Shutting down the Crossfire: lessons on digitality from the short history of Apple AirDrop.
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| Title: | Shutting down the Crossfire: lessons on digitality from the short history of Apple AirDrop. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Salzano, Matthew1 matthew.salzano@stonybrook.edu, Pfister, Damien S.2 |
| Source: | Critical Studies in Media Communication. Mar2026, Vol. 43 Issue 1, p1-18. 18p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Censorship, Computer file sharing, Business & politics, Wireless communications |
| Company/Entity: | Apple Inc. |
| Abstract: | In 2011, Apple introduced AirDrop, enabling users to share files using a local wireless connection. Users eventually developed messaging strategies, dubbed AirDrop Crossfire, sending friendly memes or harassing images to unsuspecting users in public spaces. Ultimately, Apple faced political pressure from China and ended AirDrop Crossfire with an international feature change in December 2022. This essay situates AirDrop Crossfire as a proto-deliberative practice of refracted publics, navigating tensions between infrastructure and agency, interruption and flow, and weaponization and care. The democratic promise of refracted publics is tempered by these tensions and the confluence of state and corporate power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Critical Studies in Media Communication is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 191654476 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Shutting down the Crossfire: lessons on digitality from the short history of Apple AirDrop. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Salzano%2C+Matthew%22">Salzano, Matthew</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> matthew.salzano@stonybrook.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pfister%2C+Damien+S%2E%22">Pfister, Damien S.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Critical+Studies+in+Media+Communication%22">Critical Studies in Media Communication</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 43 Issue 1, p1-18. 18p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Censorship%22">Censorship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+file+sharing%22">Computer file sharing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Business+%26+politics%22">Business & politics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wireless+communications%22">Wireless communications</searchLink> – Name: SubjectCompany Label: Company/Entity Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Apple+Inc%2E%22">Apple Inc.</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: In 2011, Apple introduced AirDrop, enabling users to share files using a local wireless connection. Users eventually developed messaging strategies, dubbed AirDrop Crossfire, sending friendly memes or harassing images to unsuspecting users in public spaces. Ultimately, Apple faced political pressure from China and ended AirDrop Crossfire with an international feature change in December 2022. This essay situates AirDrop Crossfire as a proto-deliberative practice of refracted publics, navigating tensions between infrastructure and agency, interruption and flow, and weaponization and care. The democratic promise of refracted publics is tempered by these tensions and the confluence of state and corporate power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Critical Studies in Media Communication is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=191654476 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/15295036.2025.2523061 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 18 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Censorship Type: general – SubjectFull: Computer file sharing Type: general – SubjectFull: Business & politics Type: general – SubjectFull: Wireless communications Type: general – SubjectFull: Apple Inc. Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Shutting down the Crossfire: lessons on digitality from the short history of Apple AirDrop. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Salzano, Matthew – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Pfister, Damien S. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 15295036 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 43 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Critical Studies in Media Communication Type: main |
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