamental for academic research to observe this growth accordingly. Existing literature has a broad scope in addressing the growth of YouTube in society, however there is limited research establishing the reasons behind this. Through cumulative research, we can lessen the gap in knowledge of the YouTube; to do this, the focus must centre on which elements have catalysed its popularity. The structure of this thesis on YouTube will be in four themes: firstly, the technological developments in society, secondly, the content on YouTube, thirdly the content creators on YouTube and finally the YouTube users. Each theme discussed within this research brings its own discussion and analysis to the research question at hand. Within the MA Thesis, I applied a mixed methods approach, using both quantitative and qualitative research, aiming to undercover the reasoning behind the growth of YouTube and the scope of its influence. The research will apply a questionnaire with one hundred and twentyseven participants and four interviews. The theoretical framework throughout each chapter is to present the everyday voices and experience of the research participants and their relationship to YouTube. It is through combining this selection of research with in-depth theory of the history and the personalities within YouTube, that a comprehensive reasoning to the evolution of YouTube can be deliberated. As the themes and findings within this research all underpin the growth of YouTube in society and the catalysis of its growth, it is vital we evaluate and explore these theme to predict where YouTube might head in the future. Coughlan (2016) reported that 96% of “13- to 18-year-olds, were signed up to social media networks” (p. 1) and it is research like this that illustrated the importance of SNSs influence on society, especially when looking into the future generation. Further research is fundamental in order to justify why society are so heavily engaged with the online SNSs such as YouTube. This research will aim to establish a more cohesive body of knowledge on the research question at hand adding to previous literature and research

Disinformation and Fact-Checking in Contemporary Society

Funded by the European Media and Information Fund and research project PID2022-142755OB-I00

'Mah LOLthesis let me show u it': The (re)making and circulation of participatory culture: memes, creativity and networks

Internet memes have become ubiquitous in our everyday experiences, both online and offline, permeating a variety of fields; not only are they prevalent in our communications among friends and strangers, they are also present in our political, commercial and cultural experiences. Memes are collective exercises in meaning making and creativity made both inter-personally and globally through sharing, which is built into the craft-like ethos of internet philosophy. Alternative 20th century strategies (e.g. collage, détournement, culture jamming) underlie much of current online interaction, embodying collaborative cultural practices - currently enabled by the accessibility to remix technology - that echo previous movements (e.g. punk, craft, Situationists International). Online memes are the intersection between participatory culture, remixing and intercreativity. Whilst literacy of formal aspects might lead to exclusivity, the low level of literacy required to engage with memes makes global access possible. However, this democratic potential might be threatened by the recuperation process that inhibits memes’ ability to perform counter-cultural roles, as wide circulation of memes has led to re-appropriations by politicians and commercial advertising. This thesis maps out meme use in a multitude of arenas including: politics (online debate and in protests), commerce (merchandise, use in advertising), and other cultural spaces (from LOLcat art to Lolita subculture). Additionally it follows the unfolding of the Doge meme closely across these spheres, providing insight into phenomena such as Dogecoin tipping and mass charitable actions performed under this meme. Ultimately, memes are successfully used across various groups and types of relationships (although at times met with some resistance), as their elasticity is able to accommodate the incarnations that place value upon spreadable meaning on a global scale

The Presence and Use of Interactive Features on Kurdish News Websites in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. A case study of interactivity of news Kurdish websites of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region

Internet has emerged as an interactive platform. Thus, new communication technologies are challenging the traditional media with interactive devices turning online journalism into a rich media environment. While new information technologies have enabled media organisations to use interactive features in the constructed presentation of news websites, few news websites in the Iraqi Kurdistan region are maximizing such features. Also, this thesis argues that despite the lack of a good infrastructure in the field of communication technology and the Internet in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR), online journalism has become a major part of Kurdish media outlets and distinctive from traditional media because of its interactive nature. The study presented in this thesis focus on interactivity in online journalism by examine interactive features of Kurdish news websites of the (IKR) and analyses how news is presented and to what extent these news websites tried to apply the interactive features on their hompages and inside the news pages. The level of interactivity of those Kurdish websites was also measured using several dimensions of interactivity by conducting web-based content analysis. The analysis of the qualitative part based on in-depth interviews with Kurdish reporters, editors, editor in chiefs, media experts and web developers. The findings show that the Kurdish news websites did not fully utilize and enhance interactive features in online journalism

[DiaGram]; Rethinking Graphic Design Process

Central to any graphic design education is the teaching of a design (or creative) process as an aid to problem-solving. This study draws upon experimental workshops within design education, together with current thinking from the broader arts, emotional psychology and the brain sciences, to explore the idea of repositioning process as the ‘main event’ – rather than it being a means-to-an-end. The study sought to frame learning experiences that enabled students to consciously become the object of their own study; including themes that explored ‘personal identity’, ‘dualism’, ‘mind-wandering’ and ‘habit’ as mechanisms to enhance our creative capacity, and evidenced significant improvements in the students’ confidence, dexterity and working methodologies (including the elusive ‘risk’ and ‘play’). The emerging conclusions propose key anchors (‘dissociative creativity’, ‘process as the main event’, ‘collaboration’ and ‘immersion’) that we believe ought to be central to the development of any new teaching (esp. within graphic design). Keywords: Design, Education, Process, Creativity, Risk Full paper. Delivered 31 May 2017. Page 81–95 of attached document