Expression, Ownership, and Responsibility in Digital Ecosystems: A Critical Comparison of POSSE and the Expressive Space Frameworks

This working paper examines the relationship between the IndieWeb principle POSSE (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere) and my ongoing research on Expression Spaces and the Expressive Space Framework. Drawing on both scholarly concepts and personal experience in motorsport, I use the metaphor of racing to illustrate the tensions between hobbyist and professional creators, platform dependence, and the pursuit of authentic expression.

The essay argues that while POSSE provides infrastructural independence, it risks shifting responsibility onto creators and leaving platforms unaccountable for the conditions they set. The Expression Spaces hypothesis maps the cyclical instability of moderation, affordances, and creator adaptation but offers limited prescriptions for sustainability. The Expressive Space Framework outlines the four pillars needed for creator flourishing—autonomy, flow, transparency, and support—yet faces challenges of implementation within asymmetrical platform power.

By putting these models in conversation, this paper highlights both their blind spots and their potential complementarity. I suggest that with further research and integration, these frameworks could together support creator autonomy, resilience, and long-term well-being.

This work is part of a broader research agenda on cultural moderation, creator labor, and platform governance. It is shared here as a working paper to invite dialogue and refinement.