Digital media should be a space for people to express themselves and form cross-culture connections. This manifesto argues why and how the current state of digital media is harmful and how digital media should be approached and why. Present-day digital media and the culture surrounding it is inherently negative and is not being used as it was designed to; digital media should be used as a tool to form connections and express oneself imperfectly.

Currently, digital media can be a space where people portray themselves and their lives as idealized versions of themselves, maybe looking for validation. Of course, this is natural. Why would you put yourself on the internet when you are most vulnerable? We have created an online space where judgments and criticism are almost always expected. Because of this society performs and puts their most perfect selves on the internet. We must reclaim digital media; online spaces should be approached in an honest and imperfect manner.

Although it can be easy to accept the online sphere as it is and how society has shaped it to be, we must fight for a more imperfect online domain. The Bulletin Board System (BBS) created a digital space where likeminded people were able to communicate through a system that would be very difficult to do in-person. People that were a part of the BBS newsletter community were able to use the digital space as a platform for raw expression. They were able to portray themselves almost unfiltered; they reclaimed their lives and the online sphere. Although members of this community may have been performing in a way that they would not usually in their everyday lives, they were expressing their true selves with no intention to please anyone. Not only should the internet function as a place for individuals to fully express themselves, it should also be a platform to enable global collaboration and cross cultural communication. The BBS network was especially beneficial in that way; “These networks allowed them to stay connected to the wider gender community" (Dialing into the Revolution, 6).

Digital media today is used as a platform for perfectionism and validation. Through this manifesto I propose a new agenda for the digital sphere by challenging gender norms, societal beauty standards, and the normalization of performativity. This new agenda prioritizes connections, collaboration, and radical-individuality.

Lena's Website

Manifesto Intro

Welcome!

This website will discuss this article:"A Decleration of the Independence of Cyberspace"

This is a quote from the article that I found particularly intriguing:"You do not know our culture, our ethics, or the unwritten codes that already provide our society more order than could be obtained by any of your impositions"

This quote reminds me of a novel by Octavia Butler:

One could argue that the entire article acts as a commentary on societal structures that we experience today. The Cyberspace has made so much progress in a short amount of time, this distinction does not function as a sign of hope, but more so to shame other nations that could have been making progress as well. This line sticks out to me the most: "the unwritten codes that already provide our society more order", this is particularly significant because this society does not have to highlight "codes" for their citizens to follow. They simply live a life free of prejudice that is inclusive and fair. The image above is a novel that reminds me of the Cyberspace writing. In the dystopian world that Butler has created the government has crumbled and those that are left have to fend for themselves and create a whole new reality.