آلودگی هوای آنلاین: اطلاعات روزانه محیط در سایت رسانه اجتماعی سینا ویبو Air pollution online: everyday environmental information on the social media site Sina Weibo

Introduction This paper examines information about air pollution on the Chinese social media site Sina Weibo from the perspectives of the practice theory (Schatzki, 2001a, b) and socio-material theory (e.g. Scott and Orlikowski, 2012). Attention is paid to the constitutive entanglement of social and material aspects in how information about air pollution is shaped, in particular for understanding the digital materiality of objects such as digital devices and digital representations of physical objects related to air pollution. It aims to: explore how a certain type of environmental information is shaped in tandem with social practices, focusing in particular on digital devices and tools, digital representations of objects, and activities and experiences as part of a complex network of information providers that people encounter in their daily lives; and illustrate the role of social media as everyday information sites which Chinese citizens engage in and contribute to in their everyday lives. Research on environmentally relevant information practices has stressed the centrality of socio-material relations in shaping environmental awareness and environmental behavior (Haider, 2011, 2016; Hobson, 2006; Nathan, 2012). It is suggested that objects mediate public participation in environmental matters and solicit practices by their material presence, while articulating a representation of a certain ethic (Hobson, 2006; Marres, 2012). Furthermore, mundane objects are seen to materialize environmental concerns; items, such as cars and recycling bins, can function as trigger objects that invite people to think of environmental issues that are otherwise often abstract and invisible, for example, sustainability (Haider, 2011). Recent information practice research also explores how environmentally relevant everyday life practices play out online, and illustrates how digital practices contribute to forming information about the environment and eco-friendly lifestyles (Haider, 2016). Given the ubiquity of digital devices in contemporary society, it is safe to say that the materiality of information in online settings has implications for how information is shaped in social practices offline. This is also the case for practices that are considered to have a bearing on environmental issues. In China, environmental concerns are manifold, but air pollution, in particular, attracts a lot of attention. Given that 20 of the top 30 most polluted cities in the world are located in China (Shapiro, 2016, p. 7), and lung cancer is on the rise (Scutti, 2016), this interest is understandable. The deteriorated air quality is accompanied by the soaring sales of objects related to air pollution, such as air purifiers, facemasks, air tonics, PM2.5 measure devices, or air quality apps (Fullerton, 2016). The Chinese local environmental bureaus update the air quality measurements daily, and advertisements for various air-related items appear in the media. These objects are physically part of people’s everyday life and also figure on social media. Thus, environmental threats are strongly anchored in mundane everyday life settings and many of these settings are, in turn, saturated by use and presence of various digital devices and online communication tools. This makes everyday flows on social media an interesting starting point for an investigation, as they can provide an insight into citizens’ behaviors and perceptions in the face of environmental threats.