According to Eyman’s article, something is digital if it is a means of communication present in the digital world. This content is not only relayed through websites or videos found on the internet, but also through reaction emojis and memes. Anyone can respond to others, not just professional writers.
Reddit is a platform where thousands of users around the world find subreddits, connecting with others with common interests. This may be a Pokémon fan group, a study abroad recommendation list, or even long and spiraling stories where OP asks “AITA?” The platform truly helps people to connect, whether through a lifelong hobby or even to find an answer to a burning question. Oftentimes, this discourse is centered around a main unifying topic.
Reddit’s Rhetoric
People follow the digital structure of the subreddit group, answering in the context of the discussion to get to a certain point. After all, a person who hates Pokémon would not actively seek out information about the newest card updates from a game-enthusiast subreddit. They know to ignore the chat as it does not pique their interest! This dynamic shows how this form of programming affects rhetoric, as the standards of the website set the tone of users!
The platform promotes digital technology and rhetoric, as it initiates the collaboration of people and their understanding of a topic. For instance, people can respond to the Reddit thread with their opinion or a related web link. They can also “upvote” or “downvote” a comment. These are both ways of showing a positive or negative reaction in relation to a broader conversation.
The conversations on Reddit follow the narrative Eyman promotes in sharing that digital structures shape their own rhetoric. The overall programming and conventions around the app dictate how a conversation runs. It also decides what interactions can occur between participants and surveyors. Digital media allows for the sharing and communication of different texts and conversations to be shared.
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