Posting nature: A critical perspective on analysing cultural ecosystem services on Instagram | Intellect Skip to content
1981
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Journal of Environmental Media
  4. Volume 3, Issue 2
  5. Article
Volume 3, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 2632-2463
  • E-ISSN: 2632-2471
file format pdf download PDF

Abstract

In recent years, social media data have been used in the analysis of nature within the concept of cultural ecosystem services (CES). From the viewpoint of CES, social media posts that contain content about nature are read as virtual human–environment interactions and conclusions are drawn on how humans perceive, interact with and value the natural environment. We argue that these analyses often lack a deeper understanding of the inherent mechanisms of social media and the sociocultural dimension of the users who produce this data. In this light, we evaluated social media posts that show images of species and landscapes in the bid to gain an understanding of the cultural processing of nature-based posts in digital social networks. We conducted the study using the popular social media platform Instagram. By analysing 124 profiles and conducting five semi-structured interviews, we examined how Instagram posts that focus on nature (in terms of species and natural landscapes) are portrayed online and how these posts are utilized as a cultural entity for self-presentation purposes. Based on this empirical data, we provide a critical perspective on the use of ‘nature posts’ on Instagram for analysing CES. Our results show that nature-focused Instagram posts are a cultural media performance forming contexts of meaning with which human subjects interact. Furthermore, these posts underlie a perceived affordance where the user’s social media practices are essentially tied back to mechanisms of recognition and have to be understood as self-promotions. Images on Instagram that show species and natural landscapes are being used here as an image resource for the purpose of expressing social distinction. Therefore, we particularly argue for a stronger collaboration between the natural, social and cultural sciences to overcome the difference in terms of understanding, analysing and promoting values of nature and CES.

Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
© 2022 Intellect Ltd
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/jem_00089_1
2023-03-10
2024-04-25
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/jem/3/2/jem.3.2.255_Tscholl.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1386/jem_00089_1&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Barbovschi, M.,, Balea, B., and Velicu, A.. ( 2018;), ‘ Peer-ing in the online mirror: Romanian adolescents’ disclosure and mutual validation in presentations of self on social media. ’, Revista Romana de Sociologie, 29:3&4, pp. 269–86.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Barthes, R.. ( 1981), Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography, New York:: Hill & Wang;.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Bennett, N. J.,, Roth, R.,, Klain, S. C.,, Chan, K.,, Christie, P.,, Clark, D. A.,, Cullman, G.,, Curran, D.,, Durbin, T. J.,, Epstein, G.,, Greenberg, A.,, Nelson, M. P.,, Sandlos, J.,, Stedman, R.,, Teel, T. L.,, Thomas, R.,, Veríssimo, D., and Wyborn, C.. ( 2017;), ‘ Conservation social science: Understanding and integrating human dimensions to improve conservation. ’, Biological Conservation, 205, pp. 93–108, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.10.006.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Bourdieu, P.. ( 1990), Photography: A Middle-Brow Art, Cambridge:: Polity Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Boyd, D.. ( 2014), It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens, New Haven, CT:: Yale University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Breidenstein, G.,, Hirschauer, S.,, Kalthoff, H., and Nieswand, B.. ( 2015), Ethnographie: Die Praxis der Feldforschung, Konstanz:: UVK Verlag;.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Buchholz, M. B.. ( 1996), Metaphern der Kur: Eine qualitative Studie zum psychotherapeutischen Prozeß, Opladen:: Westdeutscher Verlag;.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Calcagni, F.,, Amorim Maia, A. T.,, Connolly, J. J. T., and Langemeyer, J.. ( 2019;), ‘ Digital co-construction of relational values: Understanding the role of social media for sustainability. ’, Sustainability Science, 14:5, pp. 1309–21, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00672-1.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Cassirer, E.. ( 1969), Wesen und Wirkung des Symbolbegriffs, Darmstadt:: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft;.