{"id":268,"date":"2018-05-05T21:48:12","date_gmt":"2018-05-05T13:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2018Bentley\/?p=268"},"modified":"2018-05-06T12:34:26","modified_gmt":"2018-05-06T04:34:26","slug":"contentious-conversations-race-religion-and-participation-within-the-new-media-landscape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2018Bentley\/2018\/05\/05\/contentious-conversations-race-religion-and-participation-within-the-new-media-landscape\/","title":{"rendered":"Contentious Conversations: \u00a0Race, Religion and Participation Within the New Media Landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"
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James Manson. May 2018.<\/p>\n

Abstract<\/h3>\n

The ubiquity of the internet and subsequent convergence of technology and culture, combined with the functionality of social media has allowed for new media technologies to be utilised by indigenous and marginalised communities as an effective mode of communication that crosses several cultural, geographic and political lines. Social media has the capacity to democratise and empower users but also to homogenise and pervert understandings depending on its uses. This study has identified that the discussions surrounding issues dealing with indigenous and marginalised communities in Australia are not only proliferated within these communities themselves, but people are often mobilised in response to various crises and citizen reports. This uncovered an interesting mechanism whereby uninvolved agents within various political communities and special interest groups hijacked these issues surrounding indigenous and marginalised peoples, in order to, promote a loosely related agenda. Politics, power, fear, left vs right-wing politics, political correctness and human rights are identified as often at the heart of these discussions and require a discerning eye when navigating social media.<\/p>\n

Keywords<\/em>: Indigenous Communities Online, Social Media, Participatory Culture, Citizen Journalism, Social Capital.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International<\/a><\/p>\n

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Contentious Conversations: \u00a0Race, Religion and Participation Within the New Media Landscape<\/h2>\n

The rise of Web 2.0 and the subsequent popularity of social media being used as a primary mode of communication (Han 2011, 35-36) (Bakardjieva 2011, 59-60) has created an environment whereby agents of various special interest groups (Edutopia, 2013), in this case, displaced indigenous communities, are able to play a significant part in online communities and participate in discussions with new efficacy and social capital (Soriano 2011, 1-2) (Flew 2014. 66-7). Social media facilitates the coverage of and discussion surrounding crises through citizen journalism and other forms of online participation. This new communications paradigm has led to indigenous social media based communities collaborating and organising themselves across cultural and geographic borders in order mobilise and ultimately be a voice for the fidelity of the social and civic structures that govern our everyday lives. Case studies and historical events have been analysed to both provide context and highlight the importance of understanding the politics and cultural forces at play when attempting to understand these communities. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported in 2009 that \u201cdisplacement is frequently caused by violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) or fundamental human rights\u201d (ICRC 2009). This paper analyses Australian Aboriginals, as internally displaced in this manner, as well as, refugees ingenious to various parts of the world as externally displaced. The aim of this paper is to examine social media\u2019s impact on the dissemination of information and discussions dealing with crises of displaced indigenous communities. After an event or issue is publicised and discussed online, some debates and organisations gain enough traction to mobilise and ultimately influence social and civic structures. To what effect are the new and social media landscapes being used and how has this influenced discussions around power and democracy. The first examples look at social media influence on indigenous issues and highlight the mechanism whereby polarised communities form on either side of these issues as they battle to affect social and civic structures. The second set of examples looks at indigenous activism in Western Australia and highlights the importance of understanding the social and cultural factors specific to the communities involved when crises occur. The third example depicts a case of communities forming two opposing interest groups in a heated debate. This serves to draw parallels between internally and externally displaced peoples living in Australia and exemplifies marginalised, indigenous communities mobilising in physical space. These examples are limiting in that these issues, while often heavily reported on through social and traditional media, vary in their bias. This does, however, serve to further highlight the polarised and often heated nature of each community\u2019s discussions that simmer long after the catalysing event or issue has been raised.<\/p>\n

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Figure 1: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=O7FtjtF4gM0<\/a><\/p>\n

Social Media and Politics.<\/h2>\n

Displacement and Politics.<\/h3>\n

In 2014, Scott Ludlam rose to speak on behalf of The Greens party to a virtually empty chamber to deliver a speech framed as a direct letter to the then prime minister, Tony Abbott. Inciting issues like the treatment of indigenous peoples and their land, government housing initiatives, as well as, financial dealings surrounding Western Australia\u2019s, then booming, mining industry. The video of this speech went viral and polarised discussions were again sparked on some of the issues he raised (Greens MP\u2019s 2014).<\/p>\n