Remix Networks in Scratch

Abstract

Technologies that permit user-generated content can also be extended to permit modification, or remixing, of that content. Sites that encourage remixing often allow for trees of modifications to form: in this way, the evolution of ideas is made explicit. By studying these trees, we may gain insight into social creativity, and may find ways of designing more productive online communities. This work examines a particular community in which programmers, mainly youths, contribute content and extend each other’s work. This community, found at scratch.mit.edu, has been the subject of other research in which the attitudes and processes of the participants have been examined.

Keywords: user-generated content, social creativity, online communities, remixing network, Scratch