Digital Anthropology

In case you're interested in the sorts of jobs on offer for anthropologists of social media. This one is at Microsoft. You can also see the sorts of projects that researchers are already working on.

Some examples of current work being done in the area of digital anthropology

Worth discussing

"Netizens warned against 'liking' photo Published: 19/10/2012 at 06:04 PM Online news: Thai web users have been warned against sharing or "liking" the controversial picture of a Thai reporter standing near a photo of the late Cambodian king visible in a newspaper placed on the ground. Information and communication technology (ICT) permanent secretary Chaiyan Peungkiatpairote warned that anyone doing so may be in breach of the computer crimes law. At a press conference on Friday he appealed to the Thai social network users not to forward or click "like" on the photo or messages associated with it, saying doing so may lead to conflict between the two countries. It may also violate the Computer Crimes Act 2007, which prohibits the dissemination of content deemed threatening to national security. The law provides for a maximum five-year jail sentence, he said. Mr Chaiyan also urged the general public to refrain from disseminating or otherwise circulating the image to help maintain good bilateral ties between Thailand and Cambodia. Cambodia's social media network was abuzz on Wednesday over a photo of Thapanee Eadsrichai, a well-known reporter from Channel 3, in which it appeared she was standing over newspaper photos of King Sihanouk placed on the ground. The photo drew extensive criticism from both Cambodians and Thais. The journalist and her Channel 3 bosses quickly apologised. Ms Thapanee said she had no intention of showing disrespect to king Sihanouk and the newspaper wasn't actrually near her, it just appeared so from the angle the photo was taken. The Thai Foreign Ministry also stepped in to clear the air over the issue. The Cambodian government said in a statement released on Thursday that all Cambodian people should avoid ill-intentioned attempts by some political groups to use the case to stir instability in the country and cause problems with neighbouring countries. "

This is an interesting case where even "liking" a photo could be deemed a "computer crime" in the Thai context. It is worth noting there that relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been tense for a variety of reasons, and that in both countries placing an image of a respected person below one's feet (which are considered dirty) is deemed a grave insult.

Are you on the internet now?

Note the continued use of the notion of "rationality" on both sides of the debate. This is a case where "the rational" is something other than the Zweckrationalitaet of capitalist enterprises.