 |
| Being overwhelmed by interactive online platforms.Image used with Creative Commons permission, Wilgengebroed, https://www.flickr.com/photos/wilgengebroed/5514783718/ accessed 4 August 2015 |
Smith and Watson say that ‘identity is
often regarded as a set of components of personhood, such as markers of gender,
race, nationality, class, sexuality, generation, family genealogy, political
belief and religious affiliation’ (2013).
Online platforms such as social media sites and blogs are often used to
show ones identity. But how accurately can a Facebook profile reflect someone’s
true personality? With the number of available online platforms, people can
show different versions of themselves. We are able to actively and deliberately
alter how we are seen and show the identity we wish to portray (Gabriel, 2014).
 |
| Infographic made using Easel.ly
As we engage with others our online presence
is co-constructed. They are linked to our friends and family etc. (Smith p. 71)
Much of how we are depicted in social media is from the view of others. Such as
tagged photos and statuses. Although
our Facebook profile is considered ours, much of it are posts from those we associate with.
Therefore our online identity is not only developed though ourselves, but
through others. Although each individual can alter the privacy settings of
their own pages, sometimes the privacy settings of others can impact on your
online identity. No one can ever be sure what information about them is online because
‘neither the archive nor the database has a fail-safe delete button for past
tid bits of the self’ (Smith & Watson). It’s reasons like this that I don’t
constantly update my online information and daily movements. Therefore, because
people can only see parts of my life through the online activity of others I don’t
think my online profiles correctly represents my real life self.
|
 |
| Screenshot of my Facebook profile |
Another reason people, myself included, may decide to post certain information and refrain from posting others is due to the approval of friends. The number of ‘likes’ on an Instagram post or ‘retweets’ on twitter often measures the success of a post and the way a person can be perceived. In reseach conducted by Mascheroni, Vincent and Jiminez it was found that many young people feel compelled to look perfect in every picture they post online to make them feel accepted by their peers (2015). This is one reason why I don’t think the online version of me reflects my real life identity. Not long ago I was trying to think of a witty caption for an instagram post, but once it was past prime posting time and I had thought of nothing and it was too late to post. But how can there be a time that’s ‘too late’ when you’re able to post anytime.
Family members and employees can have access to our social media sites, blogs etc. with a simple Google search or being a ‘friend’ or ‘follower’. It isn’t uncommon for people to adjust their profiles based on who can see it. Smith and Watson asked the question: ‘who benefits from the accumulation about users?’ (2013). It makes you think about whom you update your profile for. Names are often changed when applying for jobs so employees cannot find them. Or you mightn’t post that silly video of yourself because you wouldn’t want Grandma to see it. The fact that I, and a lot of other people don’t update their personal online profiles because of what others think makes me even further realize that what can be found online cannot completely define me. Below are the only two tweets from my personal twitter account. I rarely use twitter, as I don’t see the need to always update people with what I’m doing.
 | ||
| The only 2 posts on my Twitter account
An online Identity is not just defined by what’s on your profile but what is on the profile of whom you follow. Who we follow can give a larger insight into who we are or who we want to be. I follow a number of fashion and lifestyle bloggers on instagram because I’m interested in the fashion industry and wish that I was a freelance blogger who got paid to eat at nice restaurants and post pretty pictures about it. The following screenshot is of my Tumblr page. I feel like this is where I can channel my creative side and post about things that interest me, which are more similar to the blogs and people I follow, without feeling self conscious about posting on my Facebook or Instagram that is accessible to my friends.
|
