Introduction to Geomedia Studies

Fast, Karin; Jansson, André; Tesfahuney, Mekonnen; Bengtsson, Linda; Lindell, Johan

doi:10.4324/9781315410210-1

Cited by 24 publications

(42 citation statements)

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“…Lievrouw’s tension between contingency/determination thus enables one productive avenue to explore in developing deeper analyses of how geomedia are socially shaped beyond the level of design or user appropriation alone. The analysis of this article is only one step along this path; furthermore, detailed analyses of the external pressures that shape major geomedia firms are required if we are to fully understand the role and impact of these platforms in the broader geomedia and communication landscape, and the ‘complex processes and forces of coding, transcoding and decoding’ (Fast et al, 2018, p. 8) these ‘geomediatization’ processes (p. 8) involve that work to configure and reconfigure hybrid social spaces and the public that form around and through them.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our aim in this article is thus to provide a detailed (if not exhaustive) account of key factors and forces that have shaped the development and continued evolution of Yelp and Foursquare as contemporary mobile ‘geomedia’ platforms. Geomedia is a term that has come to refer to ‘the fundamental role of media in organizing and giving meaning to processes and activities in space’ (Fast, Jansson, Tesfahuney, Bengtsson, & Lindell, 2018, p. 4). For Scott McQuire (2016, pp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social shaping of mobile geomedia services: An analysis of Yelp and Foursquare

Frith

Wilken

2019

Communication and the Public

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In their book, Location-Based Social Media: Space, Time and Identity, Leighton Evans and Michael Saker remark on the apparent ‘death’ of location-based social networks, suggesting that location-based social networks can now be understood as ‘a form of “zombie-media” that animates and haunts other media platforms’. In this article, we use this perspective as a point of departure for a social shaping of technology-informed analysis of two key geomedia platforms: Yelp and Foursquare. With Yelp approaching its 15th year of service and Foursquare approaching its 10th anniversary, this article provides a timely opportunity to (re-)examine the significance of Yelp and Foursquare and the many reconfigurations both firms have made to their services since their launch. These include, most recently, Yelp’s integration of artificial intelligence/machine learning techniques to parse, sift and order users’ posts and Foursquare’s development of its Pilgrim SDK (software design kit) to power the location services of other platforms, like Tinder and Snap. A social shaping-inflected approach is productive in this context in that it stresses how many of these developments and strategic reorientations are not just in response to shareholder and investor pressures, they are also fundamentally shaped by and made in response to the fluctuating demands of end-users within a complicated, competitive and continuously evolving geomedia ecosystem. Consequently, we draw from the work of Leah A Lievrouw to examine how dual tensions of contingency/determination shape how these applications are designed and used, and how both design and use continue to evolve in response to various external pressures.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social shaping of mobile geomedia services: An analysis of Yelp and Foursquare

Frith

Wilken

2019

Communication and the Public

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“…The check-in can be understood as a part of the growing trend of geomedia over the past 10 years. We define geomedia according to Fast et al’s (2018) description as “the fundamental role of media in organizing and giving meaning to processes and activities in space” (p. 4). In the late 2000s and early 2010s, the advent of global positioning system (GPS)-enabled smartphones gave rise to a proliferation of LMSN services, including (among others) Brightkite, Whrrl, Gowalla, and, most notably, Foursquare.…”

Section: Foursquare’s Evolving Construction Of the Check-inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constructing the check-in: Reflections on photo-taking among Foursquare users

Wilken

Humphreys

2019

Communication and the Public

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In this article, we explore the social construction of geomedia in relation to mobile photo-taking. The article draws from a study of location-sensitive mobile social networking and search and recommendation service Foursquare in Melbourne and New York City. The study utilized photo elicitation techniques, with each participant asked to provide photographs they associated with their own Foursquare check-ins, accompanied by written responses to questions designed to encourage them to reflect upon their motivations for recording and uploading each image. What emerged from our analysis of how participants discussed the construction of their Foursquare check-ins, were certain consistencies with the findings of prior work on Foursquare (e.g. to register a new venue or a nice meal, as part of exercises in self-expression, and to record memory traces). Strikingly, though, we also noticed something subtly yet significantly different in relation to photo use. Many of the submitted images and accompanying explanations revealed a particular sensitivity toward the local and the familiar, and a desire to capture “a mood, a feeling”—an “ordinary affect.” In light of this, in this article we are interested in the tension that exists between designed or intended uses of Foursquare, the social appropriation and shaping that is undertaken by Foursquare’s end-users, and the technological and strategic business adjustments that are undertaken by Foursquare in response.

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“…These developments have culminated in the concept of geomedia put forward by several authors (Fast, Jansson, Lindell, Ryan Bengtsson, & Tesfahuney, 2018;Gryl & Jekel, 2012;Gryl, Jekel, & Donert, 2010;Lapenta, 2011;McQuire, 2016;Thielmann, 2010), which can be particularly useful in analysing technological developments and social behaviour. Geomedia are characterized by 'convergence, ubiquity, location-awareness and real-time feedback' (McQuire, 2016, p. 2) and stand out against an uncritical, unreflective acceptance of space as 'naturally' given.…”

Section: Manifestation 3: Liquid Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gryl and Jekel (2012) foster a critical, reflective/reflexive prosumption of geomedia and an emancipated appropriation of space through education. Fast, Jansson, Tesfahuney, Ryan Bengtsson, and Lindell (2018) draw up an inclusive understanding of geomedia that takes into consideration the growing societal influence of spatial (re)mediations and spatialized media: 'geomedia should be taken as a relational concept that captures the fundamental role of media in organizing and giving meaning to processes and activities in space,' an analysis of historical as well as present structures of digital-network technologies. This approach clearly refers to mediatization research 'to capture the complexity of what it means -for citizens, governments, businesses, societies, etc.…”

Section: Manifestation 3: Liquid Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

Geomedia: Manifestations of Power as Mediatized Communication Practices – A Foucauldian Approach

Atteneder¹

2018

giforum

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The pervasive integration of geomedia in urban societies changes the perception and appropriation of space by influencing everyday modes of connectivity while also changing manifestations of power. Geomedia and the resulting datasets thus enable new types of platform capitalism and surveillance, but also possible empowerment. At the current level of 'permanent spatial connectivity', power becomes relational and liquid, and manifests within structures ((machine learning) algorithms and codes) rather than people. (Geo)mediatization theory addresses underlying power relations critically; in this paper, it is complemented by Foucault's theories of power. His conception of power as 'fluid', diffused and disembodied is adopted as a fruitful concept in the analysis of geomedia and spatial practices within digital networks.

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Introduction to Geomedia Studies

Cited by 24 publications

References 0 publications

Social shaping of mobile geomedia services: An analysis of Yelp and Foursquare

Social shaping of mobile geomedia services: An analysis of Yelp and Foursquare

Constructing the check-in: Reflections on photo-taking among Foursquare users

Geomedia: Manifestations of Power as Mediatized Communication Practices – A Foucauldian Approach

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