#FatherForgiveMe For I Have TrolledRe-Imagining the Scope of Religious Confession in the Digital World

Presented at the Conference on Information and Religion at Kent State University

Michael J. ToyJune 5, 2015

I. IntroductionII. The Problem – who is posting? People or machines?

a. Example: Redditb. Activity in the digital sphere does not necessarily

correspond to human activity, and even if it does, there are no guaranteed ways to know.

III. The Solutiona. Peel back the layers of digital activity to find the

humansb. Ignore the humans, analyze the datac. A third way – examine the data as a digital environment

that invites human participationIV. The Way Forward

a. What lines connect the digital to the human practices?b. Desire for community – Anna Polettic. Platform for Entertainment

V. Conclusion

Appendix

Figures 1A-B: Let’s Confess – Digital App

Figures 2A-c: Post Anonymous – Digital App

Figures 3A-E: PostSecret – Digital App

Fi

Figures 4A-C: Yik Yak – Digital App

Figure 5A-B: Whisper – Digital App

Figure 6A-B: Secret – Digital App

Figures 7A-B: Reddit.com/r/confession

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