If you have a Facebook account, and live in a place of residence that isn't anything smaller than a hamlet, then chances are you've probably heard of the fabled 'Spotted' Facebook pages.
The 'Spotted' phenomenon really took off in 2013 across the United Kingdom, and has since remained strong for many local communities. Spotted pages rely on the locals to drive their content; residents are encouraged to message the page with anything they wish, and the administrator of the page will forward that message into a post that every member of the page can view. Common posts typically include breaking local news, upcoming local events, and general questions about the local area. For Coventry, posts reach over 60,000 people.
60,000 followers for a page is no mean feat, and it's safe to assume that the people behind running such a page have a lot of maintenance and management to keep up. Bearing in mind that all of this work is selflessly for the benefit of the Coventry community and is completely unpaid, I therefore think that the admins of the Spotted pages are, in my opinion, the hidden local heroes of your community. They go about doing their jobs unnoticed, unpaid, and uncredited. With such selfless and time-consuming work, what is the drive for an administrator to continuously maintain a Spotted page?
 |
| 316,000 strong population, all connected together by one selfless, generous individual online |
I got in touch with the administrator of Spotted: Coventry City to find out just that, and more. They kindly agreed to talk to me, but wished to remain anonymous.
"I think that Spotted really does unite the city, because it gets people who would otherwise never talk to each other to unite over problems and queries"
"I don't have a favourite post specifically, but one of my favourite things that Spotted does is help local residents have a voice, and a platform. There's no better page out there to ask for help about a missing pet, or to help find a criminal who's broken into your car, in my opinion."
It's clear that the administrator really does believe in the power of Spotted, and how it plays a role in the modern Internet-connected local community. But what is their motivation to continue running the page for free?
"Running this page just gives a feel-good factor; it's really nice to know that you're helping the residents of Coventry come together."
"I think [the motivation comes from] the knowledge in knowing that Spotted makes a difference. It brings issues and events into the spotlight. The amount of regular participation the page sees tells me that the people of Coventry do indeed enjoy Spotted, and that goes a long way to keep me motivated to maintain this page."
Should everyone in Coventry participate with Spotted?
"Certainly so. You never know when your help might be needed for the locals around you, or when you may need help yourself! The Spotted community is a really nice, helpful place for discussion, and even helps grab the attention of the council at times."
But perhaps most importantly: do they believe they are a local hero?
"Ha, I don't think so. I don't think serving the community should be something seen as heroic - it should be something that everybody should try and aim to do."
It certainly isn't surprising that the administrator doesn't want to be known as a local hero. But in my eyes, they are. The amount of time and resources that have to be given up to maintain a 60,000-strong Facebook page that many of whom rely on cannot be downplayed.
So next time you participate with your local Spotted page, pause for a moment and consider the person behind the page. This person will be giving up their time for their love of the local community, and as such, the locals of Coventry and other settlements across the nation have their towns and cities enhanced just that little bit further.
