Digital Mandala: Where do We Go From Here? - Communicative and Technological Histories of Reddit’s R/place Phenomenon: An Ethnographic Continuum

This study offers continued research on the Reddit Digital Mandala phenomenon r/place. The research provides a background understanding of sand art/mandala as an ancient communication, art form and technology. A historical precis of the r/place mandala events provides details on the process and construction of the mandalas of 2017 and 2022 in which defined themes emerged giving insight into user preferences, motivations, and participation. Employing Digital Ethnographic collection and analysis for this study, the 2023 mandala experience is examined with consideration of variables affecting users: ownership of Reddit and data, pricing for participation, and technology enhancements with Artificial Intelligence and software application use. In light of these variables, major themes again emerge as direct response, disclosing characteristics and behaviors exhibited by the r/place mandala community, Reddit and Redditors and AI investors as a whole.