Narratives of Change to Platform Governance on DTube, an Emerging Blockchain-Based Video-Sharing Platform
Several blockchain-based social media (BSM) platforms have emerged as alternatives to mainstream social media (MsSM) platforms in the recent past. Using blockchain architecture as a mechanism for governance and economics, these second-generation alternative social media (ASM) platforms aim to create...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Social Media + Society |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231196881 |
| _version_ | 1797678118584975360 |
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| author | Ashwin Nagappa |
| author_facet | Ashwin Nagappa |
| author_sort | Ashwin Nagappa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Several blockchain-based social media (BSM) platforms have emerged as alternatives to mainstream social media (MsSM) platforms in the recent past. Using blockchain architecture as a mechanism for governance and economics, these second-generation alternative social media (ASM) platforms aim to create social media platforms without advertising revenue or algorithmic governance. BSM platforms are relatively new and less popular than other platforms. They are, therefore, understudied in the disciplines of media studies, communication studies, platform studies, or cultural studies. This article traces changes to platform governance on DTube, a blockchain-based video-sharing platform. Using platform biography as a systematic framework and methodological approach, this article aims to understand the ever (re)configuring assemblage of technology, people, media, and economics on DTube, between 2019 and 2022. Platform governance on DTube changed from being manually driven by community members to a semi-automated process using bots. Although characteristics of blockchain technology influenced platform governance, the changes over time reiterated that user practices (not the technology itself) determined the platform’s functions. In the reconfiguration of platform governance, DTube articulated minor structures of feeling that aimed to produce an inclusive space over rapid scaling. Furthermore, it hints toward “agonistic pluralism” to govern a (transactional) community with differential ties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:55:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4f747a194ef4ab99d512744fd987b2b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-3051 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:55:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Media + Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4f747a194ef4ab99d512744fd987b2b2023-09-21T17:33:43ZengSAGE PublishingSocial Media + Society2056-30512023-09-01910.1177/20563051231196881Narratives of Change to Platform Governance on DTube, an Emerging Blockchain-Based Video-Sharing PlatformAshwin NagappaSeveral blockchain-based social media (BSM) platforms have emerged as alternatives to mainstream social media (MsSM) platforms in the recent past. Using blockchain architecture as a mechanism for governance and economics, these second-generation alternative social media (ASM) platforms aim to create social media platforms without advertising revenue or algorithmic governance. BSM platforms are relatively new and less popular than other platforms. They are, therefore, understudied in the disciplines of media studies, communication studies, platform studies, or cultural studies. This article traces changes to platform governance on DTube, a blockchain-based video-sharing platform. Using platform biography as a systematic framework and methodological approach, this article aims to understand the ever (re)configuring assemblage of technology, people, media, and economics on DTube, between 2019 and 2022. Platform governance on DTube changed from being manually driven by community members to a semi-automated process using bots. Although characteristics of blockchain technology influenced platform governance, the changes over time reiterated that user practices (not the technology itself) determined the platform’s functions. In the reconfiguration of platform governance, DTube articulated minor structures of feeling that aimed to produce an inclusive space over rapid scaling. Furthermore, it hints toward “agonistic pluralism” to govern a (transactional) community with differential ties.https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231196881 |
| spellingShingle | Ashwin Nagappa Narratives of Change to Platform Governance on DTube, an Emerging Blockchain-Based Video-Sharing Platform Social Media + Society |
| title | Narratives of Change to Platform Governance on DTube, an Emerging Blockchain-Based Video-Sharing Platform |
| title_full | Narratives of Change to Platform Governance on DTube, an Emerging Blockchain-Based Video-Sharing Platform |
| title_fullStr | Narratives of Change to Platform Governance on DTube, an Emerging Blockchain-Based Video-Sharing Platform |
| title_full_unstemmed | Narratives of Change to Platform Governance on DTube, an Emerging Blockchain-Based Video-Sharing Platform |
| title_short | Narratives of Change to Platform Governance on DTube, an Emerging Blockchain-Based Video-Sharing Platform |
| title_sort | narratives of change to platform governance on dtube an emerging blockchain based video sharing platform |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231196881 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ashwinnagappa narrativesofchangetoplatformgovernanceondtubeanemergingblockchainbasedvideosharingplatform |