Dog Ventriloquism on Social Media: The Motivations and the Consequences

Abstract

Throughout history, the destinies of dogs and humans have been intricately woven together. As we invent new technologies, explore new ideas, or undergo fundamental changes in society, the lives of our dogs change as well. Dogs have gone from being primarily used for hunting or protecting to be mostly for companionship. Current literature poses a viewpoint that the relationship between dogs and owners is fluid and can transition between the roles of children, objects, or dogs. This thesis seeks to validate this viewpoint as well as extending these concepts to social media; how do relationships between dogs and owners (and dogs and other people) change when dogs are ventriloquised online?
The empirical work reported in this thesis is subdivided into three interconnected studies. The first examines the relationship between dogs and dog owners through a series of surveys addressing aspects of the person’s life with their dog and their feelings towards their dog. The second study follows on from findings on from the first study, but examining the dog-human relationship through a “new” platform: Twitter. Using #dogsofTwitter as a central point, this study explores how technology is mediating and shaping how people connect with dogs online. The third and final study undertakes a more in-depth examination of Twitter, conducting a focused analysis of Twitter accounts posing as dogs. When brought together, these studies examine how the blending between online and offline relationships affect the relationship between dogs and humans, and how social media can act as a hindrance or a help to connect with dogs.
Collectively, these studies present a comprehensive understanding of ventriloquism of dogs online: why people make accounts for their dogs, how the accounts change their relationship with their own dogs, potential effects on the dogs, and how the existence of these accounts can affect unrelated people. By underpinning these findings with the dog-human interaction model from prior Sociology of Literature and empirical work, the thesis also raises questions of the use of objectification of dogs and how social media can help people understand the less-pleasant but typical aspects of dog ownership.

Date of Award	26 Sept 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Northumbria University
Supervisor	Shaun Lawson (Supervisor)