Public Sphere Research Articles

(Re)claiming subversive spaces on TikTok: the complexities of body activisms within physical activity cultures

ABSTRACT Feminist organising in digital spaces, such as social media, has the potential for activism, resistance, and visibility; yet these spaces continue to be dominated by narrow body representations and shaped by unequal power dynamics. We propose that bodies of difference may find vibrant and difference-affirming homes within their digital communities via innovative algorithm-based social media spheres, such as TikTok. Using a creative methodological mashup that we call a ‘collaborative digital autoethnography’, we explored our experiences of difference-affirming hashtags (e.g. #CurvyGym, #DisabledFitness, #QueerFitness) and creators who shared explicitly inclusive and/or subversive content (e.g. #ThickTocker). Using reflexive thematic analysis and thinking with/through Safiya Noble’s work on algorithms of oppression, we developed four themes: #TheFringe, #(Re)claimingFlesh, #CircleOfSurveillance, and #TheWrongSideOfTikTok. In #TheFringe, we found normatively embodied creators who used TikTok as a space to question normative fitness trends – content that helped build our difference-affirming algorithmic space. In #(Re)claimingFlesh, fat-positive creators used TikTok to unapologetically reveal or grab body fat/flesh, and TikTokkers re-storied their body-related journeys by flipping the script of harmful body surveillance (i.e. #CircleOfSurveillance). Lastly, some creators shared grievances about the (oppressive) algorithms of TikTok that banished them to #TheWrongSideOfTikTok. We provide reflexive accounts of our own embodied differences while exploring the TikTok platform, searching for spaces that affirm our bodies while contending with algorithmic oppression. We conclude by discussing TikTok as a platform where powerful collective activism and revolution can form, yet always in contention with trolling, hate, and harmful algorithms that constrain activist movements within sport, exercise, and health contexts.

The Fourth Estate in Ghana’s Fourth Republic: From “Culture of Silence” to Fake News and Post-Truth Politics

ABSTRACT Ghana’s democratisation process under the Fourth Republican Constitution in 1992 restored a raft of civil liberties and democratic institutions truncated by the erstwhile Provisional National Defence Council’s (PNDC's) authoritarian military regime. One of these institutions is the mass media which has been assigned the role of the Fourth Estate, with its rights, independence and freedom stipulated and strongly protected by Chapter 12 of the 1992 constitution. This new-found freedom of the media and information not only led to the springing up of a multitude of private print and electronic media outlets but also stimulated the general transformation of the public sphere with the emergence of the digital media, particularly the social media platforms. Using existing data for thematic analysis and through the lenses of postmodernism, I examine the various cases of post-truth news (also called post-truth politics in this study), their implications and the methods used in combating them. The study finds that the prevalence of post-truth news leads to rising political tension and national security problems. Measures including arrests, detentions, harassment of perceived offenders and independent fact-checking have so far proven ineffective because of the perceived selective applications of the law and paucity of technical and technological capability.

Book Review: TJ Billard, Voices for Transgender Equality: Making Change in the Networked Public Sphere

Book Review: TJ Billard, <i>Voices for Transgender Equality: Making Change in the Networked Public Sphere</i>

Technological Citizenship in Times of Digitization: An Integrative Framework

This article introduces an integrative framework for technological citizenship, examining the impact of digitization and the active roles of citizens in shaping this impact across the private, social, and public sphere. It outlines the dual nature of digitization, offering opportunities for enhanced connectivity and efficiency while posing challenges to privacy, security, and democratic integrity. Technological citizenship is explored through the lenses of liberal, communitarian, and republican theories, highlighting the active roles of citizens in navigating the opportunities and risks presented by digital technologies across all life spheres. By operationalizing technological citizenship, the article aims to address the gap in existing literature on the active roles of citizens in the governance of digitization. The framework emphasizes empowerment and resilience as crucial capacities for citizens to actively engage with and govern digital technologies. It illuminates citizens’ active participation in shaping the digital landscape, advocating for policies that support their engagement in safeguarding private, social, and public values in the digital age. The study calls for further research into technological citizenship, emphasizing its significance in fostering a more inclusive and equitable digital society.

