Writing on the Wall: An Online "Community" of YouTube Patrons as Communication Network or Cyber-Graffiti?

Abstract

Scholars continue to debate the social functions of YouTube as an online platform, some pointing to emergence of community [21] while others describing it as an asocial extension of a television screen [7]. This paper argues for three types of participation online: passive, active and interactive. Focusing on one particular YouTube site, the authors engage in a multi-method exploration of the content of communication (using thematic analysis) as well as interaction patterns (emerging through a network analytic perspective). Results show that viewers are largely passively consuming the video content, with few participants actively engaging, and even fewer interacting with others. YouTube commenters are characterized as cyber-graffiti authors, broadcasting messages for the cyber-world at large. Implications for community and affiliation networks are discussed.