Yotam Ophir Quoted in AP on the Next Big Thing in Online Community Building
The Associated Press quoted Yotam Ophir, associate professor in the Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, in an article about wplace, an online gamified map for artists to share their work.
The article quoted Ophir in an article about wplace, a fast-growing online platform where millions of users collaborate to “paint the world” on a massive digital map. Since launching in July, the site has attracted over 10 million users, who contribute pixel art ranging from pop culture tributes to political messages. Ophir described the project’s chaotic creativity as a kind of “rebellion” against today’s structured internet, noting how it blends playfulness, cultural identity, and even protest — while also raising challenges around moderation and online community norms.
