Cloud Civilisations

In this fifth and final episode, we delve into crypto finance—an alternative to traditional monetary systems driven by decentralized blockchain technology. Crypto has proven to attract investors with wide-ranging ideologies around value creation, including some users viewing it as a hedge against existing financial structures. We also explore how decentralized finance (DeFi) challenges traditional notions of money and its potential to subvert existing capitalist institutions. *** This is Clicks & Capital, a five-part series from the archives recorded in November 2023, exploring the role of digital technologies in individuals’ finances. I spoke with ⁠Anna Rohmann⁠ about her PhD research on this.  *** Anna Rohmann (she/her) is doing anthropological research at Goldsmiths and works as Associate Lecturer across multiple universities of the University of London. Her PhD project examines financial technology and (digital) financial inclusion through ethnographic and intersectional frameworks. She focuses on the interplay between retail investors, start-ups, content creators, technologies, and wider socio-economic structures. Her broader research interests lie at the intersection of the (digitized) economy with language, queerness, online communities, and social change. Anna is on the editorial board of Anthways Journal, a Research & Marketing Coordinator for the Political Economy Research Center (PERC), and a member of the TikTok Ethnography Collective. *** Sources used in this episode:  Asgari, N. and Schmitt, W. (2024). Bitcoin hits record above $75,000 as crypto industry celebrates Trump win. [online] @FinancialTimes. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/bdc3311d-3a29-4a3a-82e7-d646bc065dce [Accessed 6 Nov. 2024]. McDonagh, S. (2024). Bitcoin Soars Past $75K as Trump Win Fuels Crypto Optimism. [online] Newsweek. Available at: https://www.newsweek.com/crypto-bitcoin-price-surge-trump-election-elon-musk-1981325 [Accessed 7 Nov. 2024].

In this fourth episode, we address how social stratification—such as gender, race, and class—has historically shaped inequality in retail investing and financial literacy. We focus on gender and discuss what forms of ‘FinTech Feminism’ are out there currently. While it aims to empower women and promote financial inclusion, there are potential downsides to this trend. Like inadvertently exposing marginalised groups who already face compounded disadvantages to the greater financial risk inherent to investment systems. *** This is Clicks & Capital, a five-part series from the archives recorded in November 2023, exploring the role of digital technologies in individuals’ finances. I spoke with ⁠Anna Rohmann⁠ about her PhD research on this.  *** Anna Rohmann (she/her) is doing anthropological research at Goldsmiths and works as Associate Lecturer across multiple universities of the University of London. Her PhD project examines financial technology and (digital) financial inclusion through ethnographic and intersectional frameworks. She focuses on the interplay between retail investors, start-ups, content creators, technologies, and wider socio-economic structures. Her broader research interests lie at the intersection of the (digitized) economy with language, queerness, online communities, and social change. Anna is on the editorial board of Anthways Journal, a Research & Marketing Coordinator for the Political Economy Research Center (PERC), and a member of the TikTok Ethnography Collective.

In this third episode, we discuss FinTech apps and how they influence people’s perception & relation to finance. By considering the physical or embodied experience of FinTech apps, we consider their additional effects on individuals. We explore how the glitzy promise of new technology is seen to positively democratise financial wealth for the people; however, this may still result in power inequalities. *** This is Clicks & Capital, a five-part series from the archives recorded in November 2023, exploring the role of digital technologies in individuals’ finances. I spoke with Anna Rohmann about her PhD research on this.  *** Anna Rohmann (she/her) is doing anthropological research at Goldsmiths and works as Associate Lecturer across multiple universities of the University of London. Her PhD project examines financial technology and (digital) financial inclusion through ethnographic and intersectional frameworks. She focuses on the interplay between retail investors, start-ups, content creators, technologies, and wider socio-economic structures. Her broader research interests lie at the intersection of the (digitized) economy with language, queerness, online communities, and social change. Anna is on the editorial board of Anthways Journal, a Research & Marketing Coordinator for the Political Economy Research Center (PERC), and a member of the TikTok Ethnography Collective.

