Abstract
Moving beyond prevalent technological notions of meta-data, this essay conceptualizes meta-data as the outcome of diverse social practices from the perspective of communication theory. First, I revisit cybernetics and consider the relevance of the concept of meta-communication for the study of the digital media environment. While the bit trails that users leave behind are not normally conceptualized as communication, they are prime candidates for inclusion in a contemporary theory of communication. Second, I discuss digital media as meta-media-media that potentially reproduce and integrate other types of media, old and new. Meta-media yield new varieties of meta-communication and meta-data. Third, I outline a typology of meta-communication for further research on digital media, integrating insights from cybernetics and semiotics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | First Monday |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| ISSN | 1396-0466 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |