In/Visibility in the Digital Age: A Literature Review From a Communication Studies Perspective

Abstract

Visibility and its counterpart, invisibility, are critical concepts in digital communication, although research on these concepts in communication studies has rarely been reflected on in an integrative way. This article aims to map key discussions in current research on in/visibility from a communication studies perspective. Therefore, through a literature review, we elaborate on these discussions in research areas dealing extensively with in/visibility. The resulting mapping highlights similarities and differences between definitions of in/visibility and systematizes the various approaches according to three essential understandings (perceptibility, presence, and valuation) and three paradigmatic perspectives (functionalist, interpretive, and critical). The article offers a deeper understanding of the range of previous studies on the undertheorized concepts of in/visibility and demonstrates the concepts’ potential for future research within communication studies.