The Sharedness of Situational Definitions Online: Comparing the Alternative Platforms 4chan and Reddit

Abstract

This paper investigates the sharedness of situational definitions within the distinct online platforms of 4chan and reddit, guided by the sociological understanding of the definition of situations. Analyzing shared cognitive frameworks that shape communication, the research explores how users define situations against the background of platform culture, platform architecture, and interface. Employing the Situational Analysis by Adele Clarke (2003), the study examines potential disparities in situational definitions between 4chan and Reddit. The findings show that the users of 4chan reject whereas Reddit users assume a shared situational definition. The juxtaposition offers an insight into diverse mechanisms, e.g. identity and collectivity in internet culture, the function of uncertainty through anonymity or the construction of situational knowledge.