Midterm

Claire Lacy
Digital Media & Society Spring 2020
10 min readMar 9, 2020

In simple terms, the word “flow” refers to “the exchange of information” (Braman, 2016, p. 119). However, certain historical uses of the word are completely unrelated to this definition. In Sandra Braman’s (2016) essay on the word, she mentions the Greek phrase, “panta rhei” which means “everything flows” (p. 118). This phrase is credited to Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher who died in 475 B.C. (Panta rei everything is changing!). Another phrase that Braman (2016) mentions is “go with the flow” — something that has almost nothing to do with information (p. 118). Generally, it just means to “roll with the punches”, or to just let things happen as they may. Of course, these uses of the word do not have much to do, specifically, with digital media alone. However, certain ways that the word was developed historically show how it may have come to be associated with information, which is essential to digital media.

Braman (2016) wrote that flow’s association with electronics began “at least as early as the 1880s, when mathematicians started looking at unidirectional flows of electricity and magnetism through wires” (p. 119). She also mentioned the work that flow had in Claude Shannon’s creation of the information theory (Braman, p. 119, 2016). He was seeking to “maximize the flow of voice telephone conversations” (Braman, p. 119, 2016). However, the word has been used separately from popular phrases, electronics, and information as well. For instance, flow is also a psychological term meaning to be “completely immersed in an activity” (Cherry, 2019). The psychologist, Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, noted factors that are associated with the flow state, one of them being “timelessness; a distorted sense of time; feeling so focused on the present that you lose track of time passing” (Cherry, 2019). While it is easy to see how this factor can be related to phrases like “go with the flow”, it is challenging to see its similarity to the simple definition of “the exchange of information” (Braman, 2016, p. 119). However, perhaps in a way, information’s constant flowing is a reflection of timelessness. There is no end to the flow of information in digital media and more and more of it continues to become available.

Another factor that Csíkszentmihályi associates with the flow state is “feelings of personal control over the situation and the outcome” (Cherry, 2019). When viewed by itself, the word “control” is almost a complete opposite of “going with the flow”, despite the fact that it is associated with the psychological state of flow. Furthermore, the concept of control can be related to one’s desire to shape their identity through certain flows of information. Alice E. Marwick (2013) noted that Anthony Giddens’s concept that identity is a project refers to how “people construct their identities through the media they consume, the clothes they wear, how they adorn themselves, and even how they transform their bodies through exercise or plastic surgery” (p. 356). When one takes this type of control over themselves, they are essentially trying to shape their identity through certain flows of information that can be perceived through factors such as one’s physical appearance.

Relating more specifically to online identity, Marwick (2013) mentioned how the idea that “new media would fundamentally change the way people thought about identity” was ultimately proven wrong (p. 357). The first reason for this was that many chose “relatively similar online personas” to their offline personas (Marwick, 2013, p. 357). Secondly, oppression still existed online (Marwick, 2013, p. 357). Finally, there was “an impetus to adhere to a single fixed identity” (Marwick, 2013, p. 357). Therefore, flows of information relating to identity were not really impacted as a result of being moved online. Braman (2016) wrote that flow is “something of which it is useful for us all to be aware — and self-aware, when we are examining the systems of which we ourselves are a part via our participation in their flows” (p. 125). Therefore, when examining the online networks that are used for identity presentation, flow has to be considered. The impacts or lack thereof that different online platforms have on the presentation of identity can be seen through the type of information that one allows to flow.

Other than through one’s presentation of their identity, flow can also be examined through broader concepts, such as the public sphere. Christian Fuchs (2014) argued that social media does not allow for a public sphere because “there is an antagonism between civil society’s interest to hold the powerful accountable and protect communications from powerful institutions’ access on the one side and on the other side power holders’ interest to keep power structures secret and to criminalise the leaking and making-public of any data about them.” A recent example of this concept was discussed in an article by Jill Lepore (2020) from The New Yorker. She mentioned how fake social media accounts have been created by Russians in an attempt to have political influence during the primaries (Lepore, 2020). This is a critical time for political discussion in America and tactics such as this completely diminish social media as a public sphere. Clearly, when political misinformation is flowing through social media, it can not be considered to be a public sphere. Thus, flow’s role in the public sphere is that depending on what type of information it allows for, it can either establish or diminish social media as a public sphere.

Flow’s contribution to the public sphere supports Braman’s (2016) statement that flow “is essential to the existence of systems” (p. 119). Furthermore, flow is a factor that allows surveillance capitalism to exist. In John Naughton’s (2018) article, he discusses how users essentially “pay” for certain services with their information. Despite the privacy concerns that can come from this, people are still willing to partake. In Naughton’s (2018) words, “we’re too hooked to care.” Naughton (2018) brings up this “addiction” to smartphones and social media throughout his article. Despite the recognition of this addiction, there is a “passive acceptance” of it from users as well (Naughton, 2018). In Braman’s (2016) reading, she essentially noted that users of flow “strengthen the system those flows enable and sustain” (p. 126). Therefore, the unhealthy dependence on information technologies allows them to still have power.

It is the flows of information that users are fascinated by that allow such technologies to profit off of data. Regarding technology addiction, a recent article from Vice discussed a former videogame addict. An interesting idea from this article is that “ease of access has spurred gaming disorder’s rise and relevance” (Bassil, 2020). Meaning, technological advancements (e.g. videogames that are accessible on smartphones) have made it easier for gamers to become addicted. This is another example of dependence on digital flow. As with every other concept in digital media, flow is not inherently good or bad. However, it is when addiction is formed that precautions should be taken about how one engages with flow.

