Beyond YouTube: Sharing Personal Digital Stories on a Community Display

Abstract

Video-sharing sites such as YouTube and Vimeo have been used to share videos that describe difficult life experiences, and provide a forum for people living with adversity to express themselves and connect with others. This may not benefit those who require support in building local connections, however, as audiences are unknown and may not be supportive of content. In this paper we present findings from a project that investigated how creating and sharing digital stories in local community settings could help build a sense of connection for those who are housebound and unable to participate in community activities. This paper outlines two interlinked studies. Study One describes an analysis of online videos shared by housebound people. This informed Study Two, which involved creating digital stories with participants, and developing an interactive display to share the stories at a local community event. This paper contributes insights into the opportunities and challenges of using a community display for sharing personal digital stories.