Digital Civic Engagement

In the context of this reading, author Kathryn DeLuca explores the concept of Digital Civic Engagement in terms of discussion in the comments section on various pins on Pinterest. DeLuca writes how Pinterest is generally viewed as a Women's space online, and the majority of it's users are female. Pinterest is often used for sharing recipes and fashion. Some women have criticized Pinterest and have described it's nature as anti-feminist, but DeLuca argues that this social media platform can be a place of civic engagement for women online. Not only are women engaging in meaningful discussion about topics they are passionate about, but they are also curating and creating content on a daily basis. Women are creating an outline and boundaries for an online community. DeLuca writes, "Although the activities and interactions on Pinterest may be rather mundane, I see them as forms of digital civic engagement, those that engage self-representation, identity, and gender."

DeLuca explores this topic in a case study about an infographic entitled "The Life of Julia" which was originally posted as a part of Barck Obama's 2012 political campaign. The infographic was pinned by user Jane Wang, and an engaging conversation began in the comments section on the pin. Users felt very passionate about sharing both their political views, and whether or not Pinterest should be a platform for political discussion at all. DeLuca writes, "Again, these users enacted their digital citizenship and undertook civic engagements to rhetorically negotiate their communal identity by setting parameters for the space that houses that community."By setting these parameters and engaging in these discussion women are acting as digital activists and creating a space for digital civic engagement.

Works Cited

DeLuca, Katherine. "“Can We Block These Political Thingys? I Just Want to Get F*cking Recipes”: Women, Rhetoric, and Politics on Pinterest." N.p., 2014. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.

- Sam DiGiuseppe