Networked Individualism &

ADR/ODR ProcessReflections Through

the Lens of “Peer Mediation” on Twitter

Bill Warters, Wayne State UniversityODR Forum 2013

About Me

‣ Director, Wayne State University Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution Program

Bill the Cat cartoon by

Berkeley Breathed

Networked Individualism

‣ Networked: The New Social Operating System (2012, MIT Press) by Lee Rainie and Barry Wellman

‣ Builds on Barry Wellman’s studies of community networks and Lee Rainies’ PEW Internet surveys

The “Triple Revolution”

Three Major Shifts in Social Organization

‣A Turn from Groups to Social Networks‣The Proliferation & Differentiation of a Personalized Internet ‣The Personal, Mobile and Always-Accessible Nature of Information and Communication

Networked Individuals‣ Now People Function as Networked

Individuals more often, even at home, with less emphasis on group membership

‣ Social ties and events are Organized Around the Individual rather than around social units such as family, neighborhood, workgroup or organization

‣ Person, rather than Place, is the main node. Cell phones and internet allow realtime, person-to-person contacts to supplant place-to-place communication

Diverse Networks of “Nourishment”

‣ Now more folks meet their social, emotional, and economic needs by tapping into loosely-knit networks of diverse associates rather than relying on tight connections to a relatively small number of core associates

‣ Looser and more diverse networks require more choreography and exertion to manage

‣ Often have varied networks that are specialized: help with pets and plants; medical advice; music or film opinions; gaming; financial advice; shoulder to cry on; homework help

We Still Have Close Ties

Very Close Ties Percentage Compared to 1967

Kin

Friends

Neighbors

Workmates/Schoolmates

50 about the same

41 up

4 down

5 ?

We adapt to frequent changes in our social networks due to a social environment in flux

Social Network Revolution

‣ New Media is the New Neighborhood

‣ The Lines Between Information, Communication and Action have Blurred

‣ We Fashion Complex Identities Moving Among Relationships and Milieus

as per Networked - Chapter 2 - The Social Network Revolution

A Perspective Shift“The shift to networked individualism has been accompanied by a shift in thinking about how people behave socially. Rather than seeing people as driven by individual norms or by the collective activities of solidary groups, social network analysts focus on how people’s connections affect possibilities and constraints on their behavior.”

Moore's Mediator Types‣ Social Network Mediators - respected, known to both

parties, while perhaps not neutral, thought to be fair. Their goal is to maintain group stability over time

‣ Authoritative Mediators - has some power over the parties, wants outcome to stay within certain parameters, but chooses to seek a mutual agreement from parties rather than attempting to impose a solution

‣ Independent Mediators - the North American favorite, no significant relationship to the parties, assumption of neutrality and impartiality

Time for a new hybrid?

Networks & Power‣ Old adage: “Never pick a fight with

someone who buys ink by the barrel”

‣ New adage: “Never pick a fight with a networked individual with strong internet and mobile connections”

‣ In “The Rise of the Amateur” Douglas Rushkoff comments: “The people have crashed the gates of professionalism, penetrating the formerly sacrosanct boundaries protecting elites of all industries from challenges from below.”

Observing Others‣ Surveillance - we have a long history of those

in power tracking the behaviors of those with less power

‣ Coveillance - with the rise of social media, we now "watch" our peers in various ways - eg "Facebook stalking" and monitoring of others status

‣ Sousveillance - also on the rise is observation from below of the more powerful people and organizations (term coined by Steve Mann, consumer advocate who started vlogging his interactions with retailers)

Peer Mediation

Twitter as a Lens to Study ADR Processes

Peer Mediation tweets collection

‣ Used ContextMiner.org to run a daily search for “Peer Mediation” on Twitter

‣ Gathered 421 days worth of tweets

# Includes duplicates

Tweet Samples

Tweet Word Cloud (without hash tags)

‣ Used textisbeautiful.net with subset of relevant tweets

Concept Cloud

Some Themes‣ Reasons for being

"sent" to peer mediation‣ Using peer mediation

skills in other settings‣ Perks of being in peer

mediation class (food, flexible schedules)‣ Pride getting picked for

training, credentials, creating media for prgm‣ Prepping for or

reporting on a mediation session

‣ Critiques of the fairness of process or participants‣ #Highschoolmemories,

#schoolmemories ‣ Confessions: “abuse” of

the program - eg getting out of class via peer mediation slips, gossiping‣ Vocal resistance to

participating for various reasons‣ Mediation is for

younger people than us

Negative Sentiment Subset

Positive Sentiment Subset

Popular Hashtags

Tweeted photos

Social Networks & PM

Even More Tweets!

'neutral' peer mediation was hilarious today. after the dumb bitch left, the mediators told

me im 100% right. #winning

Critical themes emerging‣ Questioning the fairness of

process re racism or structural inequality

‣ Struggles over the right forum for the fuss

‣ Mediation tied to the discipline system in counterproductive ways

‣ Mediation use is being “Weak”

‣ Back channel comments may be impacting active cases

Some Tweeted Critiques‣ Peer mediation made you wanna just whoop ass after

the meeting, not settle. Lying on me and stuff.

‣ I don't want my kid to go through peer mediation. You live in the hood you show that bitch what the hood is

‣ I remember the peer mediation teacher in hs kicked me out cuzz all that came out my mouth was I wanna get the jews out of palestine.

‣ 'Peer mediation' is just a fancy term for lazy teachers.

‣ i had peer mediation w/ the counslors today for cussing out this rascist white guy. supposedly i threatned him -_- #WasteOfMyTime #PussyAss

‣ If you have a problem with peer mediation, where do you go? WHERE DO YOU GO?

Fussing Over Forums‣ teek said y'all need peer-

mediation...lol....but for real y'all been too cool for dis shit to cme to dis.!

‣ Only fake bitches do peer mediation my nigga. I'm WAY TOO REAL for that shit. & ms.pray already know that

‣ We're fake because we requested peer mediation? Instead of fighting? And we 'jumped' her - please.

‣ #WhiteyTime peer mediation is for bitches.

‣ After 16, your too old to be fighting and pulling weave out lol...like sit down and have a discussion...peer mediation sheesh

‣ That's just peer mediation. When 2 people are fighting they have a 'middle man' to settle it. Its perfectly normal

‣ if 2omf have a problem with each other, they needa bring that the other way. Don’t come over here w. that. I'm not peer mediation.

Implications?‣ “Call a friend” concept now involves “media

multiplexity” as we move through day or process and channel shift our communications

‣ Social media provides an unevenly read (by various ADR actors) backchannel that supports or hinders dispute process adoption

‣ E-mediation referral box on twitter and other social sites?

‣ Be more alert to “Absent presence” and “Present absents”

‣ ADR Program advocates may need to incorporate or at least expect additional “participants” active in the virtual space

‣ Shift to include more ODR coaching roles and active back channel monitoring?

Democratic Education and ADR/ODR

‣ Shameless plug - Check out http://democracyis.us

Thank you!

@bwarters on twitter

w.warters@wayne.edu