Week 3: Bridging the Gap and Context Collapse

In the aftermath of Collect-A-Con, which I blogged a little bit about last week, I was blessed with bountiful social media content: one of which has reached almost SEVEN THOUSAND people! To be fair, another vendor made some clips that we cameoed in, and that reached over a hundred thousand views, but it was still nice to see my little video reach a wide audience. The concept of this video actually ties nicely into context collapse, a topic we are currently exploring in our weekly readings. 

Here is the video (YouTube version) if you are curious to watch it: Vendors in the Wild

For some background, I started doing a social media piece called "Vendors in the Wild," in which I would walk around convention halls during events and try to take pictures or videos of other vendors doing something silly. With their permission (of course) I would add goofy messages or sounds "narrating" their actions. I would then take a compilation of this footage and post it, and tag or collaborate with them. By doing this, it instantly connects me and my social community to that vendor's followers and community. I essentially bridge the gap between our following, reaching a much wider audience and connecting with new people.

This weeks reading, specifically the article titled Context Collapse and Student Social Media Networks: Where Life and High School Collide, written by our very own Dr. Vanessa Dennen, explores the idea of context collapse applied to high school communities. In the study, context collapse refers to the overlap of an individual's previously separate social networks. Traditionally, a student may have interacted with family members, classmates, teachers, teammates, and friends in different settings and contexts. Social media, however, brings all of these groups together into a single digital space where the boundaries between them begin to blur. As a result, the content that may have been intended for one audience can suddenly be viewed by many others.

Initially, I believed "Vendors in the Wild" was an example of context collapse because it connected me to new audiences. Upon further reflection, I realized that the series is actually creating bridges between different communities rather than collapsing them together. However, as those communities become increasingly interconnected, context collapse begins to emerge. Content that was originally intended for vendors may now be viewed by customers, convention organizers, friends, and creators simultaneously, forcing me to consider how different audiences might interpret the same message.

If I were to make a post, only my followers and maybe some of their friends (if they choose to share it) would see it. By doing a collaborative post with another vendor, not only do all of my followers see it, but so do all of theirs. This collaboration is a form of network building that connects previously separate communities. As these networks become increasingly connected, the audiences surrounding them begin to overlap. A single post featuring another vendor from another state now reaches that vendor's customers, friends, fellow vendors, convention organizers, and followers. Suddenly, I am no longer communicating with one audience, but many at the same time.

This is where context collapse becomes relevant. Content that might have been intended as a joke between vendors can now be interpreted by customers, event organizers, creators, and casual fans. As the audience grows more diverse, I have to think more carefully about how different groups may interpret the same message. Interestingly, this overlap has largely been positive. It has allowed me to meet new people, learn from experienced vendors and creators, and expose Brokiemon to audiences that may have never found us otherwise. In many ways, the series acts as a bridge between smaller communities within the larger Pokémon collecting hobby.

However, I do want to note that context collapse is not always beneficial. While it can connect us with new people and opportunities, it can also expose us to conflict and negativity. When multiple audiences occupy the same space, misunderstandings become more likely and not every interaction will be a positive one. This sadly happened to me for the first time this weekend when an individual began sending hostile messages through social media. While the issue was ultimately resolved and the individual was removed from our community, it served as a reminder that social media is not always rainbows and butterflies. These platforms amplify all interactions, both positive and negative, and it is our responsibility as users to navigate them safely and thoughtfully.

Moving back to more positive things, I find it fascinating that even though this week's readings focused on educational settings, many of the same concepts apply to my hobby space. While the article primarily explored the overlap between students and their social networks, I found myself recognizing similar patterns within the Pokémon community. Collectors, vendors, content creators, organizers, and fans all occupy overlapping digital spaces. Social media collapses those boundaries and creates opportunities for connections that would have been difficult or impossible otherwise. One example that comes to mind is meeting a vendor whose full-time job was recording NASCAR races. I never would have expected someone with that background to be involved in Pokémon cards, yet social media and conventions brought our communities together. The cards may be what initially bring people together, but the relationships, conversations, and shared experiences are what keep people engaged long after the convention ends.