The Discrete Tweets

Power is truly something that is evident in everyday life and can be present in various ways. In an interview with American Author Robert, he describes the concept of power as "the measure of the degree of control you have over circumstances in your life and the actions of the people around you. It is a skill that is developed by a deep understanding of human nature, of what truly motivates people, and of the manipulations necessary for advancement and protection. Power works best when it is indirect - never coercing people; instead, getting them to voluntarily align with your interests" (R. Greene, 2015). Overall, Greene depicts power as the ability to have somewhat of an influence over the people around you.

Lost Geographies of Power (2011) by Professor John Allen, details how power is established through relations and social interactions. Allen introduces the five modalities of power including domination, manipulation, authority, seduction, and coercion. These modalities, according to Allen identify how we experience power.

One way of looking at power in our everyday lives is through the mediums of social media. Technology changes communication, power, and identity (Kuttanien, 2019). It is common knowledge that many people are glued to their mobile phones, however, what is significantly uncommon is how much influence these social networks actually have on one’s own thoughts and emotions.

Take Twitter for instance. Twitter is a social networking site where people can communicate and express themselves through short messages referred to as “tweets”. Many post tweets regularly for their follows in an attempt to convey interesting and useful messages towards their audience. Twitter is primarily used by news networks and people with high recognition and a large following, (celebrities, musicians, politicians, etc.) however, anyone is able to own an account, similar to other social networks.

Twitter is a clear example of how people express power and how they can manipulate and persuade their audience regardless of the intention.

Image 1. Kanye West Tweet (2018)

A tweet produced by well-known rapper Kanye West illustrates his view on politician Donald Trump. It seems that although he doesn’t agree with Trump on every decision, he has a large amount of love for him. Considering how Kanye West is such an influential person in today’s society, a tweet like this has the ability to sway people’s thoughts and even rethink their own.

In relation to the modalities mentioned above, it is evident that clear signs of manipulation when focusing on the dynamic of twitter. The power to manipulate online audiences illustrates itself heavily but is still unknown by many. With this in mind, it makes you wonder if whether or not you are aware of what is happening or if you are currently being manipulated too.

Reference List

Allen, J. (2011). Lost Geographies of Power (pp. 10-19). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/jcu/reader.action?ppg=10&docID=819347

Feloni, R. (2019). Here's The Definition Of Power From The Man Who's Studied It Most. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com.au/robert-greenes-definition-of-power-2015-1?r=US&IR=T

Kuttaninen, V. (2019). BA1002: Our Spaces: Networks, Narrative and the Making of the Place; Week 3 Lecture Powerpoint. Retrieved from https://learn.jcu.edu.au  

Laudanno, J. (2019). Tweet by rapper Kanye West causes controversy – The Eagle Eye. Retrieved from https://eagleeye.news/artsandleisure/tweet-by-rapper-kanye-west-causes-controversy/