Module 9

December 31, 2025

This module wraps up the course by diving into how new technologies like TikTok and VR shape storytelling, completing the Selfies assignments, and reflecting on key course insights. Students will also examine the future of narrative and critically review their learning journey, considering how their perspectives on digital storytelling have evolved.

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Ashvaria1 April 2025 at 23:34
This module has been a fantastic way to reflect on the journeys taken both by media and myself (in a digital landscape).

The timeline of the history of publishing gives some great insights into just how much the media world has changed. Yet, Kaye et al.’s article reminded me that some things never change! Disputes over content ownership have been going on for decades. I think of examples like Yann Martel and Moacyr Scliar, Rod Stewart and Jorge Ben Jor, Soulja Boy and Ariana Grande, and John Lennon’s infamous “there are only so many notes.” While the text focuses on TikTok, its discussions of authorship and attribution reminded me of a course I took on remixes, where we explored how originality may be a myth in today’s world; perhaps what differentiates a remix from plagiarism, then, is intention. But how can we analyze intention in modern apps like TikTok, which “encourages spreadability by circumscribing creativity” (3199)? With social media elements like audio clips, stitches, memes, and trends helping drive algorithms, can we use the same rules of attribution and ownership? I feel like Kaye et al. end on an almost resigned note, highlighting that this fight over authorship and “originality” continues to be ongoing, with the emergence of social media apps only further complicating the “legal and sociotechnical intersection of authorship and practices of (mis)attribution on social media” (3195).

On a more positive note, the Future of Storytelling emphasizes the grand potential of AI and technology in crafting rich, intimate, and unique experiences for consumers in the "age of immersion" (Future of StoryTelling). I found the organization's goals and videos very exciting, especially as I relate a lot of their ideas and ambitions to my own choose-your-own-adventure novel I am working on! Chet Faliszek's discussion in "Introducing Free Will in Video Gaming" painted a very optimistic picture of free will in video games, with NPCs being given desires and goals and then seeing what they choose! It reminded me of Free Guy, in a sense. What really sold the idea for me was how Chet talked about using AI to create a "new kind of game, one with endless missions, stories, strategies, and scenarios that the game designer could never have dreamed of, let alone designed” (Future of StoryTelling).
I have my qualms with AI, but the way these people talk about it makes me want to believe in its potential, especially in relation to storytelling. In the TechCrunch interview, I liked how Mariana described things as the "convergence of storytelling and technology." To me, this implies that neither storytelling nor technology overpowers the other in this new field; instead, they work together in a symbiotic relationship to produce the ultimate experience for the consumer. Mariana's later discussions on hyper-realism (or the lack) in gaming, of the VR medium finally being understood in terms of storytelling, and of character development (of all, from NPCs to the player) being an integral part of the experience again just showcase the phenomenal products AI could produce. I also really appreciated Guy's response to avoiding a "Virtual World of Bros;" AI bias and prejudice in technology is something I have tried to learn more about throughout this course, so it was nice to hear about how early recruitment of diverse backgrounds can help them develop a more holistic and inclusive space in gaming!

In many ways, this module reflects my own journey with the digital landscape as a result of this course. Like Kaye et al., I started off very skeptical of new media and how it may perpetuate the same issues that it always has. However, over the modules, I have come to see the benefits of using AI and technology as tools for good in the digital landscape, and am leaving with a optimistic view on the great potential of new media narratives. Also, it has been an absolute pleasure learning with you all! Best of luck with the final assignment, and for your future endeavours! :)
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Anonymous10 April 2025 at 14:04
This course offered some new perspectives on my relationship with technology. I love the convenience of it, but I am wary of the influence of technology. Over time, I gained a more nuanced perspective on how technology can intersect with life in meaningful and creative ways. One concept that really stuck with me was technobiophilia. I hadn’t heard the term before, but as someone who loves nature, I found the idea that technology can connect us to the natural world rather than isolate us from it both comforting and inspiring. I've always been concerned about how disconnected my generation feels from the natural world, and technobiophilia offered a hopeful alternative. Since learning about it, I’ve made small changes like adding nature-themed backgrounds to my devices, and I want to bring plants into my workspace.

