Defining affordances in social media research: A literature review

Abstract

An increasingly influential strand of research on social media relies on the concept of affordances to account for effects. However, hindering the possibility of a unified theory of affordances in social media is the conceptual blurring surrounding the concept. This article engages in a comprehensive review of the affordances literature in social media, aiming to provide an overview of the current state of the art and clarify the use of the concept. Through a systematic literature review, the characteristics of affordances research in social media are uncovered: the most prominent areas of application, research approaches, and dominant typologies and conceptualisations. Significant blurriness of the term ‘affordance’ is identified as well as an inconsistent use in research. To tackle these problems, a unified definition of affordances in social media is proposed based on the synthesis of knowledge on affordances in technology and social media. The suggested definition captures the core aspects of the concept to reduce ambiguity in the use of the concept and further the research on affordances of social media. The article provides the groundwork for future use of affordances theory in social media research.

Technological affordances of video streaming platforms: Why people prefer video streaming platforms over television

“…Because of its ambiguity of use and meaning, the affordance concept is highly contested in the literature (see Ronzhyn et al, 2022 for a systematic review of affordances in social media). Building further on the MAIN model, this study has conceptualized affordances as properties of streaming technology that give rise to platform-oriented gratifications.…”

“…The concept of affordances has become increasingly influential in media and communications research, especially related to social media (e.g. Bucher and Helmond, 2018; Circucci, 2017; Ronzhyn et al, 2022). Affordances enabled by internet-distributed television allow people to experience audiovisual programming in more interactive and personalized ways.…”

The impact of social network embeddedness on mobile massively multiplayer online games play

“…A player, therefore, utilises SNE functions to team up with SNS friends to achieve better performance and to increase the joy of gameplay. The outcome of interaction between actors and technology is the actualization of affordance (Ronzhyn et al, 2023). Under the influence of SNE, the social capital from SNS exerts a salient impact on MMOG players' social experience.…”

“…The outcome of interaction between actors and technology is the actualization of affordance (Ronzhyn et al, 2023). Under the influence of SNE, the social capital from SNS exerts a salient impact on MMOG players' social experience.…”

Voice and “digital disruption” in internal communication job advertisements: proposing a vocality continuum

“…Organisations use a variety of technologies including email, websites and social networking sites all of which are designed with particular capabilities or features, although the affordances of these technologies can be appropriated in many possible ways (Barley and Poole, 2019). An affordance approach is productive for theory building as it focuses on the consequences of technology including on "the types of communicative practices that various features afford" (Treem and Leonardi, 2013, p. 178), Proposing a vocality continuum while acknowledging that affordances are emergent not pre-determined (Ronzhyn et al, 2023). It can also help to reconcile "celebratory claims around the capacity of digital media" (Dreher, 2017, p. 25), such as potential for voice.…”