In this second episode, we look at how social media has affected financial literacy. Platforms and finance influencers (or Finfluencers) have changed how people learn about finance, lowering barriers to financial knowledge and redefining who financial ‘experts’ are. Digital content like memes also play a role in socialising people into financial subjects. *** This is Clicks & Capital, a five-part series from the archives recorded in November 2023, exploring the role of digital technologies in individuals’ finances. I spoke with Anna Rohmann about her PhD research on this.  *** Anna Rohmann (she/her) is doing anthropological research at Goldsmiths and works as Associate Lecturer across multiple universities of the University of London. Her PhD project examines financial technology and (digital) financial inclusion through ethnographic and intersectional frameworks. She focuses on the interplay between retail investors, start-ups, content creators, technologies, and wider socio-economic structures. Her broader research interests lie at the intersection of the (digitized) economy with language, queerness, online communities, and social change. Anna is on the editorial board of Anthways Journal, a Research & Marketing Coordinator for the Political Economy Research Center (PERC), and a member of the TikTok Ethnography Collective.

This is Clicks & Capital, a five-part series from the archives recorded in November 2023, exploring the role of digital technologies in individuals’ finances. I spoke with Anna Rohmann about her PhD research on this.  *** In this first episode, we explore what inspired Anna's research: the GameStop short squeeze in January 2021, where retail investors on Reddit challenged Wall Street hedge funds. We recap the saga and discuss its implications for anthropologists and social scientists studying financial systems in the digital age, introducing concepts like the 'moral economy.' *** Anna Rohmann (she/her) is doing anthropological research at Goldsmiths and works as Associate Lecturer across multiple universities of the University of London. Her PhD project examines financial technology and (digital) financial inclusion through ethnographic and intersectional frameworks. She focuses on the interplay between retail investors, start-ups, content creators, technologies, and wider socio-economic structures. Her broader research interests lie at the intersection of the (digitized) economy with language, queerness, online communities, and social change. Anna is on the editorial board of Anthways Journal, a Research & Marketing Coordinator for the Political Economy Research Center (PERC), and a member of the TikTok Ethnography Collective. *** Sources used in this episode:  CNBC (2021). GameStop Mania: How Reddit Traders Took On Wall Street. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8rwmS4Y17c [Accessed 28 Sep. 2024]. ‌CNN (2021). Investors on Reddit send GameStop stock soaring. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nKQ90CzxgM [Accessed 28 Sep. 2024]. Financial Times (2021). GameStop stock short squeeze: Reddit traders take GME on a wild ride I FT Film. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzL5OLCwSPY [Accessed 28 Sep. 2024].  Hughes, J., N. Megaw and M. Darbyshire (2018). Financial Times. [online] Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/8102fc65-0879-4b88-b3c6-097447a61f7d [Accessed 16 Nov. 2023]. Sony Pictures Entertainment (2023). DUMB MONEY - Official Trailer (HD). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmr8YmwnZ3w [Accessed 14 Oct. 2023].

This is the ‘Mastering the Digital’ series, where digital anthropologists and I deep dive into their diverse research topics. In this final episode, I speak with Max Roberts about his project on artists who use live coding in their music performances. Max has a background rooted in anthropology but has since worked across education, healthcare and tech. While gaining extensive experience in product delivery, design, and consulting, Max developed an interest in how platform design influences people's abilities to access technology, leading to his pursuit of digital anthropology. Some key takeaways: Live coding is a performance style that uses coding languages to create electronic music and visuals at live events. The (perhaps unexpected) marriage between the logical rationality of code and creative practices of music performance has been shown to produce budding forms of artistic expression and creative collaboration with the technology itself. Due to the public nature of live coding performances and the community's open-source approach, live coding has the potential to improve accessibility, digital literacy and public engagement with code. Connect with Max via: https://linkedin.com/in/maxgroberts/

This is the ‘Mastering the Digital’ series, where digital anthropologists and I deep dive into their diverse research topics. In this 8th episode, I speak with Gabriella DeMaio about her project on Virtual YouTubers (aka 'VTubers') who work on Twitch, and how labour transforms in digital spaces. Gabriella is a digital anthropologist and cultural insights researcher with an interest in virtual worlds and the evolving role of avatars and AI in digital media. She also enjoys cooking shows and finding cute stickers for her sticker journal. Some key takeaways: Originating from Japan, many current VTubers draw from Japanese idol culture, such as the popularity of anime aesthetics and the nature of fan interactions. VTubers require a lot of infrastructure to stream smoothly, which is often invisible to viewers; from custom PCs to the software designers use to rig a model/avatar, this adds up to make virtual streaming a relatively cost-prohibitive form of content creation. Though streaming is happening virtually, the labour that goes into it is highly physical as well as emotional; this becomes challenging when fans develop a parasocial relationship with VTubers, underlining the importance of boundaries and moderators. Connect with Gabriella via: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gdemaio/