Study on Common Mental Disorders (CMD) in medical residents victims of aggressions in the Medical Residency Program in the state of Paraná

Medical residency entails supervised on-the-job training, where the dual role of worker and learner subjects’ residents to constant internal tension, potentially triggering common mental disorders (CMD). This cross-sectional, quantitative study involved 165 medical residents, administering three simultaneous virtual questionnaires on sociodemographic data, aggressions, abuse, mistreatment, and CMD. A significance level of 5% was utilized. Among residents frequently subjected to aggression, abuse, and mistreatment, 89.23% were classified as possible CMD cases (p &lt; 0.001). Preceptors and supervisors were the most reported aggressors (66.15%). "Depreciation or humiliation" (p = 0.018), "assignment of punitive rather than educational tasks" (p = 0.022), and "threat of harm" (p = 0.008) were the most associated frequent aggression modalities with the classification of possible CMD cases. Imbalance among emotional, mental, and social spheres is linked to poor technical performance and inefficiency in patient relations.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and medical misinformation: lessons to be learned from the COVID-19 infodemic

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a multifactorial condition for which there is no known aetiology. The lack of evidence base surrounding the aetiology of IBS coupled with the variety of management tools employed by affected patients has meant that the condition has been an increased topic of interest amongst “patient influencers”. While there is a notable value to such influencers on social media in terms of peer-to-peer support and fostering discussions of lived experiences with an affected community, concerns remain over the quality and accuracy of information being shared. Medical misinformation poses a new global health threat; medical professionals remain powerless to filter through what has been dubbed by some as “misinformation mayhem”. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant gaps in health literacy and a lack of trust in the medical and political systems that were responsible for communicating health information. This literature review outlines the missed opportunities for counteracting medical misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies the ways in which these lessons could be applied to future communication and interaction with IBS (mis)information within the social media sphere.

Public deliberation and the justification of public service media

ABSTRACT Any debate about the future of public media must include the public, but how the public is engaged matters. While public input is elicited by those making governance decisions about public service media, the methods of public engagement used tend to be non-deliberative and so do not provide opportunities for members of the public to discuss and reflect on relevant issues together. We argue that public deliberation is necessary to facilitate a collective public voice that can better justify governance decisions about public service media. To illustrate our argument, we analyse public discussions within an online deliberative assembly about the future of the public service media in the UK. We show not only how assembly participants reflected on and evaluated justifications of public service media in diverse ways, but also the role deliberation played in weeding out unjustifiable claims and facilitating a form of mutual justification among a heterogeneous public.

The Intersection of ‘Hindu’, ‘Independence,’ and ‘Sovereignty’ in the Nepali Public Discourse of the 1920s

This study analyzes the public discourse on Nepal around the 1923 treaty which rested on its central theme of reassuring Nepal’s independence and sovereignty in the comity of nation-states, studying Nepali national imaginative elements of statehood that unravels intricacies of history for the present discourse of Nepali state in a substantial way. The aim is to unpack the treaty’s reception and assess its consequences in shaping Nepali ‘state’ discourse, shedding fresh light on a historical event that has remained largely understudied. Once a treaty is signed, it becomes public property, capable of igniting change in the behavior of the signing nations or the lives of their citizens, or both. Examining how such changes manifested in the public discourse in Nepal and beyond after the 1923 treaty provides valuable insights into the formative democratic space in the country. For this, it employs a triangulation of primary sources from Nepal's domestic discourse as chronicled in the Gorkhapatra. The second set of data is drawn from the sporadic and emergent Nepali media landscape of the 1920s, primarily based in India. Furthermore, a third set of sources is assembled from English-language newspapers from India and the United Kingdom that reported on the 1923 treaty as it unfolded. This approach, hitherto unapplied in the study of this treaty, provides a comprehensive understanding of the public discourse surrounding it.

