Designing for Civic Paralysis
I began investigating the contemporary state of civic engagement through reflection of my frustration. This frustration being a mental battle with complacent news consumption. I am appalled by the tragic disconnect that lies between daily news consumption and the blank canvas where actionable channels should be. Being aware and recycling political issues on a news feed does not amount to change. Change is the foundation of a healthy democracy keeping up with the momentum of the world. By becoming allured in complacent apatheticism we should then succumb to our greatest fear. We should realize the acceptance of certain political oblivion results in tyranny, not democracy. There is no space within democracy for complacent apatheticism.
What if Facebook had more transparent engagement tools?
We need to move past endless sharing and commenting just for the acknowledgment. Facebook’s News Feed has the potential to surface action. Of which could lead to increased civic engagement. As a designer I decided to approach Facebook with my civic principles and test what they would look like implemented. I placed existing group and message elements top right, restructuring them to alter behavior of feed consumption.
Why: Alter the behavior of the News Feed to promote action.
How: By changing the information hierarchy.
What: Placing links and iconography at the top.
$$$: Increased revenue from Groups and Messaging sidebar advertisements.
Civic Engagement is democracy’s ask to us to introspect. To peel back the moral astigmatism we cradle a selfish comfort of political stagnancy in. True democracy requires an ambitious efficacy to always question the state of our communities. But to change a community requires an armor of integrity cast in courage. This ability to make change flows from our worldly compassion and empathy for others. This understanding requires us to become uncomfortable, vulnerable, and transparent. But this discomfort is irrational. We need let go of fear and accept that acting out of courage is at the heart of what democracy asks of us.
What if News Platforms were Conduits of Action?
Why can’t our news platforms play a more assertive role in promoting civic action. What if the channels could be deployed alongside articles of pressing political issues? What if these action channels were near headlines and opening statements? This led me to investigate not just Facebook, but the various news sources themselves. I placed a petition form alongside the article to lower the barrier of civic engagement.
Why: Alter the behavior of article consumption to promote action.
How: Surfacing Economist sponsored petitions
What: Placing a petition sign up form.
$$$: Increased revenue from groups promoting petitions and site traffic.
What if news articles promoted active civic engagement?
For my third and final investigation, I reimagine The Atlantic as a civic promoter. I inserted a Facebook Event for a rally into the header image of an article. I want to elicit a reaction lowering the barrier for us to engage in the public sphere.
Why: Alter the behavior of article consumption to promote action.
How: Placing an action channel within the article.
What: Embedding Atlantic sponsored Facebook Events into the hero image.
$$$: Increased revenue from selling merchandise at protests and site traffic.
Mesmerization by endless digital obfuscation and sheer abstraction of political issues leads to nothing. We are nothing short than engulfed in this hideous monstrosity. What I asked is, how can I as a designer, throw life vests out to those who are sinking in a system that affords loss? These designs represent a way get out of the cold depths of complacent apatheticism, leading us towards the surface of change.
Questions [?] concerns [!] or ideas [$] please comment and share [❤] :]
