Future Networks

Final Report - BCM206

This semester, I released the final episodes for my Digital Artefact, Curiosity in Rising, a podcast series which focuses on lifestyle and spirituality themes. My project aimed to educate and inspire, through podcast episodes which focused on a range of different topics topics across 20-40 minutes. In this blog post, I’ll summarise the last few weeks of work on my artefact and reflect on learning moments, also touching on the notion of the splinternet and decentralised media, which help inform Curiosity in Rising’s (CiR) ultimate social utility.  

Since the last report, I continued to work on my digital artefact in numerous ways, the Instagram page was very active and was able to achieve some of its highest viewership across its two year lifespan. Three more episodes arrived after the first of the semester which focused on music marketing with Kai. As this is my final semester in the Digital and Social Media major, I decided early on that this semester would be the final time I work on Curiosity in Rising. As much as I love this project, it is of course time consuming, and my passion for it has experienced peaks and valleys. I knew that I would not have the time or enthusiasm level next year to continue to work on it outside of it being an assessment.

Reflecting on the creative process behind Curiosity in Rising, I realise how much the idea of decentralisation has influenced the way I approached the podcast. Networks, and in particular the Internet, are imagined to flatten power hierarchies and be democratising agents (Bory, 2020).  From the get-go this semester, I wanted the content I came back with - after several months away from the podcast - to flow organically, without rigid structures or constraints. Decentralisation allowed me the freedom to explore a wide range of topics - whether it was deep spiritual discussions or more laid-back, everyday conversations - following my curiosity wherever it led. Different drivers exist for decentralised social media, ranging from historical concerns over centralised power structures to more contemporary concerns about centralised platforms’ content moderation policies (Abbing, 2023). This flexible approach also extended to how I engaged with my listeners. Their feedback and interests helped shape the direction of the show, creating a collaborative experience rather than a top-down narrative. For example, a conversation with a friend who had listened to almost every Curiosity in Rising episode, stated that her favourite moments were when I sounded genuinely enthusiastic and knowledgeable on topics, which had been lacking at times in 2023 episodes, so I decided to collaborate with Kai and blend together our interests in music and marketing. Each episode ended up feeling like a shared journey, one that embraced fluidity and welcomed the unexpected, much like the process of self-discovery itself, a theme that is so integral to Curiosity in Rising.   

Before saying goodbye, I wanted to go back to the podcast’s spiritual roots and do a bit of a paranormal storytime type of episode. Therefore I decided to release an episode titled ‘Tales from the Other Side’ which focused on the afterlife. 

In October, it was then time to wrap up, I released an episode with fellow BCM student Melissa Burns who runs Luxure Social to discuss algorithms and her advice to social media freelancers, this was a great conversation which seemed to be enjoyed by a number of listeners. 

It was then time to say farewell, I was joined in the studios of Building 29 by friends Lara and Kai, we discussed my favourite - and least favourite - moments of Curiosity in Rising throughout the years while also giving some words of advice to future Communications and Media students.  This episode ended up being the most streamed of the year.

In terms of the Splinternet, Curiosity in Rising can be viewed as a digital artefact shaped by fragmented digital ecosystems. The podcast - and its Instagram page - operated within different online spaces, each governed by its own rules, algorithms, and audiences. For example, Instagram, with its focus on hashtags and visual content, allowed the show to reach specific communities interested in spirituality, mindfulness, and lifestyle topics. The platform’s algorithms, which reward content with engagement metrics like likes, shares, and comments, played a significant role in amplifying the podcast’s reach at times—particularly through the infographics and targeted hashtags I used. The theory of the Splinternet reflects how the internet is no longer a single, unified space but rather a network of fragmented digital environments. Changes cause objects to fly apart, fragmenting the whole into separate splinters (Allan, 2022). This fragmentation means content creators have to navigate various ecosystems, each with its own logic and gatekeepers. While the podcast might resonate well with a certain group on Instagram, it could encounter different dynamics on other platforms or digital spaces with alternative user behaviours, regulations, and access points. Thus, knowing your target audience and where they spend their time online is vital. 

List of 2024 (Season 3) Curiosity in Rising Episodes

What I can learn from this is the importance of tailoring content and strategies to these segmented digital spheres, especially when trying to reach audiences across platforms. The Instagram page’s success in gaining viewership, likely driven by targeted use of spiritual and lifestyle content, highlights how creators must adapt to the nuances of each digital ecosystem. It also points to the necessity of understanding the specific digital spaces that align with the audience’s values and interests in a fragmented internet. 

By embracing these divisions and tailoring content to suit the platform’s strengths, you can better navigate the splinternet and find success within its segmented audiences. It’s been a great semester and I’m super pleased with what I created thanks to this subject. 

REFERENCES: 

Bory, P., 2020. The internet myth: From the internet imaginary to network ideologies (p. 169). University of Westminster Press.  

Abbing, R.R., Diehm, C. and Warreth, S., 2023. Decentralised social media. Internet Policy Review, 12(1). 

ALLAN, R., 2022. Gearing up for the Splinternet. RETHINKING BOUNDARIES AND REVISITING BORDERS, p.61. 

Stallkamp, M., 2021. After TikTok: International business and the splinternet. AIB Insights, 21(2), pp.1-5.