Why Online Conferences Are More Like Networks Than Communities

In this essay, I'm going to delve into the Social Media, Communities and Networks conference, arguing from my personal experience that it operated more like a network than a community. Through this exploration, I aim to illustrate how the structure of networks fostered a conducive environment for diverse participation and effective completion of tasks. In addition to this, I aim to showcase how I embodied these principles through the various roles I adopted during the conference whilst defining and further exploring the advantages of networks as well as evidence that this conference was a network rather than a community. The conference's culture and online environment prioritised task completion and efficiency over forming deep personal connections. Further aligning with my perspective of the conference operating as a network made it a compelling case study for understanding the potential and dynamics of networks in today's digital age.

"Network" and "community" are two main ways people interact with each other in social and professional work settings. But each of them works differently and has unique features that shape how they operate and how strong the relationships within them are.

Networks, as explained by Papacharissi (2011), exist for a reason, to spread knowledge, ideas, and influence. This concept, when applied to social and professional interactions, typically refers to a group of relationships that are rooted in mutual interests, goals, or experiences. The Social Media, Communities and Networks conference, for instance, predominantly employed a networking model. Apart from commenting on participant papers on the conference website itself, most interactions took place over Discord. Weak relationships were established based on the professional task at hand, with profile pictures often being animations and identities remaining anonymous. Even though the ties formed had the potential to be stronger, engagement and personal connections took a backseat to efficiency and task completion. According to Granovetter (1973), however, there is strength in weak relationships. He emphasised that weak ties are well suited for discussing how groups interact with one another and for analysing parts of the social structure that are difficult to categorise into primary groups. Although there was a lack of close personal bonds, individuals within a network stream and as a collective were brought together and were far more productive by their shared objectives and the necessity of exchanging information, ideas, and resources.



Delanty and Gerard (2018) argue that the idea of community is related to the search for belonging in the insecure conditions of modern society. Its enduring appeal is undoubtedly due to the desire for belonging, sharing and place. The concept of a “networked public”, however, further underscores the advantages of networks. This term refers to a space constructed through networked technologies like the ones used for the conference facilitating practical connections for a single purpose that wouldn’t otherwise occur in physical spaces as quickly with the number of participants involved.

For this reason, the Social Media, Communities and Networks conference served as an excellent example of a networked public. The digital platform Discord allowed participants from various locations and disciplines to interact, broadening the reach of the conference and creating an environment that fostered diverse perspectives and expertise to plan and communicate what needed to be done.

In this networked environment, the interaction between participants was not limited by physical boundaries or conventional norms often found in physical communities. Hampton and Wellman (2018) argue there is no shortage of experts screaming about the decline of community and the decline of conversation and meaningful in-person contact. Outside of the cohort of students studying in person, for online students, not one single physical conversation or live online meeting took place between all participating students or lecturers. Yet, through the network environment that was formed, participants continued to engage with each other freely, sharing ideas and contributing to discussions on a variety of topics on the conference website. This characteristic of a networked public, the freedom to interact without geographical boundaries or time constraints, enabled the conference to be more inclusive and dynamic, further amplifying its reach and impact.

Moreover, the nature of interaction within this networked public environment was shaped by the shared goal of completing tasks and designated assignments. Despite the relative anonymity of participants (with most communicating through animated profile pictures and cryptic names), the efficiency of task-oriented communication was remarkable. This focus on shared objectives and efficient communication is a distinct characteristic that the conference I was involved with was a network, demonstrating the flexibility and adaptability of networks in accomplishing goals.

In understanding the roles that I played within the Social Media, Communities and Networks conference, it becomes even more evident that this event functioned as a network. My roles were diverse, illustrating the fluidity and adaptability inherent in network structures. For example, by taking the lead in establishing the Facebook and LinkedIn platforms for the conference, I helped to shape the conference’s online presence to support extending its reach and impact. Everyone’s proactive role demonstrated the openness and inclusivity of networks, allowing for individual leadership and initiative.

From time to time, I also took on the role of a lurker, observing and consuming lots of content without actively participating or contributing. Taking an occasional step back allowed me to gather information and familiarise myself with the new social network site Discord as well as a new Content Management System (CMS) for the online conference itself. In doing this, I could better understand the dynamics of my peers and stay updated on the ongoing discussions, again highlighting the broad and inclusive nature of networks that accommodate various levels of participation. 

However, above all, I functioned as a networked individual. I was part of the web of connections, contributing to and benefiting from the flow of information and ideas. I interacted with others, learned from the variety of topics discussed, and played a role in linking different parts of the network. The entire experience exemplifies the inherent benefits of being a part of a network, where one can have multiple roles and experiences and yet remain an integral part of the system. Furthermore, investing in ‘emotional labour’, a term penned by Hochschild (2012), also took place in all interactions requiring effort to keep all participants and key stakeholders satisfied with the output in a public domain.

These varying roles I undertook, from influencer to lurker to networked individual, illustrate the flexibility and diversity of participation within a network. These roles not only emphasise the argument that Social Media, Communities and Networks Conference functioned as a network but also highlighted the dynamic and flexible opportunities offered by network participation.



In conclusion, the Social Media, Communities and Networks conference demonstrated network principles through its broad reach, efficient flexibility, and diverse participation. Its structure mirrored a network more than a community, with less deep personal relationships but a strong shared purpose and effective information exchange. As a participant, I experienced the adaptability and fluidity characteristic of networks, confirming my experience operated more like a network than a community.

References:

Papacharissi, Z. (Ed.). (2011). A Networked Self: Identity, Community and Culture on Social Network Sites. Routledge.

Granovetter, M. S. (1973). The strength of weak ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78(6), 1360-1380.

Delanty, G. (2018). Virtual community: Belonging as communication. In G. Delanty (Ed.), Community (3rd ed., pp. 200-224). Routledge.

Hochschild, A. R. (2012). The managed heart: Commercialization of human feeling. Amazon Kindle.