The Expressive Space Framework: Supporting Creator Well-Being and Sustainable Engagement in Digital Ecosystems

Citation: Pierce, J. M. (2025). The Expressive Space Framework: Supporting Creator Well-Being and Sustainable Engagement in Digital Ecosystems (1.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/F3WQB

This paper lays out a working hypothesis: platforms and cultural communities don’t just meet online, they co-create shifting “expression spaces.” These are the digital environments where moderation rules, algorithm tweaks, and community values collide to shape what kind of creativity can survive. I argue that authenticity online isn’t fixed — it’s negotiated, fragile, and always in motion. By treating expression spaces as living, co-adaptive systems, I offer a way to explain why cultural expression sometimes thrives, sometimes collapses, and what creators, platforms, and policymakers can do about it. This is not a final theory but a stake in the ground — a working hypothesis to test, refine, and debate.