Another impactful idea was the ephemerality of digital media. I’d used features like Instagram Stories and Snapchat without thinking too deeply about their implications. This course helped me see that temporary content can actually lessen the pressure of perfection and permanence in online spaces. I realized how ephemeral media allows more authentic expression, but also raised questions I hadn’t considered: Are we losing something by letting moments disappear so quickly? Are we less present as a result? These reflections gave me a deeper appreciation for the fleeting nature of digital experiences. The module on selfies and AI selfies also challenged my thinking. Initially, I didn’t understand the appeal of AI-generated selfies, but trying it out was unexpectedly fun and even insightful. It helped me explore different sides of myself that don’t always come through in traditional photos. The readings showed that selfies can be powerful tools for self-expression, identity, and activism.

Reflecting on all this, I now see technology not just as a challenge, but also how it can be used as a creative tool. Technology can enhance our connection to each other, to culture, and even to nature. I’m leaving this course with a more optimistic outlook on the role of tech and a renewed intention to strike a better balance between the digital and the natural in my own life.
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Anyi12 April 2025 at 20:26
I really enjoyed this module. It’s so fascinating to see how new tech is shaking up storytelling. Storytelling is being reinvented by emerging media, whether it’s VR, interactive games, or even TikTok. We’re basically watching the old “one-way” narrative give way to more interactive, audience-driven forms.

VR, for example, turns stories into immersive experiences where the audience can literally be inside the narrative. The Future of StoryTelling (FoST) channel showcased this back in 2017. One project, Karen Palmer’s RIOT, was an immersive film that actually uses AI to watch the viewer’s facial expressions and alters its story in real time based on our emotions. It basically puts the audience in the middle of a riot and says, “your mood will guide what happens next.” That’s a huge shift from passive viewing. It also makes you wonder: if the story changes with each viewer’s reactions, who’s the author here? The creator sets the stage, but the audience’s input shapes the narrative outcome.
I also liked the AR/VR storytelling from the TechCrunch discussion (2024), which underscores the same trend: new tech is blurring the line between storyteller and audience. VR can drop us into a virtual world where we interact with the story environment, and AR can layer story elements onto our real-world surroundings. That creates a kind of interactive narrative that unfolds around the user. I find it intriguing how they emphasize the audience experience in these media – like, it’s no longer about just watching a story, you’re in it. The audience’s choices, movements, and even location can influence how the story plays out. That’s a far cry from the old days of sitting on a couch and being spoon-fed a plot. It’s more engaging, but it also means storytellers have to design experiences that account for different ways an audience might go through the story. We’re still figuring out the “grammar” of AR/VR narratives, but it’s exciting to watch it develop.

And then there’s TikTok – a whole different storytelling wild west. On TikTok, narrative isn’t handed down from a single author; it’s crowdsourced and remixed across the community. You have viral dances, memes, and POV series where thousands of creators iterate on the same “story.” Kaye et al. (2021) point out that TikTok’s platform design even blurs authorship on a technical level: their study found that about 27% of videos had misattributed audio – the app credited the wrong user as the “original” creator of a sound! So a trend’s originator might get lost in the shuffle. In practice, a TikTok “story” (like a meme format or audio clip) often has no single author – it’s a chain of creators building on each other’s work. This is really cool because it makes storytelling on TikTok a participatory, collaborative game. But it can also be chaotic. The lack of clear attribution means some creators don’t get credit for their ideas, and narratives can evolve in unexpected ways as they go viral. It challenges our old notions of author and audience. On TikTok, the audience is the creator, in a very literal sense, and the platform intentionally encourages that kind of collective authorship.
I think the big takeaway from all this (and from our course) is that storytelling is becoming more interactive and democratized. The core purpose of storytelling – connecting with people through narrative – is still there, but the formats are evolving. We now have stories that you can step into with a headset, stories you can play and change, and stories you can literally create together with millions of others online.
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Jalynn Li8 April 2026 at 21:49
What I appreciated most about this module is how it shifted my understanding of new technologies from being tools that enhance storytelling to systems that actively shape and constrain it. Before this module, I tended to view platforms like TikTok or emerging formats like VR as simply offering new creative possibilities. However, I now see that these technologies also structure how narratives are produced, circulated, and valued, often in ways that are not immediately visible.

One idea that stood out to me is the instability of authorship in digital environments. Kaye et al. (2021) argue that on platforms like TikTok, content is constantly remixed, reused, and detached from its original creator. While I initially saw this as a form of collective creativity, I now think it also raises important questions about meaning and control. When a narrative is repeatedly adapted to fit trends, sounds, or algorithmic preferences, its original context can be diluted or even lost. This makes me question whether storytelling in these environments is driven more by expression or by the need to remain visible within platform systems.