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Chalfen, R.. ( 1987), Snapshot Versions of Life, Bowling Green, OH:: Popular Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Cheng, X.,, Van Damme, S.,, Li, L., and Uyttenhove, P.. ( 2019;), ‘ Evaluation of cultural ecosystem services: A review of methods. ’, Ecosystem Services, 37, https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ECOSER.2019.100925.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Corbin, J., and Strauss, A.. ( 1990;), ‘ Grounded theory research: Procedures, canons, and evaluative criteria. ’, Qualitative Sociology, 13:1, pp. 3–21.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Correia, R. A.,, Ladle, R.,, Jarić, I.,, Malhado, A. C. M.,, Mittermeier, J. C.,, Roll, U.,, Soriano-Redondo, A.,, Veríssimo, D.,, Fink, C.,, Hausmann, A.,, Guedes-Santos, J.,, Vardi, R., and di Minin, E.. ( 2021;), ‘ Digital data sources and methods for conservation culturomics. ’, Conservation Biology, 35:2, pp. 398–411, https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13706.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Couldry, N.. ( 2010;), ‘ Theorising media as practice. ’, in B. Bräuchler, and J. Postill. (eds), Theorising Media and Practice, New York and Oxford:: Berghahn Books;, pp. 35–54.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Cramer, H.,, Rost, M., and Holmquist, L. E.. ( 2011;), ‘ Performing a check-in: Emerging practices, norms and “conflicts” in location-sharing using foursquare. ’, in Mobile HCI 2011 – 13th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services, Stockholm, Sweden, 30 August, New York:: Association for Computing Machinery;, pp. 57–66, https://doi.org/10.1145/2037373.2037384.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Díaz, S.,, Pascual, U.,, Stenseke, M.,, Martín-López, B.,, Watson, R. T.,, Molnár, Z.,, Hill, R.,, Chan, K. M. A.,, Baste, I. A.,, Brauman, K. A.,, Polasky, S.,, Church, A.,, Lonsdale, M.,, Larigauderie, A.,, Leadley, P. W.,, Van Oudenhoven, A. P. E.,, Van Der Plaat, F.,, Schröter, M.,, Lavorel, S.,, Aumeeruddy-Thomas, Y.,, Bukvareva, E.,, Davies, K.,, Demissew, S.,, Erpul, G.,, Failler, P.,, Guerra, C. A.,, Hewitt, C. L.,, Keune, H.,, Lindley, S., and Shirayama, Y.. ( 2018;), ‘ Assessing nature’s contributions to people: Recognizing culture, and diverse sources of knowledge, can improve assessments. ’, Science, 359:6373, pp. 270–72, https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aap8826.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. di Minin, E.,, Fink, C.,, Hausmann, A.,, Kremer, J., and Kulkarni, R.. ( 2021;), ‘ How to address data privacy concerns when using social media data in conservation science. ’, Conservation Biology, 35:2, pp. 437–46, https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13708.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. di Minin, E.,, Tenkanen, H., and Toivonen, T.. ( 2015;), ‘ Prospects and challenges for social media data in conservation science. ’, Frontiers in Environmental Science, 3, https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2015.00063.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Fox, N.,, Graham, L. J.,, Eigenbrod, F.,, Bullock, J. M., and Parks, K. E.. ( 2021;), ‘ Enriching social media data allows a more robust representation of cultural ecosystem services. ’, Ecosystem Services, 50, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2021.101328.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Franck, G.. ( 1998), Ökonomie der Aufmerksamkeit: Ein Entwurf, Berlin:: Carl Hanser;.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Franzke, A. S.,, Bechmann, A.,, Zimmer, M.,, Ess, C.. and the Association of Internet Researchers ( 2020), Internet Research: Ethical Guidelines 3.0, Association of Internet Researchers;, https://aoir.org/reports/ethics3.pdf. Accessed 18 January 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Gebhard, U.. ( 2014), Wie viel ‘Natur’ braucht der Mensch? ‘Natur’ als Erfahrungsraum und Sinninstanz, Welche Natur brauchen wir? Analyse einer anthropologischen Grundproblematik des 21: Jahrhunderts, Freiburg and München:: Karl Alber;.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Ghermandi, A., and Sinclair, M.. ( 2019;), ‘ Passive crowdsourcing of social media in environmental research: A systematic map. ’, Global Environmental Change, 55, pp. 36–47, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.02.003.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Gibson, J. J.. ( 1979), The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception, Boston, MA:: Houghton Mifflin;.