We’ve reached Episode 7 of my Mastering the Digital series, where digital anthropologists and I deep dive into their diverse research projects. The popularity of astrology online initially inspired this week’s guest to embark on her research project exploring the magic of the online realm and spirituality in the Internet age. I spoke with Eylül Bombacı, a researcher, anthropologist and editor; previously, her background was in sociology and psychology. She has experience in market research, writing and editing, as well as copywriting and music. Her research interests include religion, technology, art and mental health. She has been writing for different magazines as a freelance writer and worked as a market researcher before pursuing her master's degree. Some key takeaways: Traditionally in anthropology (and perhaps also in popular beliefs), societies without technologies like the Internet and an industrial capitalist economy are seen as ‘pre-modern.’ They are considered more ‘enchanted’ (aka more in touch with spirituality) compared to ‘modern’ societies. However, users of social media apps like TikTok, or the popular astrology app CoStar, may see things differently; they still practice spirituality, but how they are ‘enchanted’ is just digitally mediated these days. But there are also others engaging with spirituality today who reject digital technologies; this ties in with their wider beliefs on well-being and how they relate to the larger universe. Connect with Eylül via: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eylulbombaci/

This is the ‘Mastering the Digital’ series, where digital anthropologists and I deep dive into their diverse research topics. In Episode 6, I spoke with Rugun Sirait about her project on the use of sound on TikTok. Rugun is a freelance researcher with an interest in various forms of media and modalities, including documentary films, sound, music, and social media. In her spare time, she also does tarot readings! Rugun focuses on the Indonesian sound trend ‘’Jedag Jedug’. This is a sub-genre that features upbeat remixes and mashups that can be linked to older genres of Indonesian electronic dance music. Some key takeaways: In our current social media landscape where short-form content is king, speed is a significant driver in how trends emerge and evolve (shaping musical style, inter-platform circulation, and visual content). How TikTok users create and interact with ‘Jedag Jedug’ sounds has uncovered people’s attitudes towards social class and taste, while also acting as a medium for sharing one’s struggles. Because this trending sub-genre (as well as many TikTok sound trends) relies on remixes of existing songs, this brings up the question of what lies ahead for the future of music creation, distribution and ownership. Connect with Rugun via: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-rugun-sirait-5b7072175/

Can digital technologies help us care for our loved ones? This is one of the big questions discussed on the newest podcast episode of my Mastering the Digital series, where digital anthropologists and I deep dive into their diverse research projects. In Episode 5, I talk to Hugh Knapp about his project on how technologies in the home are used by family members to care for their loved ones living with dementia. Hugh comes from a background in product design and social sciences. His research interests include family, health, and technology. He has worked as a user experience researcher in the realms of IT, e-commerce, and the public sector. Some key insights: Traditionally, we think that taking care of someone involves being closely and consistently attached to the person (e.g. regularly checking in with them). Care provided by machines is seen as creating distance, disconnection, and even insincerity - 'cold care'. However, for those with dementia, the constant attachment of carers could often be a source of frustration. Digital technologies like myhomehelper can make caregiving feel less intrusive and give patients a greater sense of control over their daily lives. Though caregiving appears more ‘invisible’ and offloaded onto technologies, that does not necessarily mean that the labour required from caregivers becomes less. Connect with Hugh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughknapp/

Can humans form emotional connections with chatbots? Well, in the case of Replika, “the AI companion who cares”, they have certainly been shown to do so. This is the ‘Mastering the Digital’ series, where digital anthropologists and I deep dive into their diverse research topics. In Episode 4, I speak with Jiqing about her project on this generative AI chatbot application originally released in November 2017, where she explores how people interact with Replika and the potential to form social connections with artificial intelligence. Some key takeaways: Replika is unique in generating human-like responses by not only drawing on its Large Language Model but also by using a neural network to tailor its responses to the user’s emotional state. The case of Replika challenges assumptions, showing how ‘cold’ technology can indeed be empathetic, with some people even relying on it as an extra source of mental health support. It sparked controversy when cases of users developing intimate connections with the AI chatbot received sensationalised media attention, leading to ethical debates about human-tech relationships. With the unstable nature of generative AI, what lies ahead for the role of AI in people’s social lives, mental health and/or therapeutic needs? Connect with Jiqing via: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiqing-ma-1650361b9/

