[W3] Tumblr is New To Me, What Have I Missed?
⚡ Once an Uncensored Digital Space
I've missed a significant chapter in internet history: Tumblr's pre-2018 era when it functioned as a largely uncensored digital space! This freedom, especially the allowance of NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content, while controversial, offers a unique lens through which to study societal trends and norms. It’s like a time capsule of a specific moment in internet culture.
A 2022 Tumblr case study, "Love the skin you’re in," analyzing 300 #bodypositive selfies from 2017, illuminates this dynamic (Reif et al., 2022). While the researchers noted a lack of broad body diversity, they also found that many women deviated, at least partially, from the Western mass-mediated beauty ideal of being young, white, thin, and heteronormative (Reif et al., 2022). This suggests that even though the space wasn't perfectly diverse, individuals actively challenged dominant beauty standards. The counterintuitive finding that some women exaggerated stereotypical feminine presentations (Reif et al., 2022) raises complex questions about identity negotiation. Is this stereotype reclamation? Internalized societal pressure? The study highlights how individuals navigate and express themselves amid societal expectations.
Significantly, the research revealed a strong emphasis on self-acceptance over self-improvement (Reif et al., 2022). This focus on embracing the present self, rather than striving for an external ideal, underscores the potential of such platforms for fostering self-love and body positivity. The positive user feedback, characterized by likes and encouraging comments (Reif et al., 2022), reinforces the sense of community support and validation.
However, the study also revealed how existing societal biases can get into online communities that claim to be progressive. The finding that women aged 26-35 and white women received disproportionately more engagement ("notes") (Reif et al., 2022) reveals the continued influence of socially constructed categories like race and age. Even in a space designed for open expression, these biases manifest. Furthermore, the correlation between less clothing (other than fully clothed and nude) and increased notes (Reif et al., 2022) suggests that traditional attractiveness standards, which often oversexualize women, remain prevalent.
đź’ˇ Do uncensored digital spaces simply replicate societal patterns, or can they drive social change?
The discussed Tumblr case study reveals a complex interplay. While Tumblr offered a venue for challenging norms and promoting self-acceptance, it wasn't immune to existing biases. Yet, the platform, especially pre-2018, acted as a microcosm of society, showcasing both the potential for progress and the persistent challenges of dismantling deep-seated biases. Tumblr, while imperfect, was a vital battleground where social change can be forged, even against the backdrop of existing social structures. This was a dynamic environment where, through the very act of free expression, boundaries were tested, the status quo was challenged, and a more inclusive future was envisioned.
References
Reif, A., Miller, I., & Taddicken, M. (2022). “Love the skin you’re in”: An analysis of women’s self-presentation and user reactions to selfies using the Tumblr hashtag #bodypositive. Mass Communication and Society, 25(6), 841–864. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2022.2138442