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Glaser, B., and Strauss, A. L.. ( 2006), The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research, New Brunswick, NJ and London:: Aldine Transaction;.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Guerrero, P.,, Møller, M. S.,, Olafsson, A. S., and Snizek, B.. ( 2016;), ‘ Revealing cultural ecosystem services through Instagram images: The potential of social media volunteered geographic information for urban green infrastructure planning and governance. ’, Urban Planning, 1:2, pp. 1–17, https://doi.org/10.17645/UP.V1I2.609.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Hine, C.. ( 2000), Virtual Ethnography, London:: SAGE Publications Ltd;.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Hirschauer, S., and Amann, K.. ( 1997), Die Befremdung der eigenen Kultur: Zur ethnographischen Herausforderung soziologischer Empirie, Frankfurt am Main:: Suhrkamp;.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Hogan, B.. ( 2010;), ‘ The presentation of self in the age of social media: Distinguishing performances and exhibitions online. ’, Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, 30:6, pp. 377–86, https://doi.org/10.1177/0270467610385893.
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Hollenbaugh, E. E.. ( 2021;), ‘ Self-presentation in social media: Review and research opportunities. ’, Review of Communication Research, 9, pp. 80–98, https://doi.org/10.12840/ISSN.2255-4165.027.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Ibrahim, Y.. ( 2015;), ‘ Instagramming life: Banal imaging and the poetics of the everyday. ’, Journal of Media Practice, 16:1, pp. 42–54, https://doi.org/10.1080/14682753.2015.1015800.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Instagram ( 2022;), ‘ About Instagram. ’, Instagram, 16 November, https://about.instagram.com/about-us. Accessed 16 November 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Kadykalo, A. N.,, López-Rodriguez, M. D.,, Ainscough, J.,, Droste, N.,, Ryu, H.,, Ávila-Flores, G.,, Le Clec’h, S.,, Muñoz, M. C.,, Nilsson, L.,, Rana, S.,, Sarkar, P.,, Sevecke, K. J., and Harmáčková, Z. V.. ( 2019;), ‘ Disentangling “ecosystem services” and “nature’s contributions to people”. ’, Ecosystems and People, 15:1, pp. 269–87, https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2019.1669713.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Konecki, K. T.. ( 2011;), ‘ Visual grounded theory: A methodological outline and examples from empirical work. ’, Revija za sociologiju, 41:2, pp. 131–60, https://doi.org/10.5613/RZS.41.2.1.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Kozinets, R. V.. ( 2018;), ‘ Management netnography: The art and science of online cultural business research. ’, in G. Grandy,, C. Cassell, and A. Cunliffe. (eds), The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Business and Management Research Methods, London:: Sage;, pp. 384–97.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Latour, B.. ( 2001), Das Parlament der Dinge: Für eine politische Ökologie, Frankfurt am Main:: Suhrkamp;.
     [Google Scholar]
  37. Livingstone, S.. ( 2008;), ‘ Taking risky opportunities in youthful content creation: Teenagers’ use of social networking sites for intimacy, privacy and self-expression. ’, 10:3, pp. 393–411, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1461444808089415.
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Lowe-Calverley, E., and Grieve, R.. ( 2018;), ‘ Thumbs up: A thematic analysis of image-based posting and liking behaviour on social media. ’, Telematics and Informatics, 35:7, pp. 1900–13, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2018.06.003.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Maxwell, S. L.,, Fuller, R. A.,, Brooks, T. M., and Watson, J. E. M.. ( 2016;), ‘ Biodiversity: The ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers. ’, Nature, 536:7615, pp. 143–45, https://doi.org/10.1038/536143a.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Mey, G., and Dietrich, M.. ( 2016;), ‘ Vom Text zum Bild: Überlegungen zu einer visuellen Grounded-Theory-Methodologie. ’, Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung, 17:2, https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-17.2.2535.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment ( 2005), Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Synthesis, Washington, DC:: Island Press;, https://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.356.aspx.pdf. Accessed 28 January 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Omena, J. J.,, Rabello, E. T., and Mintz, A. G.. ( 2020;), ‘ Digital methods for hashtag engagement research. ’, Social Media and Society, 6:3, pp. 1–18, https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120940697.