This is the ‘Mastering the Digital’ series, where digital anthropologists and I deep dive into their diverse research topics. In this 3rd episode, I speak with Zachary Cannon about his project on the impact of digital tools on contemporary music. He focuses on how music makers (singer/songwriters, audio engineers, DJs…) in London create, distribute, consume and perform music. Some key takeaways: Despite the prominence of digital tools, music creators (and many listeners) still tend to put digital sound on a hierarchy lower than analogue sound - this is linked to our beliefs around the ‘inauthenticity’ of the digital. However, digital tools can come to be viewed as ‘creative collaborators’, much like when music makers collaborate with each other to make something creatively unique and valuable. Many technical processes, like mixing or mastering a song, are essential to make songs both culturally and commercially coherent to wider audiences in order to be successfully distributed. Connect with Zak via: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyscannon/

This is the ‘Mastering the Digital’ series, where digital anthropologists and I deep dive into their diverse research topics. In this second episode, I speak with Helen Robertson about her project on the emerging field of ‘Grief Tech’. She dives into how Artificial Intelligence is being used to ‘re-animate’ people after they are no longer physically with us. Some key takeaways: StoryFile, the tech startup where Helen conducted her fieldwork, uses ‘Conversational Video AI’ to capture individuals’ life stories and preserve their legacies. Uses for their technology are growing in range, including being used at museums, by brands to capture their historical heritage, and in more personal B2C scenarios (e.g.- for new generations to know their ancestors). ‘Grief Tech’ is challenging conventional ideas about what differentiates humans from technology: AI is made more human, while humans are made more artificial. However, because of how pioneering ‘grief tech’ is, its ethics and regulatory guidelines are highly uncertain, even for key players in the sector itself. Connect with Helen via: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-robertson-26b82398/

This is the ‘Mastering the Digital’ series, where digital anthropologists and I deep dive into their diverse research topics. In this first episode, I speak with Disha Shanbhag about her project exploring how flexible working conditions affect international students in London. Her research was driven by her interest in the intersection of technology and labour. Some key insights: Digital technologies (e.g.- gig platforms like Coople) empower international students to find temporary employment in the UK. Digital technologies enable flexibility, which has become an essential factor in driving economic growth. For international students in flexible jobs made possible by digital technologies, flexibility not only defines their work conditions but becomes embodied in how they live their lives in the UK. However, the condition of flexibility has been leveraged by employers to assert more control over their employees’ work. Connect with Disha via: https://www.linkedin.com/in/disha-shanbhag-digitalanthropologist/

The fifth and last episode of the Digital X Dynamic 0 series, where guests and I explore different digital aspects of our experiences during the heavily restricted 2022 Shanghai city-wide lockdown, imposed officially from April until June as part of the Chinese government's national "dynamic zero-COVID" policy. **Note: This episode was originally published Nov 28 2022, but was re-uploaded due to an audio glitch**  Yuri and I explore what activism looks like in heavily censored spaces like the Chinese Internet, and the inventive ways Chinese netizens use to creatively engage with sensitive issues that trigger censors. I ask Yuri about how they became interested in social advocacy, and critical moments during the lockdown that sparked outrage online and subsequently widespread collective action, notably the ‘Voices of April’ (四月之声) video. What does "jiē lì" (pass on the baton) mean? Why did people overlay fanfiction essays with random pictures or start quoting Chairman Mao on Douyin (Chinese TikTok)? Was video circulation expressing the discontent of citizens more like a "relay" or a "carnival"? **To protect Yuri's confidentiality, their voice has been disguised. Please excuse the strange audio!** 'Voices of April’ (四月之声) video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pzwkFCAv44 Topics mentioned are topical to other recent events at the time of publication: For more information on the University College Union strikes for staff in higher & further education across the UK, please visit: https://www.ucu.org.uk/rising or search #ucuRISING on social media platforms. Learn what's happening following the Urumqi fire in Xinjiang (24th November 2022): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-63752407

