Internet communities are battling over pixels
Reddit’s r/Place shows that to have a voice online, you must be part of a group ...
If Place says anything about the Internet, it’s a testament to the rising power of communities online. Since its last iteration, online platforms have experienced great fragmentation. ...
Now more users, especially younger ones, are seeking to connect with others in closed communities or online groups like Discord or a similar platform called Geneva, rather than on big, open social media sites. ...
But that trend toward groups and more contained social experiences online can also leave people craving engagement with the masses. Place has turned into Reddit’s de facto public square for the past few days, Brian Lynch, a lawyer and Reddit moderator in San Diego, said. “Even though the Internet is going through this fracturing with communities, I think that these groups are still looking for that central town hall or that central space,” he said. ...
It’s notable that Place has never been about all users working together, but more of a space for communities to exert their influence. ...
The hope of the Internet was that it would connect humanity in a way that would allow everyone to coordinate and build things at scale, but in reality, while massive networks of bubbles and groups sometimes form alliances to create, they also compete and fight. “Maybe the disappointment of the Internet is that there aren’t more examples people can point to of large-scale human coordination to create something,” Wei said. ...
Much of the imagery that emerged on Place reflects the values of the communities participating. The Ukrainian flag loomed large on the canvas throughout Saturday, as did the trans flag and various LGBT flags. People used Place to express anti-NFT sentiment; others, like Wall Street Bets, pumped meme stocks. ...
The fact that Place hasn’t been completely overrun with trolls posting hate symbols is a testament to the dedicated communities focused on keeping radicalized factions in check. ...
See the full story here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/04/reddit-place-internet-communities/
