A Content Analysis of the Commodification and Exploitation of Black Internet Content and Product Chiamaka Okoye, Christopher Medina M.S Department of Language and Communications Results
Introduction The Internet has granted unprecedented access to black culture and content; however, it has also become the breeding grounds for its exploitation. The cultural misappropriation and subsequent commodification of minority culture refers to when a majority culture exploits the cultural contributions of a minority. Specifically, within the context of black internet content and product, this trend has boomed with the rise of social media. Black creators produce fashion, dance, vernacular, and even musical, cultural contributions that are popularized on social media then commodified without any credit or share of the profits given to the originators.
Objectives
Intercoder Reliability Test Strong reliability rating
• Use findings of content analysis to outline ethnography • . Use content analysis methods to analyze replies viral tweets to determine general attitudes or beliefs about the commodification and exploitation of black products and ideas. • Utilize the Hegelian dialectic to explore general attitudes regarding commodification and exploitation of black products and ideas.
Methods • Created a content database of 662 tweets in reply to viral accusations of cultural appropriation/ commodification of black internet content/product • Tested Intercoder reliability using ReCal2 software • Utilized a simple coding system of yes (1) and no (0) to place tweets into 6 main codes • Analyzed results to identify patterns and themes in data
Percentage Breakdown of Tweets
Slight majority in support of claims of exploitation
Virility vs Discussion
The more viral a tweet is the more discussion is centered around it
Future Studies Future studies include an ethnography detailing the experiences of those who’ve suffered from the exploitation of black internet content and products Some key areas to question during the interview would be their perception of public support since content analysis revealed patterns of its existence but also patterns of public denial
Conclusion
As the exploitation of black internet content and products rises with the boom in social media use, so does its opposition. While there is a slight majority opinion that acknowledges and opposes such exploitation, ultimately, the lack of a clear majority(over 50%) renders the hypothesis correct. Thus revealing that the divide within the public's opinion not only exists but is a probable reason for the continued misappropriation and commodification of black content/products.
Hypothesis • The divide within the public’s opinions allows for the continued misappropriation and commodification of black content/products
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POSTERS AND REPORTS
Acknowledgements
Tweet Selection Criteria
Criteria for both viral tweet and replies
• R&I’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR and Undergraduate Medical Academy, Prairie View A&M University.
