The actual you.
Image 1 Retrieved From: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bhEYOdkye-6D6l8N4LxlEHd-84OkIroFLh_rZb8NCfzk0KSsDDK2H4ofwk0-PcjX2aZYTzvQ0VYGEVFyrGjQaBmcEr3-9TH37t-DJZh-GACQIgj9-iS8169uft5zLdpQpk4xJA2bsHc/s320/Alter+ego.jpg
I have held a Facebook Profile for four
years, yet I have never analysed why I publish particular photos, information
and posts over others. Tuan (1991) states that ‘the written word, which is both more
private and more public than the spoken word, has its own unique powers of transforming
reality’ (p.690). This statement can be applied to my own Facebook profile; it
is a polished, edited version of my own reality. This raises the question, is
this version of myself actually real? Is it a true representation of who I am?
When I ‘stalk’
the profiles of others, I find myself questioning the genuineness of their
narrative. As an increasingly self-conscious and technological society, it is
difficult not to alter or polish our self-narrative through the options
Facebook has presented us with. The opportunity to edit ‘ourselves’ seems to
empower us and influence our online experience positively. However, the power
to alter our identity is controlled by what Facebook allows us to edit. This,
in itself, illustrates how our online identity is only ‘real’ to other
community members who share the same profile template, as allowed by Facebook.
So, our personal identity has become a shared identity, but is this identity authentic?
After analysing aspects of my own profile,
I can see that the selective nature of the profile experience has altered my
online identity. I have posted certain photos because they project a certain message about who I am. For example, I have denied tagging requests of other photos
because they could compromise my professional identity in the future. I think
one of the main reasons we select parts of ourselves for our online façade is
the fact that we want to conform to the expectations of the Facebook profile. In
editing our cyber narrative, we exclude the parts of ourselves that we do not
want others to see (like that huge mole on the left hand side of your face). Our
profiles have become symbols that stand for who we are (Van Luyn, 2013). In
conclusion, I think that our online identities are parts of the ‘real’ person. These
chosen parts, together, create an alternate reality fit for the public sphere.
Reference List:
Tinyenglishdreamer,
(n.d.) Image 1: My Alter Ego. Retrieved From: http://tinyenglishdreamer.blogspot.com.au/2013_06_01_archive.html
Tuan, Y. (1991). Language and the Making of Place: A
narrative-descriptive approach. In Annals
of the Association of American Geographers, 81(4), 684-696.
Van Luyn, A. (2013). BA1002 Week 5: Narrative & Place [Lecture Slides].
Retrieved From: https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_312_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_42849_1%26url%3D
I think that our profile on social networks, is partly who we want to be, as on virtual network we don't have that face-to-face confrontation thus we are less anxious and more confident. Our profile reveals some aspects about us as 'When trying to make something have a sense to us, we perceive & construct thus making it symbolic.' (Van Luyn, 2013). Through this quotation I want to emphasize on the fact that, everything we post or share or edit... is symbolic to us, has a certain importance that's why we need to post it. Without a picture of us on social network, we don't have an 'identity' in this kind of 'Second Life'. We want to exist virtually just like we want to exist really but it's more easier to exist virtually than really. On virtual networks, we can easily appropriate an area or a place (Virtual World)depending on who we are and what we are.
ReplyDeleteI doubt you're stalking, Gabriella! McEwan (cited by Sarah Berry, 2012) says stalkers fall into three categories: those pursuing a relationship with someone who isn't interested; those wanting revenge for a grievance; and sexual deviants. Being interested in other people's lives is what makes the world go round (don't quote me on that one) and covert study is risk-free, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI wonder whether, like me, you're more comfortable with the "polished, edited version of [your] own reality" and have chosen to incorporate that better self into real-world interactions? It's been useful for me to see what my virtual companions respond to well and what draws criticism... and if I have a habit or three that I wouldn't want the world to know about (hahaha, IF!), I can decide whether I want to keep behaving that way. So far the answer is yes.
I like the picture. It isn't a vision of ugliness hiding behind a flawless mask, but two beautiful faces. How strange that once beyond toddlerhood we assume a 'socially acceptable' self to live among others who are also showing only what they consider acceptable.
Reference
Berry, S. (2012) When Face-stalking turns scary. In The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/when-facestalking-turns-scary-20120913-25ume.html
Hi Gabriella,
ReplyDeleteYou have raised some interesting points in this post, who would you rather be the real you or the polished version where you are not criticised as much? My answer would be the edited me! I do not think anyone would want their flaws announced to the world where it can be used against them. Kind of like kryptonite to Superman. Being selective in what you post is not bad either, people have been doing it for centuries when designing their houses and what goes on their literal walls, instead of a virtual wall.
As McNeill (2012) says, “it has been designed to become part of users’ daily lives, and to shape their offline narratives and selves in Facebooked ways. (p.103)” Thereby meaning that not only are you conforming to how Facebook expects you to be online, but that these characteristics are emerging at a growing rate in society due to the influence that Facebook holds over us.
To be honest, I do not believe that the ‘stalking’ of profiles is really stalking until you go back to the very first posts on the page and like and comment on everything. Although, really who has time for that when your newsfeed is constantly updating? But being conscious of this fact never hurt anyone.
Reference
McNeill, L. (2012). There is no “I”in network: Social networking sites and posthuman auto-biography. In Biography, 35(1). (pp. 101-118)