Folcloristas de Panamá: Using a WhatsApp group as a crowdsourcing platform for preserving

knowledge of the past

by Marino Jaén EspinosaDirector of PanamaTipico.com

Digital Past 2017 ConferenceNewport, Wales, UK

February, 2017

PanamaTipico.com

• Website devoted to researching, digitally preserving, publishing and teaching about Panama's heritage.

• Began in 2001 as a personal hobby, now it is a commercial project.

• Content available in Spanish and English.• Research presented at conferences in Panama, USA,

The Netherlands, Bulgaria, Austria and Latvia• It has participated in projects with researchers from

USA, Germany and Denmark.• Web address: www.panamatipico.com

Folcloristas de Panamá

• WhatsApp group created in June, 2016• 256 members (about 40 are very active)• Many members are folklore practitioners, researchers,

musicians, singers, composers or media people.

Online community origins

• April, 2016: First Cumbia Music Symposium at Las Tablas, Los Santos Province

• Cellphone numbers were harvested during registration of the event

Los Santos Province (1)

• Located in the Azuero Peninsula, in the Central Pacific Coast of Panama.

• Semi arid region. Locals work in agricultural activities and cattle raising

• Ethnic background is a mix of people with Spanish, African, and Indigenous descent.

• Catholicism is widespread.

• Traditional culture very much alive in the region.

• Heavy migration to other areas of Panama

Los Santos Province (2)

Active Member Profile (1)

• Gender• Female: 24.14%• Male: 75.86%

• Age• 18-25: 3.45%• 25-34: 10.34%• 35-44: 17.24%• 45-54: 24.14%• 55-64: 27.59%• 65+: 17.24%

Active Member Profile (2)

• Province of birth• Los Santos: 58.62%• Panama: 27.59%• West Panama: 10.34%• Other: 3.45%

• Province of residence• Los Santos: 41.38%• Panama: 34.48%• West Panama: 17.24%• Other: 6.90%

Autoregulation mechanisms and conflicts

• Initially, the creator of the group posted basic rules.• Off-topic became an issue due to limited time of

users.• Large files quickly clogged up cellphones.• Creator asked for input to update rules.• Music sharing provoked legal concerns.• Leechers.• Users who owned businesses spammed the group.• Members grew impatient with lack of advances

towards goals.• Founder briefly left the group.• Politics got involved.• Loss of membership and stabilization.

Content typology for Sample Week One (early August 2016)

• Total messages: 451

• Heritage-related messages: 23.28%• Heritage-related photos: 17.96%• Music recordings: 14.64%• Projects: 9.53%• Housekeeping: 5.77%• Jokes and memes: 15.30%• Religion-related messages: 10.42%• Personal messages: 3.10%

Content typology for Sample Week Two (mid October 2016)

• Total messages: 338

• Heritage-related messages: 26.33%• Heritage-related photos: 6.80% Decrease• Music recordings: 3.55% Decrease• Projects: 9.17%• Housekeeping: 13.31% Increase• Jokes and memes: 26.63% Increase• Religion-related messages: 11.83%• Personal messages: 2.37%

Content typology for Sample Week Three (late January 2017)

• Total messages: 310

• Heritage-related messages: 32.58% Increase• Heritage-related photos: 14.52% Increase• Music recordings: 6.77%• Projects: 8.06%• Housekeeping: 4.84% Decrease• Jokes and memes: 13.87%• Religion-related messages: 13.55%• Personal messages: 5.81%

Impact in the real world

• Group has become a registered association with a board of directors.

• It has successfully lobbied local authorities for the creation and funding of a regional traditional music contest and award.

• It is planning for the creation of the Museum of Panamanian Music.

Conclusions

• While not a cutting-edge technology, WhatsApp can be an effective tool in crowdsourcing efforts to discuss digital heritage.

• Despite the positive aspects that WhatsApp brings, after a few days, it becomes a liability when trying to search for content.

• Without a clear set of rules and active enforcement, the group can, and will, quickly descend into chaos.

• Despite the many conflicts, if well managed, such a group can have lasting effects and influence in the real world in topics related to heritage and folklore.

Thank you!

Research organization:www.panamatipico.com

Author can be reached at:marino@panamatipico.com