Article Preview
Top1. Introduction
Storytelling was used through all ages to share traditional knowledge and practice as well as cultural information. As Yilmaz & Ciğerci explained: “Telling stories is one of the basic qualities of human understanding” (Yilmaz & Ciğerci, 2019, p. 1). Initially stories were retold orally, but later—when other media became available—it was conveyed as a narrative using text and sometimes visual media such as drawings or photos. The main difference between digital storytelling and paper-based storytelling is that the latter is physical and static whereas digital storytelling is virtual and thus transient. Even though digital videos were used prior to 1993, it was mostly used by digital artists and within the domain of filmmaking, using expensive equipment. The term “Digital storytelling” was used to explain to people how to—without computer or filmmaking knowledge—create and digitally record their own short story. With the advances made in technology—and improved access to smart mobile devices—storytelling has become more accessible to people from all walks of life. Especially those with the know-how and resources to tell these stories.
Currently storytelling is used for entertainment, advertising, as well as in therapy and other serious matters. According to Lambert “We look forward to a time when cognitive scientists and therapeutic researchers look more closely at the tools of multimedia as an extension of our understanding of art and narrative therapies“ (Lambert, 2013, p. 106).
COVID-19 catapulted the global population into digital mode–and serious digital storytelling—and thus the digital divide and associated disparity of those people without access, resources or the know-how to use technologies, have become more pronounced. The pandemic has expedited the concept of the “fourth industrial revolution” which demands skills, access and resources. These will increasingly become a requirement rather than a luxury (Schwab, 2017).
1.1 Background and context
The requirements to tell a digital story means that the following needs to be considered: motivation, ability as well as resources. To put it in a nutshell: to be able to tell a digital story ethically and autonomously, the storyteller needs certain digital skills (competences), general skills (such as literacy), digital resources as well as the motivation (digital affinity) to tell the story.
It might be asked what digital skills would be required to tell a digital story? It is the ability to use visual content—such as images and video—and audio content—such as making a recording or using existing audio clips—and the ability to assemble and edit these to create a story. However, what is also required are resources such as a mobile phone, a computer and access to editing, as well as visual and audio software. And obviously the motivation to create such a story either for social media, advertising or for serious matters.
Mobile technology is being used ubiquitously by all and a digital identity and digital memory on social platforms, is often an important component of an individual’s life “The affordances shared by texting, social media and the interactive storytelling medium have become infrastructural to identity in many youth cultures” (Proctor & Blikstein, 2019, p. 298).