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Papacharissi, Z.. (ed.) ( 2010), A Networked Self: Identity, Community, and Culture on Social Network Sites, A Networked Self, New York:: Routledge;, https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203876527.
     [Google Scholar]
  44. Penke, N.. ( 2019;), ‘ #instapoetry: Popular poetry on Instagram and its affordances. ’, Lili: Zeitschrift fur Literaturwissenschaft und Linguistik, 49:3, pp. 451–75, https://doi.org/10.1007/s41244-019-00143-1.
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Peterson, G. D.,, Harmáčková, Z. V.,, Meacham, M.,, Queiroz, C.,, Jiménez-Aceituno, A.,, Kuiper, J. J.,, Malmborg, K.,, Sitas, N., and Bennett, E. M.. ( 2018;), ‘ Welcoming different perspectives in IPBES: “Nature’s contributions to people” and “ecosystem services”. ’, Ecology and Society, 23:1, https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10134-230139.
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Pink, S.,, Horst, H.,, Postill, J.,, Hjorth, L.,, Lewis, T., and Tacchi, J.. ( 2015), Digital Ethnography: Principles and Practice, Thousand Oaks, CA:: SAGE Publications Ltd;.
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Pounders, K.,, Kowalczyk, C. M., and Stowers, K.. ( 2016;), ‘ Insight into the motivation of selfie postings: Impression management and self-esteem. ’, European Journal of Marketing, 50:9&10, pp. 1879–92, https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-07-2015-0502.
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Prior, D., and Miller, L.. ( 2012;), ‘ Webethnography: Towards a typology for quality in research design. ’, International Journal of Market Research, 54:4, pp. 503–20.
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Reckwitz, A.. ( 2018), Die Gesellschaft der Singularitäten: Zum Strukturwandel der Moderne, Berlin:: Suhrkamp;.
     [Google Scholar]
  50. Rose, G.. ( 2003;), ‘ Family photography and domestic spacings: A case study. ’, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 28:1, pp. 5–18.
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Rui, J. R., and Stefanone, M. A.. ( 2013;), ‘ Strategic image management online: Self-presentation, self-esteem and social network perspectives. ’, Information Communication and Society, 16:8, pp. 1286–305, https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2013.763834.
     [Google Scholar]
  52. Ruths, D., and Pfeffer, J.. ( 2014;), ‘ Social media for large studies of behavior: Large-scale studies of human behavior in social media need to be held to higher methodological standards. ’, Science, 346:6213, pp. 1063–64, https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.346.6213.1063.
     [Google Scholar]
  53. Saker, M.. ( 2017;), ‘ Foursquare and identity: Checking-in and presenting the self through location. ’, New Media and Society, 19:6, pp. 934–49, https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444815625936.
     [Google Scholar]
  54. Schär, C.. ( 2019;), ‘ Subjekte photographieren: eine subjekt(-ivierungs) – und körperleibtheoretische Perspektivierung in digitalen sozialen Netzwerken. ’, in D. Rode, and M. Stern. (eds), Self-Tracking, Selfies, Tinder und Co.: Konstellationen von Körper, Medien und Selbst in der Gegenwart, Bielefeld:: Transcript Verlag;, pp. 183–204, https://doi.org/10.14361/9783839439081-008.
     [Google Scholar]
  55. Schlehe, J.. ( 2008;), ‘ Formen qualitativer ethnographischer Interviews. ’, in Methoden ethnologischer Feldforschung, Berlin:: Dietrich Reimer Verlag;, pp. 119–42.
     [Google Scholar]
  56. Schwartz, R., and Halegoua, G. R.. ( 2015;), ‘ The spatial self: Location-based identity performance on social media. ’, New Media and Society, 17:10, pp. 1643–60, https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444814531364.
