Reimagining Internet Geographies: A User-Centric Ethnological Mapping of the World Wide Web

Angela Xiao Wu; Harsh Taneja

doi:10.1111/jcc4.12157

Reimagining Internet Geographies: A User-Centric Ethnological Mapping of the World Wide Web

Angela Xiao Wu, Harsh Taneja

Media, Culture & Communication

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We propose a new user-centric imagery of the WWW that foregrounds local usage and its shaping forces, in contrast to existing imageries that prioritize Internet infrastructure. We construct ethnological maps of WWW usage through a network analysis of shared global traffic between 1000 most popular websites at 3 time points and develop granular measures for exploring global participation in online communication. Our results reveal the significant growth and thickening of online regional cultures associated with the global South. We draw attention to how local cultural identity, affirmative state intervention and economic contexts shape regional cultures on the global WWW.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	230-246
Number of pages	17
Journal	Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication
Volume	21
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jcc4.12157
State	Published - May 1 2016

Keywords

Cross-cultural Comparison
Internet Studies
Media Choice
Network Analysis
Regional Cultures
Web Use

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Computer Science Applications
Computer Networks and Communications

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10.1111/jcc4.12157

Cite this

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abstract = "We propose a new user-centric imagery of the WWW that foregrounds local usage and its shaping forces, in contrast to existing imageries that prioritize Internet infrastructure. We construct ethnological maps of WWW usage through a network analysis of shared global traffic between 1000 most popular websites at 3 time points and develop granular measures for exploring global participation in online communication. Our results reveal the significant growth and thickening of online regional cultures associated with the global South. We draw attention to how local cultural identity, affirmative state intervention and economic contexts shape regional cultures on the global WWW.",

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Reimagining Internet Geographies: A User-Centric Ethnological Mapping of the World Wide Web

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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