On Reading and Creating Digital/Social Media

In an increasingly digital world, digital and social media are becoming some of the most accessible and readily shared forms of media. Additionally, they can take on all different forms and purposes, with everything from informational or promotional to documentary or entertaining. The following questions can facilitate intentional and informed reading or creation of digital and social media. 

What is the platform used to share this piece of media?

Digital and social media can be shared on a variety of platforms, including different social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), websites, apps, or other platforms. The location a specific piece of media was created for might relate to the purpose of its creation, and might also reveal what the creator hopes it will accomplish. It also impacts who the intended audience might be, depending on who would me most likely to consume the piece of media. 

What is the intention behind this media? Why was it shared/created?

Was the creator simply using this media to document their own life? Are they being comedic, providing social commentary, sharing their opinion, etc.? Were they advertising or promoting something? Is the media intended to be presentational and consumed, or is it more documentary? Who did they hope would consume this piece? The intention behind the creation might inform the intended audience, the message being portrayed, and the focus of the media. This intentionality is especially important with digital and social media, as it is often widespread, easily accessible, and meant to facilitate connection or conversation. 

What types of media are used? Why?

Digital and social media can consist of several different media, including photographs, digital art, words, video, and audio, and might consist of only one medium or multiple media. What the piece is made of can inform its purpose as well as its ambiguity. For example, a documentary video or a photo with a detailed caption might be more explicit in its purpose than a single abstract or caption-less photo. Similarly, a podcast and a video might have different intended audiences and different elements of ambiguity. The relationship between written text (or lack thereof) and photos, videos, or audio in digital and social media is also worth analysis. 

Who is the creator of the piece?

Because digital and social media is accessible to and created by nearly everyone, some understanding of the creator of a work can be beneficial. Especially in social media, where much of the purpose is to either document one’s life, to share one’s thoughts, to promote a product/service, etc., understanding the creator’s background, experience, and intention can inform a reading of their digital and social media.