The relationship between knowledge accumulation and gender norms

Gender norms, encompassing social and cultural attitudes that dictate suitable behaviors for women and men, are pivotal in shaping societal dynamics. This paper explores the intricate relationship between knowledge accumulation, as reflected in a nation’s economic complexity, and its gender norms. Drawing on the revealed preferences of a substantial cohort, totaling 64,954 individuals from up to 49 countries, and their respective countries’ economic complexity indices, we uncover a non-trivial relationship. At lower levels of economic complexity, there exists an inverse correlation between less rigid gender norms and technological sophistication. This suggests that the initial stages of knowledge accumulation coincide with inflexible gender norms, particularly regarding women’s roles within households. However, as economic complexity surpasses a certain threshold, this correlation reverses. Further knowledge accumulation aligns with more adaptable gender norms, indicating a shift towards less rigidity, especially concerning women’s roles in the public sphere. These findings underline the connection between economic development and shifting gender norms. Notably, while economic complexity catalyzes a transition towards less rigid norms regarding women’s household roles at lower stages, it is only at a certain threshold that significant changes in norms pertaining to women’s public roles become evident. This study contributes to understanding the evolution of gender norms in the context of economic development. By shedding light on the intricate dynamics between knowledge accumulation and gender norms, it emphasizes the significance of considering socioeconomic factors in addressing gender norms. Findings have implications for policymakers and stakeholders offering valuable insights into the mechanisms driving societal change.

Considering the nocebo effect in the psychedelic discourse

AbstractThis commentary addresses the potential for a nocebo effect arising from the public discourse on psychedelics, especially considering the increasing interest and engagement with these substances. The resurgence of psychedelics in the public and scientific arenas has led to a proliferation of discussions, both positive and cautionary, about their use. However, an imbalance in this discourse, particularly a focus on potential harms without adequate contextualisation, might inadvertently create a nocebo effect. This effect could manifest in naturalistic settings, influencing individuals' experiences with psychedelics, possibly leading to adverse outcomes. The paper discusses the importance of a balanced narrative that equally acknowledges the benefits and risks associated with psychedelic use. It advocates for comprehensive and transparent information dissemination to enable informed decision-making by users.

“In Bitcoin We Trust": An Anthropological Approach to Bitcoin as Algorithmic Utopia

The aim of this paper is to contextualize briefly the emergence and development of Bitcoin as well as to offer an anthropological analysis of one such "algorithmic utopia" known as Bitcoin. Bitcoin was officially "born" in 2009. Its foundation was laid by the so-called white paper titled "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System" (2008), authored by Satoshi Nakamoto, a pseudonym for an individual or a group of individuals. In essence, the intention of its creator (or creators) was to solve the technical problem of so-called double-spending of money, aiming to avoid reliance on a third party or institution (such as a bank) and the consequent loss of privacy for its users, with the help of an algorithm called blockchain. Although Bitcoin can be viewed in continuity with movements such as crypto-anarchism and cypherpunk, whose roots trace back to the 1980s of the twentieth century, and although it is not the first cryptocurrency nor the first alternative to fiat money, Bitcoin is indeed the first cryptocurrency to have attracted broader attention in both public and academic discourse. This paper will shed light on the context in which Bitcoin was born and popularized, and will endeavor to defend the assumption that the popular imagination behind the Bitcoin currency is technoutopian. Finally, this paper will seek to demonstrate that the algorithm at the very core of Bitcoin is perceived not only as the fulfillment of an Enlightenment dream of a method itself as a non-cultural and supra-historical guarantor of objectivity (as the one) removed from politics, economy and ideology but also as a democratization method applicable to them all. Apart from the mentioned above, the paper concludes that Bitcoin is seen as the fulfillment of a modernist dream of efficient, formal, predictable, depersonalized bureaucracies in the context of the diminished legitimacy of centralized, hierarchically structured, sluggish, fallible, and abuse-prone economic and state institutions. The focus of trust shifts to technology: to an algorithm seen as self-regulating, efficient, free from ideology, subjective interests, and potential abuse, almost divinely infallible, decentralized, and democratic system that provides a group of individuals not only with the necessary tools to achieve their freedom and privacy, deprived from control and regulations, but also as a tool for reforming the political and economic system.

AI Powered Sign Language Translator

The purpose of this effort is to promote equitable environments and allow people with hearing disabilities to communicate in their native language by proposing an AI-based sign language translator. We used a transformer neural network, which can analyze over 500 data points from a person's face and gestures, to translate sign language into text. The translator can expand, produce new datasets, and build models for sign language recognition thanks to our machine learning process. As a proof of concept, we developed an interpreter for emergency calls using more than 200 sign language words. The main goal is to empower people who are deaf to participate in social, political, economic, and cultural spheres of life. We see a lot of people with illnesses, including blindness, deafness, and dumbness, every day. They have trouble interacting with other people. The suggested method can translate sign language into text and voice since this study describes two-way communication between deaf, dumb, and normal individuals. Key Words: Sign Language, Inclusion, Social Development, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning.

