Open AccessInformation sharing, connected learning, and a professional wrestling fan community
Author(s) -
Martin Crystle
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
proceedings of the american society for information science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8390
pISSN - 0044-7870
DOI - 10.1002/meet.2014.14505101148
Subject(s) - information sharing , function (biology) , community of practice , knowledge sharing , public relations , online community , knowledge management , learning community , sociology , interpersonal ties , political science , world wide web , computer science , pedagogy , social science , evolutionary biology , biology
Research on information sharing practices of online fan communities is nascent. This paper seeks to describe information sharing in a professional wrestling fan community, focusing on the practice of youth. It also seeks to explore how information sharing effects this connected learning environment. This study finds that information sharing practices are tied to the social nature of the community fostering social ties. They also function as a means for people to stay current on new information, and help members of the community develop a more nuanced expertise in their interest.