Papers by William S Pendergrass
Issues in Information Systems, 2024
This study offers continued research on the Reddit Digital Mandala phenomenon r/place. The resear... more This study offers continued research on the Reddit Digital Mandala phenomenon r/place. The research provides a background understanding of sand art/mandala as an ancient communication, art form and technology. A historical precis of the r/place mandala events provides details on the process and construction of the mandalas of 2017, and 2022 in which defined themes emerged giving insight into user preferences, motivations, and participation. Employing Digital Ethnographic collection and analysis for this study, the 2023 mandala experience is examined with consideration of variables affecting users: ownership of Reddit and data, pricing for participation, and technology enhancements with Artificial Intelligence and software application use. Considering these variables, major themes again emerge as direct response, disclosing characteristics and behaviors exhibited by the r/place mandala community, Reddit and Redditors and AI investors as a whole.
2023 Proceedings of the Information Systems and Computing Academic Professionals (ISCAP) Conference, 2023
Chinese company ByteDance released the short-video app TikTok in 2018. Since then TikTok has expl... more Chinese company ByteDance released the short-video app TikTok in 2018. Since then TikTok has exploded in popularity, chronicling all aspects of social media interactions: dance videos, social commentary, live streaming, fashion, news and more. As it has become more popular, the fact that it is a Chinese-owned company has garnered more and more scrutiny and concern as Chinese tech companies must share user data with the their government and the Communist Party when required. As the U.S. and other governments have looked to block TikTok from sharing their users' data, TikTok and ByteDance have countered those efforts. This game of strategic move and counter can be viewed through the strategic lens of the ancient Chinese General Sun Tzu and his axioms in his seminal work, The Art of War. This paper conducts a qualitative case study analysis to describe and explain the context of the moves and the desired outcomes of both sides.
Issues in Information Systems, 2023
This study examines the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Generative Adversarial Networking (GA... more This study examines the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Generative Adversarial Networking (GAN) in TikTok image filters, specifically the Teenage Look and Bold Glamour filters. Through a case study analysis of secondary qualitative material, two research questions were addressed: Do AI GAN filters' use in TikTok facilitate harm on users, and if so, what can be done to counter those harms? The study confirmed that harms to users' self-image and society can exist and provided ways to counter those harms by addressing legislative, technological, and social means.
Issues in Information Systems, 2022
This study examines the social-digital behaviors of online communities through the experience of ... more This study examines the social-digital behaviors of online communities through the experience of building an online mandala. The article provides historical background to ancient practice of sand painting, or mandala, as a social phenomenon through its evolution to online application and participation via the social media app, Reddit, and their r/place digital mandala creation experiences hosted in 2017 and again in 2022. The methodology employed for the study was agile ethnography. Data analysis affirmed that Reddit remains a nexus for individuals to communicate and experience authentic human connection through digital format. Further, data analysis revealed interesting points regarding the communication initiation-response phenomenon with comparison of similarity and difference behaviors between the 2017 and 2022 experiences, evolution of the community experience in the construction of the digital mandalas by r/place subgroups, and the emergence of collaborative and chaotic evil, good and neutral participants, and groups. The study also provides ideas for future socio-digital research.
Issues in Information Systems, 2018
The Smartphone has become a useful tool for society. It combines most of the elements from previo... more The Smartphone has become a useful tool for society. It combines most of the elements from previously distinct devices: cell phones, cameras, personal computers, calculators, social media, etc. While the smartphone is useful, it often comes with negative consequences. Social media applications and platforms are programmed with attention and addiction software that reinforces continual engagement. The software manipulates emotional and cognitive awareness and response, resulting in altered interpersonal communication, small group communication, and mass communication. These communications and interactions may increase the severity and prevalence of user addiction, emotional distress, and relationship issues. This paper investigates the results of several studies that highlight these, and other, adverse effects of social media engagement through smartphones, and briefly examines Snapchat with regards to these factors.
Proceedings of the Conference for Information Systems Applied Research, 2017
Communication is a means to reach out to another. Language, a form of communication, was develope... more Communication is a means to reach out to another. Language, a form of communication, was developed by humans to better connect with others and share abstract concepts and information. Electronic communication has evolved through today's use of the Smartphone. Smartphone use has exploded since it was introduced in the form of the iPhone in 2007. Within one device rest any number of devices which used to be separate in form and function. However, this modern form of communication has its down side. Some people use their smartphone in manners which suggest addictive behavior. Phone snubbing, or phubbing, has entered our lexicon because of phubbing's ubiquitous presence in modern communication. In addition to smartphone misuse comes corporate desire to keep you on the phone as long as they can. This paper examines the evolution of communication through language and electronic use and the rise of the Attention Economy which is designed to keep you on your smartphone.
