#GoodVibesOnly: Exploring social constructionism on high-level anonymous social applications: A Case of Jodel—Ghana

Abstract

Several outcomes have been documented on the effect of anonymity on behaviors and norms. However, unlike similar Complete Anonymous Applications (CAPs) that have been discontinued due to their anonymous affordance and associated drawbacks, Jodel has been able to withstand the test of time since its inception. As a result, this study examines how the Jodel platform in Ghana, specifically Accra, constructs its community jointly to ensure positivity by utilizing the social construction framework. Three themes emerge from the data using iterative analysis. It was found that the community’s communal construction was primarily based on user needs, later categorized as social solidarity, which influenced the other constructions: legalism and culture. Using them as a foundation, the community upheld social order through their constructions and Jodel’s predefined affordances. Emphasizing the possibility of social order even on CAPs.