"The bewildering amount of data that exists in electronic space on storage devices constitutes a labyrinth that requires 'the inner map we make for ourselves" (Barnes, 1997). As we visit sites such as Facebook, we make a journey through the many profiles and pages that are being shared, creating a path every time we go to a different page or link. Facebook can become a personal map for each user by suggesting different pages that are similar to ones you may have previously liked and through the creation of one's timeline you can see a map forming of one's life on Facebook. Timelines give you access to go all the way back to the beginning to see where you have been and what you have posted or shared.
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| Retrieved from: http://www.labnol.org/internet/location-of-facebook-friends-on-google-maps/8461/ |
Facebook connects people from all over the world and this interesting page shows the different links creating a map between the users of the online world.
References:
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Space: Networks, Narratives, and the Making of Place, Lecture 4: Maps. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au
Barnes, G. (1997). Passage of the Cyber-Flanuer. Otago University. Retrieved from http://www.raynbird.com/essays/Passage_Flaneur.html
Image Credits:
Digital Inspiration. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.labnol.org/internet/location-of-facebook-friends-on-google-maps/8461/
You have touched on a great point in regards to Facebook being an interconnected map in the sense that each person’s timeline is a unique reflection of their life. I always find it interesting to look at the mutual friends of people who I may know, it always puts into perspective how each person is connected. The friends you have, depict the content that you see, which creates your timeline. Before virtual networks came into existence, the maps people followed were simply governed by real life contact. This contact included actually meeting the person and discussing certain aspects which were important to know. I would argue that this form of networking is still the best form as it strengthens friendships. Although the profile of each user is unique, each post or new friendship unlocks a new experience, which referring to the Arcades, as a way of directing traffic in urban planning (Kuttainen, 2015), holds the same experience.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Space: Networks, Narratives, and the Making of Place, Week 4: Maps (PowerPoint Presentation). Retrieved from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au
I agree that Facebook is perceived as a map that tracks the journeys between posts and profiles. When you mentioned Facebook watching your actions then suggesting different pages for you to like it makes me thing about how the ‘cyber flaneur’ was described in this week’s lecture. The flanuer’s role is to observe with the intent to be noticed (Kuttainen, 2015). This is exactly what Facebook does when it watches your activities, finds pages of relevance to you and suggests it you. By doing so it obviously has the intent to be noticed. Therefore, I feel that these flaneurs have helped create these paths in the map through observing the paths we take ourselves.
ReplyDeleteReferences
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Space: Networks, Narratives, and the Making of Place, Week 4: Maps (PowerPoint Presentation). Retrieved from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au