Issues in Information Systems, 2016
Once confined to the classroom, playground, or the walk home, bullying has become immediate, cons... more Once confined to the classroom, playground, or the walk home, bullying has become immediate, constant, and unrelenting through the use of social media and mobile devices. Cybershaming is both perceived social justice and sport to a growing part of the public. Information sharers and gatherers have become more impulsive and reactive;
and less introspective, empathetic, and kind, thus feeding the voracious cybershaming trend. In an attempt to understand why and how the cybershaming trend is growing, the researchers examine three recent cases of cybershaming and their fit within Nicholas Carr’s Shallowing Hypothesis.
Issues in Information Systems, 2015
Twitter is an Internet-based communication technology that enables users to distribute short mess... more Twitter is an Internet-based communication technology that enables users to distribute short messages, known as tweets, of 140 characters or less. Twitter uses symbols to give more meaning to aspects of its tweets. The # symbol, also known as " hashtag " , enables users to share meaningful words or phrases through tweets and retweets. In the Spring of 2014, several hashtaged phrases related to gender discussions swept around the world. This case study analysis of events details the reasons for and results of the phenomenon.
2014 Proceedings of the Conference for Information Systems Applied Research, 2014
The Anonymous hacktivist movement began in earnest in 2008 with Operation Chanology. Over the yea... more The Anonymous hacktivist movement began in earnest in 2008 with Operation Chanology. Over the years and through various operations and through various factions, Anonymous has espoused freedom of information and become an advocate for individuals’ rights and protections. In late 2012, an Anonymous member KY Anonymous began a series of operations under the banner of KnightSec. These Justice Operations went after many individuals and groups but culminated with operations in support of a victim of a rape and against the rapists from Steubenville, Ohio. Using Case Study analysis of collected news articles, blogs, social media accounts and such, an analysis of the KnightSec movement was conducted. Though the movement eventually collapsed, valuable lessons of social media use by many participatory parties were concluded. Social media, an integral part of all actors in the events, was the facilitator for nearly all communications as well as archivist for all actions, legal, illegal and those in between.
Issues in Information Systems, 2014
In this paper, we analyze information collected from a variety of electronic news sources on case... more In this paper, we analyze information collected from a variety of electronic news sources on cases of cyberbullying. Utilizing a case study approach, we examined in detail victims’ experiences with cyberbullying. Each case study involved a female teenage girl who committed suicide following repeated cyberbullying. Two of the three cases involved the sharing of explicit sexual material, which triggered further cyberbullying behaviors by the girls’ classmates. All girls had tried to escape the cyberbullying behaviors by leaving school and/or switching schools, but they were intentionally and continuously targeted. In addition, the girls had prior suicide attempts before they committed suicide. We argue that parents should be aware of what their kids are doing online and establish rules for technology usage, and encourage their children to talk to them immediately if they are cyberbullied.
Issues in Information Systems, 2013
The hacking group CabinCr3w emerged in conjunction with the Occupy Wall Street movement in late 2... more The hacking group CabinCr3w emerged in conjunction with the Occupy Wall Street movement in late 2011. Initially they were solely involved in releasing personal information or “dox” on Wall Street investment bankers and other individuals who were involved in facilitating the “Great Recession.” However in November of 2011, under an operation they dubbed Operation Pig Roast, CabinCr3w increasingly turned their attention to hacking law enforcement organizations and government institutions across the country. In March of 2012, two of the most active members of the group were arrested and charged with several high-profile hacks. An analysis of secondary data in the form of news articles and unsealed Criminal Citations reveals that both hackers made fundamental and basic mistakes in preserving their anonymity, which law enforcement officials used to connect their online identities to their physical locations. 
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Papers by William S Pendergrass
and less introspective, empathetic, and kind, thus feeding the voracious cybershaming trend. In an attempt to understand why and how the cybershaming trend is growing, the researchers examine three recent cases of cybershaming and their fit within Nicholas Carr’s Shallowing Hypothesis.