The fourth episode of the Digital X Dynamic 0 series, where guests and I explore different digital aspects of our experiences during the heavily restricted 2022 Shanghai city-wide lockdown, imposed officially from April until June as part of the Chinese government's national "dynamic zero-COVID" policy. Alessia and I talk Covid-tracing apps and the essential 'Green Health Code,' while unpacking her personal experience under lockdown as a non-Chinese Shanghai resident. What kind of technologies are mobilised and mandated by the authorities trying to crack down on Covid? What is life actually like when you cannot function as a citizen without depending on these apps and QR codes? As a law student who has coincidentally researched and written on contact-tracing apps as a public health measure, Alessia helps me explore: what are the implications on individuals' data privacy? What is 'consent fatigue?' Do data protection laws even help?  Sources used for episode:  1. https://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/insights/publications/2022/07/chinas-emerging-data-protection-laws-bring-challenges-for-conducting-investigations-in-china/ 2. https://www.justice.gov/dag/cloudact 3. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/8/1479/pdf?version=1659731585 (Xiaohan Zhang, 2022)  4. https://www.skadden.com/Insights/Publications/2021/11/Chinas-New-Data-Security-and-Personal-Information-Protection-Laws

The third episode of the Digital X Dynamic 0 series, where guests and I explore different digital aspects of our experiences during the heavily restricted 2022 Shanghai city-wide lockdown, imposed officially from April until June as part of the Chinese government's national "dynamic zero-COVID" policy.  Steven and I talk ‘Runology’ aka 润学 (rùn xué). What even is ‘Run Philosophy’? How did this term go viral during the Shanghai lockdown? Why were netizens using it and what were they using it for? Is this online phenomenon that spread like wildfire during the height of lockdown really as significant as I thought it would be?

The second episode of the Digital X Dynamic 0 series, where guests and I explore different digital aspects of our experiences during the heavily restricted 2022 Shanghai city-wide lockdown, imposed officially from April until June as part of the Chinese government's national "dynamic zero-COVID" policy. Candice and I dive into the different roles of the compound (i.e.-gated residential neighbourhood) WeChat group chat: the curious internal cultures of these chats and how they evolved as lockdown dragged on. We go on to discuss China's thriving meme culture and what this shared online humour may reveal about the larger socio-political landscape.    

The first episode of the Digital X Dynamic 0 series, where guests and I explore different digital aspects of our experiences during the heavily restricted 2022 Shanghai city-wide lockdown, imposed officially from April until June as part of the Chinese government's national "dynamic zero-COVID" policy. Selina and I reminisce about life under arguably the world’s strictest lockdown: how the highly advanced online shopping and delivery systems became key to survival; the highs and lows of ‘团购‘ (tuán gòu - bulk buying); who exactly are ’跑腿‘ (pǎo tuǐ - errand runners) and how they became our saving grace; and the unique e-commerce landscape of China.

Why is there such a craze for pets on social media? In this short and sweet bonus episode from the archives recorded a year ago, I chat with Cheng Meng about Chinese users’ consumption of pet-related social media content. Meng is a multilingual business anthropologist currently working at a consumer tech company. According to a Xinhua article published earlier this year in June, 2022 saw more than 70.43 million urban pet owners in China, and this number increases by 2.9% per year. China’s growing ageing population and a large number of unmarried young adults are likely to keep boosting sales (Forbes), with the pet economy market size projected to reach 811.4 billion yuan by 2025 - approximately USD 110 billion (Xinhua). Some things we touch on: How are young professionals in Shanghai using their pets as a status symbol? Do increased anxieties in wider society correlate with pet content views?? Could posting content of cute animals be considered ‘political’?! Connect with Meng via: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mengcheng/ Sources: Xinhua (June 2023), ‘China's pet economy shows huge growth potential’: http://english.scio.gov.cn/m/in-depth/2023-06/09/content_86784698.htm Russell Flannery for Forbes (August 2023), ‘Wong Wong! New China Billionaire Gives Its Growing Pet Industry Something To Bark About’: https://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2023/08/16/wong-wong-new-china-billionaire-gives-its-growing-pet-industry-something-to-bark-about/