Reconceptualising Digital Placemaking: A Netnographic Study from the State of Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

This article aims to contribute towards the theoretical and practical implications of ‘digital placemaking’ in the context of the state of Uttarakhand, India. In this study, we conducted a prolonged netnographic immersion with a popular online community on Facebook and analysed how the members make sense of digital placemaking in the cultural context of Uttarakhand. The data is collected using observations of the digital community and in-depth interviews of the administrators. We draw the theoretical inspirations from the perspective of ‘dialogue’ and ‘participation’ to further re-conceptualise digital placemaking and align its conceptual roots with the discipline of social change communication. Furthermore, using inductive insights, we propose key strategies shaping the process of digital placemaking.