In addition to playing a role in technology addiction, flow can also be examined in certain instances of abuses of power. An article from Fox News discussed what a senator had to say about China’s use of flow regarding coronavirus (Garcia, 2020). Senator Tom Cotton essentially expressed his skepticism about information that the United States has been receiving about coronavirus from China (Garcia, 2020). According to the article, China had recently provided information about new coronavirus cases (Garcia, 2020). Cotton said, however, that those cases were not new, but that “‘those are newly disclosed cases because China is carefully managing the flow of information about this virus’” (Garcia, 2020). In this example, flow is still referred to as simply “the exchange of information” (Braman, 2016, p. 119). Flow was also used in another news article relating to coronavirus titled, “How the coronavirus is testing social media’s efforts to stem the flow of fake news amid global public health crisis” (Feng & Qu, 2020). This piece essentially discusses certain ways that social media platforms have been combatting the spread of fake news about coronavirus (Feng & Qu, 2020). Again, flow is used as “the exchange of information” (Braman, 2016, p. 119).

The use of the word flow in the aforementioned recent news articles does not differ from the simple definition that I started out with. However, the simple definition has been proven to be much more complex than it appears. Because information is so basic to every digital media concept, so is flow. Regarding online identity, the information about oneself that they allow to flow through digital media was proven to be similar to that that they allow to flow in real life. In relation to the public sphere, the type of political information (e.g. misinformation) that is being flowed determines whether or not social media is a public sphere. Finally, flow permits surveillance capitalism. Individuals have an addiction to information, and as it is flowed through digital devices, users allow their own information to flow as well.

In Tarleton Gillespie’s (2010) article, he examines one word relating to digital media: “platforms.” He discusses how certain companies use this word to their advantage to “frame their services and technologies” (Gillespie, 2010, p. 348). Because platform is a simple term, perhaps it is easy for people to be tricked by the use of the word. Similarly, not only is flow a basic word, but it has a very basic definition. Nevertheless, as proven with its relations to other concepts in digital media, flow is much more complex than its definition. For instance, if one were to say, “the flow of information about Trump’s actions on coronavirus is establishing social media as a public sphere right now,” one may automatically assume that the information being flowed is all true. However, if there is misinformation being flowed, which there often is, the public sphere is diminished. It is not enough to view flow as just the “exchange of information” without considering the type of information it allows for as well (Braman, 2016, p. 119). Therefore, flow emphasizes that there is a movement of information, but it obscures the details about that information.

There could be some improvement in the use of the word flow today as it was seen in the aforementioned examples of it in the news. The Fox News article titled, “Sen. Cotton on coronavirus: ‘China is carefully managing the flow of information’”, uses the word as part of a quote from a senator. However, that quote when taken by itself does not account for what the “managing” of that “flow of information” means (Garcia, 2020). Perhaps a better title could have been something like: “Sen. Cotton on the questionable flow of coronavirus information from China.” Furthermore, the article titled “How the coronavirus is testing social media’s efforts to stem the flow of fake news amid global public health crisis”, does not really do justice to the word flow either (Feng & Qu, 2020). It should include more information about the impact of the flow of fake news in its title.

After seeing just a few of the complexities of flow, I have my own definition of the keyword: the movement of information that determines the other features of the systems it is a part of. Flow is something that can be seen essentially anywhere that information is. Without flow, there would be no receiving of information. Flow is unavoidable in all aspects of society. Even something as simple as what one wears to a job interview presents a flow of information relating to how serious they are about the position they are interviewing for. It can also be extremely complex. Even before digital media, there were encyclopedias with unbelievable amounts of information that did not flow until there was someone there to read them. It is not difficult to see how the word has become so associated with digital media. In our modern world of constant information, its movement is just as important to consider as the information itself. For instance, breaking news stories can reach millions almost instantaneously, but this quick flow of information is often not focused on.

Notes

Bassil, R. (2020, February 12). By 19, I Was Addicted to Gaming. This Is How It Ruined My Life. Vice. https://www.vice.com/en_in/article/93934d/compulsive-gaming-addiction-video-gamer-treatment-prevention

Braman, S. (2016). Flow. In B. Peters (Ed.), Digital Keywords: A Vocabulary of Information Society & Culture (pp. 118–131). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Cherry, K. (2019, August 8). ‘Flow’ Can Help You Achieve Goals. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-flow-2794768

Feng, C. & Qu, T. (2020, March 5). How the coronavirus is testing social media’s efforts to stem the flow of fake news amid global public health crisis. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/tech/apps-social/article/3065103/how-coronavirus-testing-social-medias-efforts-stem-flow-fake-news

Fuchs, C. (2014). Social Media and the Public Sphere. triple, 12(1), 57–101.

Garcia, V. (2020, February 22). Sen. Cotton on coronavirus: ‘China is carefully managing the flow of information’. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/media/sen-cotton-on-coronavirus-china-is-carefully-managing-the-flow-of-information

Gillespie, T. (2010). The politics of ‘platforms’. new media & society, 12(3), 347–364. doi.org/10.1177/1461444809342738

Lepore, J. (2020, March 1). The Problems Inherent in Political Polling. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/03/09/the-problems-inherent-in-political-polling

Marwick, A. E. (2013). Online Identity. In J. Hartley et al. (Eds.), A Companion to New Media Dynamics (pp. 355–364). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Naughton, J. (2018, January 19). The new surveillance capitalism. Prospect. https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/how-the-internet-controls-you

Panta rei everything is changing! Panta Rei. http://pantarei.org/about/

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Digital Media & Society Spring 2020
Digital Media & Society Spring 2020

Published in Digital Media & Society Spring 2020

Class page for Digital Media & Society Spring 2020 at Rutgers University

Claire Lacy
Claire Lacy

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