From restoration to social media: exploring the nexus of architecture, social media and information sharing behaviours

PurposeThis study aims to explore the impact of architecture on digital communication mediums, focusing on how social media shapes the public perception and discussion of architectural spaces. It specifically examines the case of the Basilica Cistern/Istanbul, analysing social media interactions post-restoration.Design/methodology/approachUsing newspaper archive scanning and survey technique, this study observed public content on Instagram focusing on the post-restoration period of the Basilica Cistern. 406 (283 valid) people who visited the Cistern and shared their experiences on Instagram between August 2022 and January 2023 participated in a survey. The analysis utilized Python for advanced correlation studies, enabling an in-depth exploration of the interplay between architectural features and social media sharing behaviours.FindingsThe analysis revealed that historical significance, lighting elements, role as a photographic backdrop significantly influenced sharing behaviours. Correlations were found between specific spatial features of the cistern and various sharing motivations, such as communication with people, personal gain, and popularity. The study highlights a diverse spectrum of motivations among users, emphasizing the relationship between these motivations and spatial features.Research limitations/implicationsThis study underscores the necessity for further inquiry into the intricate dynamics among digital communication, architectural spaces, and user motivations. Limitations include potential challenges in gathering data from social media due to concerns of cyber fraud and the misuse of hashtags.Originality/valueThis research offers novel insights into the interplay between digital communication and architecture. It underscores the potential of digital platforms as valuable data sources for architectural theorizing and practice, particularly in understanding how restorations and architectural changes are perceived and discussed in the digital space.

Interplay of Corporate Sector, Politics, and Media in Shaping News Contents in Nepal

This paper examines the intricate implications arising from the symbiotic relationship among the corporate sector, politics, and media in shaping news content in Nepal. This study analyzes the dynamics and interplay between politics, corporate sectors and the influence they can have on the media content largely within the privately run for-profit media outlets in Nepal. The theoretical foundation for this study has been rooted in Habermas’ public sphere model of mass media (1989). The study revealed that vested corporate and political interests are hugely influential both in shaping the opinion and performance of the news media. Besides, the corporate influence, the ideological division of media outlets and journalists not only raises ethical concerns but also the quality of discourse. Taken together, they only undermine the very credibility of the media institutions which does not allow them to become what Habermas calls the public sphere.

Dynamics of English gratitude expression: a corpus-assisted analysis of UK government COVID-19 briefings

Abstract With a focus on politicians’ and medical experts’ gratitude expressions in UK government COVID-19 briefings, this research describes how perspective and intensity were modulated in expressing gratitude to realise different pragmatic intentions. This corpus-assisted analysis finds that retrospective or prospective gratitude expression was adopted by the two British elite groups to build solidarity (encouraging) and/or make requests (directing) for protecting public health. Gratitude of varying intensities was expressed (e.g. by highlighting metaphorical dimensions such as WIDTH and DEPTH) to correspond to the importance of a benefit (judged by how much the given benefit matches the receiver’s needs and preferences) and/or to implicitly display the evaluation of the benefactor’s responsibility and efforts. We tentatively formulate a dynamic model of gratitude expression in public discourse and shed light on the metaphorical conceptualisation of English gratitude expression and the power of gratitude expression in boosting social cohesion and directing social actions in a discourse of crisis.

Are professional forecasters inattentive to public discussions about inflation? The case of Argentina

AbstractWe evaluate whether professional forecasters incorporate valuable information from public discussions on social media. The study covers the case of inflation in Argentina for the period 2016–2022. We find solid evidence consistent with inattention. A simple indicator of attention to inflation on social media is shown to anticipate professional forecast errors. A one standard deviation increment in the indicator is followed by a rise of 0.4% in mean forecast errors in the subsequent month and by a cumulative increment of 0.7% over the next 6 months. Furthermore, social media content anticipates significant revisions in forecasts that target multiple months ahead inflation and calendar year inflation. These findings are different from previously documented forms of inattention. Consistent results are verified by implementing out‐of‐sample forecasts and using content from an alternative social network. The study has implications for the use of professional forecasts in the context of policymaking and sheds new evidence on the nature of imperfect information in macroeconomics.

