Open vs. Closed Social Networks: A Reflection

The live-action Mulan movie dropped on Disney+ this past Friday, September 4. For $30 on top of a Disney+ subscription, users gained premiere action to this remake of the animated 1997 classic. The film premiered to mixed reviews and no shortage of controversy, from arguments on the level of respect to the source material to questions of cultural accuracy and representation of people of color.

Depending on the type of social network you engage in, your perception of the film’s reception may swing one way or another. Open social networks see more of the controversy, with users of diverse backgrounds and opinions publicly engaging in dialogue, while a closed social network may lean more toward a consensus.

A public Twitter feed has its benefits. Anyone can comment, fact-check the original poster, or create a dialogue for other users to participate in. When the @Variety Twitter account posted a video of Mulan’s costume designer, Bina Daigeler, proudly discussing her research on traditional Chinese dress, Twitter users from all corners of the site had varying things to say. Comments ranged from “Jenny is amazing” (@xu_jinyan, 2020) to criticisms of Disney selecting a white woman to head the costume design for a movie set in ancient China.

As far as valid criticisms go, Twitter certainly had plenty for the new film. The conversations being had about representation (both onscreen and off), cultural inaccuracies, and good vs. bad filmmaking are as compelling as they are important. However, all this critique has left some users feeling alienated. Twitter user @kaila_ren opened a Tweet by saying, “I’m starting to feel bad for liking Mulan” (2020). Another user pondered if she was even losing followers for “enjoying live action Mulan” (@tiahoksa, 2020).

Open forums can be aggressive, and the experiencing alienation in the midst of controversies and arguments can lead people to seek communities where they feel better understood, heard, and supported. The private Facebook group, Disneybounders Unite! (Disneybound Fan Group), is celebrating what many members are referring to as Mulan Day by putting together outfits inspired by the film. The corresponding Instagram account shared a few of these celebratory outfits.

This closed social network of Disney and fashion enthusiasts has no negative comments about the film 24 hours after its release. Members are sharing what they loved about the film and characters in captions accompanying their photos to equal amounts of praise from commenters. Though the group has over 25,000 members, none of them are arguing against the general consensus of love for Mulan. The group’s guidelines say, “Keep it positive,” while also encouraging discussion, and so positive discussion is what group members get.

Closed social networks are a community. They help members feel supported and seen in ways that open platforms like Twitter often fail to do. A private Facebook group of likeminded individuals, even as large as 25k members-strong group Disneybounders Unite!, is an online space where moderators can regulate negativity and thereby produce a space where members can feel safe and respected in their views. Depending on the subject matter of the group, these groups can even support people as far as saving lives, as Sarah Waddington explains in her article on Facebook mental health groups.

However, spaces like this miss out on the constructive dialogue and diversity of views that open platforms provide, creating a sound-proof bubble of similar opinions without allowing for much dissent. They may even go as far as isolating or punishing group members who disagree with the majority. Though these closed groups can be comforting, they lack the productivity of diverse conversation that open networks allow.

Mulan viewers across platforms will continue to celebrate, debate, and critique the film to whatever audience feels comfortable to them. While it may be more comforting to share an outfit and fond memories of the original Mulan with a group of likeminded Disney fans, even the same users may find themselves navigating an open forum of discussion to hear dissenting opinions. Ultimately, users are free to consume content across various platforms if they so wish, and in doing so are bound to be exposed to both open and closed social networks.