Your task is to identify a subgroup of the internet. You may examine a Facebook group, a sub-Reddit, or a hashtag on Instagram or any other subgroup with which you are familiar. Formulate a research question about the group that you can explore using digital field research. Spend some time (15-30 minutes) exploring the digital community. Take field notes. Note things like who you see engaging with the group, and what they are talking about. Reflect on how they are interacting, and consider why they are there. Note who you don’t see; who is not included in this subculture? Note symbols they exchange and if those symbols hold specific group meaning; is there specific language or hashtags? Are there acronyms you need to know? Are there memes, emojis, or photos that define the group membership? Record how you feel as a sociological observer, and as an outsider.
In your discussion post, describe your digital subgroup. Explain your research question. Provide a descriptive analysis of what you learned about the subculture in reference to your research question. Explain the process of exploring the community: what things did you look to as you collected data? Describe how you felt as a researcher and outsider looking in on the group. In your post make sure to provide examples from your field notes. Describe some benefits or limitations you experienced as a researcher using ethnography to explore social phenomena. (200-250 words)
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