Is the Productivity of Faculty Members Sustainable? The Perspective of Faculty Members

In the global economic landscape, a nation’s ability to secure a prominent position is intricately linked to its capacity for knowledge augmentation and technological innovation. This correlation underscores the pivotal role of universities and academicians, whose importance directly reflects a country’s level of development. The effectual execution of educational, research, and innovative pursuits within university settings necessitates the presence of qualified, productive, and dedicated academicians. As key contributors to academic, social, and humanitarian spheres, academicians bear responsibilities spanning research, teaching, societal enlightenment, and problem solving within higher education. The scholarly productivity of researchers is commonly gauged through metrics involving scientific publications and academic engagements. Notably, in many countries, advancements and appointments within academic institutions are contingent on the demonstrated productivity of academicians. Aligning with this global trend, Turkey accordingly structures its promotion and appointment procedures within academia. This study aims to ascertain faculty members’ perspectives regarding academic productivity after their associate professors’ and professors’ appointments in Turkey. Furthermore, we endeavor to identify the underlying factors contributing to this decline and increase academic productivity. Our findings emphasize the intricate interplay of various factors influencing academic productivity and sustainability. These include the significance of institutional support, economic stability, intrinsic motivation, and challenges such as bureaucratic processes and gender-related issues, which collectively shape the academic landscape and faculty members’ ability to produce impactful research over time. The research study group comprised 20 faculty members working at a public University in Turkey in the 2022–2023 academic year. This study was prepared using a qualitative research model. This study used the interview technique, one of the data collection techniques used in process-based evaluation applications. Furthermore, the obtained data were analyzed using the content analysis technique used in qualitative research methods.

The Realities of Stranger Danger across Violent Crimes

ABSTRACT Few crimes induce greater fear and anxiety than stranger-perpetrated violence. Although these crimes are less frequent than family or acquaintance violence, stranger-perpetrated violence encompasses much of the public discourse. The focus of this study is to understand the association between stranger, family, and acquaintance relationships across different types of violence. Utilizing data from the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates in the United States, this study examines the association between perpetrator-victim relationships across homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and felony assault. The findings reveal most types of violence are perpetrated by family and acquaintances, not strangers.

Men’s Violence against Women as Portrayed in the Swedish Media: The Construction of Victimhood and the Role of the Perpetrator

Men’s violence against women is an international problem and while global and national initiatives have been created to better the criminalization process, the influence of news reporting on violence against women has not been successfully addressed in such policy. The aim of this study is to contribute to understanding how media frames violence against women in the Swedish context, which is both highly protective of crime reporting and where violence against women is a central policy and public discussion issue. A mixed methods approach was used in the analysis of 295 digital news articles that were published by four media outlets (Aftonbladet, Expressen, Svenska Dagbladet and Dagens Nyheter) within the period January 1st, 2019–December 31st, 2021. The study found that digital news articles first frame the issue of violence against women as episodic, but later transform into a thematic frame when follow-up articles were written on a given case. The study found a construction of victimhood by Swedish news media that allowed for two victim personas to be identified: the ideal victim and the ideal minority victim. In connection with the portrayal of the victim, the study also identified two different portrayals of the perpetrator: the ideal foreign perpetrator and the Swedish perpetrator. Both the description of the victim and perpetrator allowed for insights to be made regarding the role of racialization in news reporting and how this effects the framing of social issues. Finally, the study presented a set of news values that were most frequently found in articles that reveal several news factors of violence against women that contribute to the topic being seen as newsworthy.

Exploring public voice on social media: Twitter Users' views on the circular economy

AbstractThis paper aims to explore all the ideas and topics associated with the discussion about the circular economy on social media sites. All tweets mentioning the CE were collected and subjected to latent Dirichlet allocation topic modelling to identify discussion themes manual validation refined topic coherence. Findings offer novel empirical insights into how the CE is currently framed in public discourse. Dominant themes emphasise strategic communication and technical CE activities rather than inclusive participation. Gaps were also identified, such as limited discussion of CE's social role and broader activities beyond recycling. By quantitatively examining large‐scale online discussions, this research makes an original contribution to establishing the neglected social dimension of CE transitions. The findings carry essential theoretical implications for refining CE conceptualisations better to integrate socio‐cultural factors critical for just, systemic change. Practically, the study equips decision‐makers with data‐driven guidance on developing more participatory communication approaches and policies promoting the CE. This study transitions research and advances the scholarship of the circular economy by using a mixed‐methods approach to analyse a crucial but little‐studied stakeholder perspective.