How are you a ‘prosumer’? In regards
to Ritzer’s model of prosumption,
consider how you produce and consume your own identity: as a student, as an
employee, or as a fan, etc.
Prosumption: Constructing my Hong Konger Identity
Stepping into the 21st century, the
invention of Web2.0 and related sites such as Facebook, Wikipedia, and Youtube
radically changes the capitalism world It facilitates “consuming and remixing data from multiple sources, including
individual users” and “create network effects through an “architecture of participation”, and going
beyond the page metaphor of Web 1.0” (Fuchs 2011, p. 288). Whereas in the past we were the receivers of “provider-generated”
information and services from Web 1.0 sites like Yahoo! & MSN, we are now
actively engaging in prosumption, which is the involvement of “both production
and consumption rather than focusing on either one (production) or the other
(consumption)’ (Riztzer & Jurgenson 2010, p. 13). We, as users, generate
our own content.
In line with
the explosion of user-generated sites online, we currently have more platforms
to produce and consume our various identities: as students, as fans, etc. In
the following, I would like to share how prosumption allows me to produce and
consume my identity as a Hong Konger.
In Facebook,
I “like” and subscribe to the “I am a Hong Konger” group, where Hong Kongers
would share news updates(Political, showbiz, etc), and “Hong Konger secrets”,
where Hong Konger can write what they write and share to other Facebook users anonymously:
expressing gratitude to someone (E.g. Bus driver, taxi driver, or even an
ordinary lady on street), or expressing grievance (E.g. Criticizing people
abusing animals in theme parks). As Pointed by Boyd (as cited in Ritzer Jargenson
2010 p. 19), “users interact with one another, and build communities”. Hong
Kongers build their their distinctive communities on social media platforms and
interact with each other, even though they may not know each other in reality.
No matter what, everyone has a chance to contribute and has a say.
 |
| Screenshot of an entry in the "I'm a Hong Konger group", in which a user thanked other users' support in forwarding the message about her lost grandmother. She has now found her after 3 days' search. |
Another Web
2.0 site worth mentioning is the Instagram online. Although it originates a
smartphone app, it is now concurrently accessible through the Internet. Users
compose photos of Hong Kong (put hashtag, such as the yearly 4 June/ 1 July
protest), and circulate them among other Hong Kong users, additionally
commenting on others’ pictures.
From the example above, we could see the dominance of prosumption. Hong Kongers prosume and interact. We produce articles, notes, entries, photos of Hong Kong, our home, and we consume others’ contribution of these items. It is an enjoyable experience (mainly due to the openness online), and reinforced our identity as a Hong Konger. This is what I have noticed based on Ritzer’s model of prosumption.
References
Fuchs, C 2011, ‘Web 2.0, Prosumption, and Surveillance’. Surveillance
& Society 8(3): 288-309.
Ritzer, G & Jurgenson, N 2010
‘Production, Consumption, Prosumption: The nature of capitalism in the age of
the digital ‘prosumer’, Journal of
Consumer Culture, vol. 10 no. 1, pp 13-36.
I love your post as I come from Hong Kong as well and felt related to what you say. I think non-Hong Kongers will also enjoy reading as you lay out information in clear way. You define prosumption by combining source with your own words, making it easier for readers to understand the concept and add authoritative. The examples used suit well and it is good that you explain the term like “I am a Hong Konger” group which many might not know. The use of image clearly fit in the post and I think you did well in putting description below, letting people who do not read Chinese to know what photo is about.
ReplyDeleteThanks Leo for the post.
ReplyDeleteUpon the rapid development of Internet and social network, netizens are allowed to share their views, photos and videos on the Internet freely now. The new mode of social network, like Facebook and Twitter, really develop a good platform for presumption. The users can share whatever they want. They are “producing”. And they can read the posts or tweets by their families and friends, or strangers. They are “consuming”. People always have different identities at the same time. I do agree that people are “producing” and “consuming” their own identities at the same time. And in the above blog post, some good examples are raised for illustrating how the author produces and consumes his identity of being a Hong Konger. I appreciate these very much.
And I like the example of Instagram. As I know, some people would really use Instagram to run a business. This makes the “production and consumption” become a tangible one. I think the examples used can fully illustrate the points made. Well done.
Hello Kin,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog extremely relevant in regards to prosumption. The personal aspect of the post is evident immediately as you have used bold letters to center the statement and what it means to you. I like this approach because it’s quick and leads well into your critical view on the emergence of the Internet in the development of a capitalist world. The examples you use throughout also are nice, the image of a grandmother and grandchild re-united through social media was a touching display, showing the benefits of groups such as ‘I’m a Hong Konger group’ can make. I would have liked to see links to some things in your post such as Ritzer’s model of Prosumption for those who might not be familiar with the term but all around great post, thanks!
Blake
Hi Leo, it’s Kayley again :) Good post again. After the invention of Web 2.0, we are allowed to be the prosumption on the internet. For example, we are able to share YouTube video in the Facebook or in our blog entry where we share the video to other people (production) after watching the video (consumption). Besides, in YouTube, youtubers also act as a prosumer instead of just being a consumer because they upload a video on Youtube (Production) and at the same time, they can receive the comments (Consumption) given by other online audiences. This phenomenon is very interesting indeed.
ReplyDelete