Power Plays on Social Media. (29th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hermida, Alfred
• Is Part Of: Social media + society. Volume 1:Number 1(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-04-29
• Subjects: activism -- journalism -- social media -- Twitter; Social media -- Periodicals; Social media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 302.231
• DOI: 10.1177/2056305115580340
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-3051

Abstract

Authority and influence are negotiated through the interactions taking place in the sociotechnical architectures of social media. Established elites transfer their institutional power to social media. But they operate alongside emergent, networked-sourced nodes of influence as ad hoc publics elevate certain actors on specific issues at specific times, within specific contexts and domains. A greater understanding of what forms of power play out on social media is essential to illuminating processes of networked gatekeeping, networked framing, and networked sourcing.