Information Science

http://andrew‐long.name@socialspace

Who needs friends when you can have

followers?

“The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis"

http://xav‐drawordie.deviantart.com/

“You bought me a present? Why would you do such a thing? I know you think you're being generous, but the foundation of gift giving is reciprocity.”

-- Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory, season 2, episode 11

“The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis"

http://xav‐drawordie.deviantart.com/

“You haven't given me a gift. You've given me an obligation.”

-- Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory, season 2, episode 11

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

There is no explicit support for reciprocity on Twitter.

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

Ties are directed; formation can be easy, organic, ad hoc and intimate (see ambient intimacy), but not necessarily reciprocal.

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

Friendship is reciprocal. Maintaining good relations over time, requires mutually beneficial exchanges and effort.

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

Embedded in these exchanges is a sense of obligation, in which participants can feel compelled to reciprocate, in kind.

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

Friendship also requires consent (amongst other things) from both parties to establish a potentially long lasting bond .

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

Twitter does not require consent nor reciprocity in order to play an active part in others’ lives.

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

Therefore, any sense of obligation is removed as a consequence.

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

If this is true, then why are people prepared to help others on Twitter, when their only connection is to follow them?

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

One answer I would like to suggest is that, it is the interwoven narratives that Twitter users share overtime.

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

People are motivated to help those to whom they feel apart of their stories, as they unfold in real-time.

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

The nowness creates a sense of urgency, inspiring action and providing social capital where only the weakest ties exist.

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

The point being, that the benefits of friendship can still be had with out the burden of reciprocity and therefore, obligation.

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

Is Twitter stripping friendship to its essentials, like its done to mediated communication?

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

I’m not sure, but I think it might be an interesting phenomenon to follow.

socialspace

five hours ago from New Zealand

Thanks to Erika for showing the slides, danah and Stephanie for doing their thing, and to all of you for bearing with me.