I was also struck by how different technologies shape audience attention. VR storytelling, as discussed by Arcagni and D’Aloia (2021), aims to create immersive and sustained engagement, encouraging users to stay within a narrative world. In contrast, platforms like TikTok are structured around rapid consumption, repetition, and constant scrolling. This suggests that new media does not simply diversify storytelling formats, but reorganizes attention itself. Stories are no longer just told—they are optimized for speed, engagement, and circulation.

Overall, this module made me reflect more critically on the idea that technological innovation automatically leads to better storytelling. Instead, I now understand that these platforms carry embedded logics that privilege certain types of narratives over others. This raises a broader question for me: are new technologies expanding narrative possibilities, or are they subtly narrowing them by rewarding what is most visible, repeatable, and algorithm-friendly?

In my view, new technologies are doing both at the same time. On one hand, they expand narrative possibilities by lowering barriers to creation and allowing more people to participate in storytelling. Platforms like TikTok enable users to experiment with formats, remix content, and reach wide audiences without traditional gatekeepers. On the other hand, these platforms also narrow storytelling in subtle ways. Because visibility is shaped by algorithms, creators are often encouraged to follow trends, use familiar formats, and prioritize content that is short and immediately engaging. Over time, this can lead to repetition and limit diversity in storytelling practices. Rather than being purely liberating or restrictive, new technologies create a tension between creative possibility and platform control.

References

Arcagni, S., & D’Aloia, A. (2021). VR storytelling: Potentials and limitations of virtual reality narratives. Cinergie – Il Cinema e le altre arti.

Kaye, D., Rodriguez, A., Langton, K., & Wikström, P. (2021). You made this? I made this: Practices of authorship and (mis)attribution on TikTok. International Journal of Communication.
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Fyruz Abuoun10 April 2026 at 17:10
Kaye et al. looks into on how Tiktok’s features affect how creators attribute artists and/or audio creators. They outline features such as Tiktok’s automatic attribution of audios, manual attribution through a post’s metadata or misattribution for posts that do not get automatic attribution or manual attribution. The study raises questions regarding authorship in short-form content and more customizable content that Tiktok allows for. The study focuses on attribution for sound and audio, but it sparked questions about attribution for ideas and templates of Tiktoks. In other words, what can be said about the users who curate a certain template with an audio that becomes the new trend? Long-time users will be familiar with how trends often communicate the same idea but will use different audios so it seems like it is fresh and unique. In another article by Zari Taylor, she posits how users are generally aware of ownership and attribution, but are not necessarily well-versed in legalities of copyright. When it comes to Tiktok content, this generally seems to be sufficient, but the saturation of content and fast-moving trends allows the original to be quickly lost. This is then made more difficult by the lack of formal process by Tiktok, so it ultimately is up to the user to add a caption with credit; if they choose not to, it is unclear whether they are unaware of the practice, or if they willingly refrained (Taylor). I find this ambiguity to be a concern for the future of publishing new media narratives. When bringing into question the rise of generative AI, theft of content and ideas has become easier than ever. In a mediascape that is oversaturated, it also makes it easy for the original to be buried and harder to give attribution.

Taylor, Zari. “Algorithms, affordances and the ambiguity of credit on TikTok.” Continuum, vol. 40, no. 2, 17 June 2025, pp. 280–293, https://doi.org/10.1080/10304312.2025.2518971.
Valdovinos Kaye, David Bondy, et al. “You made this? I made this: Cultures of automatic (mis)attribution on TIKTOK.” AoIR Selected Papers of Internet Research, 5 Oct. 2020, https://doi.org/10.5210/spir.v2020i0.11354.
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Beth Rowsell12 April 2026 at 17:58
The future of storytelling truly feels unpredictable. As an example, I'm sure many did not think that TikTok would blow up in the way that it did. The shift to short form content is the current era of social media that we are in, with even other platforms integrating their own version of short form content. Reels for Instagram, shorts for YouTube, and many more. The issue of authorship becomes so much more prevalent when we take cross-posting into consideration. As it is very common for videos to be shared across platforms, it can become hard to tell who the creator is. (Kaye et al., 2021) This is very important to be aware of in the age of constant misinformation that is being spread on the internet. You need to fully be aware of the source of the material. Media literacy is an incredibly important skill as it is integral to think critically about the posts that you engage with, to just not immediately accept them as fact. Overall, this course has really taught me to think more critically about concepts like authorship and how narratives are constantly shifting. The world of publishing has been under constant change and development, and the nature of who and what is controlling these media narratives is important to be aware of. It feels like we are currently living in an unprecedented time of technological innovation, it would be so interesting to see this course in ten years time, just to see how much this field has developed since now.
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