     [Google Scholar]
  57. Statista ( 2022;), ‘ Global Instagram user age and gender distribution 2022. ’, Statista, 16 November, https://www.statista.com/statistics/248769/age-distribution-of-worldwide-instagram-users/. Accessed 16 November 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  58. Stokes, J., and Price, B.. ( 2017;), ‘ Social media, visual culture and contemporary identity. ’, in IMSCI 2017: 11th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics, 8–11 July, Winter Garden, FL, USA:: International Institute of Informatics and Systemics;, pp. 159–63, https://www.iiis.org/CDs2017/CD2017Summer/papers/EA876TF.pdf. Accessed 19 January 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  59. Strauss, A. L.. ( 1987), Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientists, Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientists, Cambridge:: Cambridge University Press;, https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511557842.
     [Google Scholar]
  60. Strauss, A. L., and Corbin, J.. ( 1994;), ‘ Grounded theory methodology: An overview. ’, in N. K. Denzin, and Y. S. Lincoln. (eds), Handbook of Qualitative Research, London and New York:: Normart K. Denzin;, pp. 273–85.
     [Google Scholar]
  61. Thumim, N.. ( 2012;), ‘ Self-representation and digital culture. ’, Self-Representation and Digital Culture, London:: Palgrave Macmillan;, https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137265135.
     [Google Scholar]
  62. Toivonen, T.,, Heikinheimo, V.,, Fink, C.,, Hausmann, A.,, Hiippala, T.,, Järv, O.,, Tenkanen, H., and di Minin, E.. ( 2019;), ‘ Social media data for conservation science: A methodological overview. ’, Biological Conservation, 233, pp. 298–315, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.01.023.
     [Google Scholar]
  63. Toscano, P.. ( 2017;), ‘ Instagram-city: New media, and the social perception of public spaces. ’, Visual Anthropology, 30:3, pp. 275–86, https://doi.org/10.1080/08949468.2017.1296313.
     [Google Scholar]
  64. van Hamme, G.,, Svensson, M. S.,, Morcatty, T. Q.,, Nekaris, K. A. I., and Nijman, V.. ( 2021;), ‘ Keep your distance: Using Instagram posts to evaluate the risk of anthroponotic disease transmission in gorilla ecotourism. ’, People and Nature, 3:2, pp. 325–34, https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10187.
     [Google Scholar]
  65. Vigl, L. E.,, Marsoner, T.,, Giombini, V.,, Pecher, C.,, Simion, H.,, Stemle, E.,, Tasser, E., and Depellegrin, D.. ( 2021;), ‘ Harnessing artificial intelligence technology and social media data to support cultural ecosystem service assessments. ’, People and Nature, 3:3, pp. 673–85, https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10199.
     [Google Scholar]
  66. Wood, S. A.,, Guerry, A. D.,, Silver, J. M., and Lacayo, M.. ( 2013;), ‘ Using social media to quantify nature-based tourism and recreation. ’, Scientific Reports, 3:1, pp. 1–7, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep02976.
     [Google Scholar]
  67. Zhao, S.. ( 2005;), ‘ The digital self: Through the looking glass of telecopresent others. ’, Symbolic Interaction, 28:3, pp. 387–405, https://doi.org/10.1525/SI.2005.28.3.387.
     [Google Scholar]
  68. Tscholl, Martin, and Sturm, Ulrike. ( 2022;), ‘ Posting nature: A critical perspective on analysing cultural ecosystem services on Instagram. ’, Journal of Environmental Media, 3:2, pp. 255–71, https://doi.org/10.1386/jem_00089_1
     [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1386/jem_00089_1
Loading
Posting nature: A critical perspective on analysing cultural ecosystem services on Instagram
Journal of Environmental Media 3, 255 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1386/jem_00089_1
/content/journals/10.1386/jem_00089_1
/content/journals/10.1386/jem_00089_1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): digital ethnography; digital nature; human–nature interaction; media anthropology; social media practices; value of nature

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error