#arrowheads: Instagram as a Creative, Social Media-Based Approach to Public Archaeology

Summary

Social media is a hot topic of discussion and innovation among archaeologists. Although we've improved our ability to digitally reach wider audiences, "social media" is not a single entity. Each platform is different: purposes, user bases, and means of connection vary widely. As archaeologists, we must be proactive about fully understanding these differences, in order to find the most effective ways use each platform and reach a greater public.

This paper provides an example of one way to accomplish these goals. Instagram is a mobile device-based image sharing social media platform; users connect with hashtags: pound signs followed by a word or phrase of interest. I surveyed American Instagram users who self-identify as "artifact collectors" to understand their demographics, how they use Instagram, how and why they collect, and their thoughts on archaeologists, collaboration, and cultural resources. This allows me to holistically understand the community that I hope to interact and collaborate with, and how best to reach them. By conducting similar surveys of users on other social media platforms, professionals and groups working in public archaeology can expand the depth and breath of their outreach efforts, and be more aware of the needs and interests of their audiences.

SAA 2015 abstracts made available in tDAR courtesy of the Society for American Archaeology and Center for Digital Antiquity Collaborative Program to improve digital data in archaeology. If you are the author of this presentation you may upload your paper, poster, presentation, or associated data (up to 3 files/30MB) for free. Please visit http://www.tdar.org/SAA2015 for instructions and more information.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

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