Date of Award
5-2024
Degree Type
Honors College Thesis
Academic Program
Computer Science BS
Department
Computing
First Advisor
Craig Carey, Ph.D.
Advisor Department
English
Abstract
The integration of digital technology into everyday life has radically changed how people participate in society and culture. Every facet of modern life is shaped by how humans interact with software and this human-computer interaction has directly shaped cultural behaviors and products. Digital tools such as artificial intelligence and social media applications have transformed the common means of cultural production. To better understand how this intertwining of culture and computation impacts modern life, this thesis argues for a better understanding of the relationship between play and computation. Human-technology interactions conceal a more foundational movement of play, and by understanding the “play element” at work in these interactions, we can further investigate and understand the cultural role of computation in the digital age.
Social media platforms have become central to modern culture, reshaping how people interact and express their identities. These platforms are intentionally designed to facilitate spaces for cultural play. By finding the “play element” present in social media applications, we can gain a better understanding of the intersection of culture, play, and computation, and how it impacts every aspect of modern life, from creative pursuits to the economic market. Drawing on scholars of play and culture, this thesis investigates the relationship between play and computation in the social media applications TikTok and Tinder, using them as case studies to gain a better understanding of the cultural role of computation.
Copyright
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Recommended Citation
Daniels, Ashlyn, "Algorithmic Playgrounds: Investigating the Play Element in Social Media" (2024). Honors Theses. 976.
https://aquila.usm.edu/honors_theses/976