Social Media & Online vs Offline identity PDF

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Research and theory looking at the way social media has impacted individuals, why people act differently on social media, how social media facilitates human function and also how people act differently online compared to offline. Includes critical analysis and extra reading....

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Social Media and Online vs Offline Identity Positives Goffman (1959): > states the importance of everyday, face-to-face interactions between people. He states that personal interaction is based on a performance between the participant and the audience, with the participant being active in attempting to guide and create a certain image to the audience, to highlight positive ideas of self and desired impressions. The participant is able to direct and produce their own desired impression. > Face to face interactions can therefore be compared to theatrical performances because people in everyday life resemble actors on a stage, playing a variety of roles depending on the social situation they are in. Goffman called this idea “dramaturgical analysis.” There are several aspects of his dramaturgical analysis. “Performance” refers to the activity of an individual in front of an audience, while the actor’s “front” was explained as the part of the person’s performance which gives off the Goffman also saw the front as being a script because an individual has to take on a certain role which suggests how they must act in the situation in order to have a positive reaction to the impression they are giving off. According to Goffman, the “setting” is exactly what it seems to be: the location where the interaction takes place. The individual has to alter his or her performance for each different setting encountered. “Appearance” is used to tell the audience of the actor’s social status, by the way they are dressed. Just like in a theatrical performance, social interactions contain a front and back stage. The front stage is when the performance takes place in front of an audience, hence where our impressions are given off. The back stage is the social space where the performers are present, but the audience is not. The main aspects of Goffman’s dramaturgical analysis can be seen as different types of strategies that people may use in order to create a positive impression on the individuals they are interacting with. > the individual has a private place where they can stop performing and rid themselves of their role or social identity and be their true self Suler (19994) it means we are able to present an ideal self to the world Suler (2004) online disinhibition effect from: > more disclosure > easier development of interpersonal trust and emotional commitment > detachment from real life and therefore reduced consequence > a hiding place to develop a new identity (dissociative anonymity, invisibility, asynchronicity, dissociation imagination, solipsistic introjection and minimising authority: Dissociative anonymity: people only know what you tell them about yourself. When people have the opportunity to separate their actions from their real world and identity, they feel less vulnerable about opening up. Whatever they say or do can't be directly linked to the rest of their lives. they don't have to own their behavior by acknowledging it within the full context of who they "really" are. When acting out hostile feelings, the person doesn't have to take responsibility for those actions. In fact, people might even convince themselves that those behaviors "aren't me at all." In psychology this is called "dissociation." Invisibility: In text communication such as e-mail, chat, blogs, and instant messaging, others may know a great deal about who you are. However, they still can't see or hear you - and you can't see or hear them. Even with everyone's identity visible, the opportunity to be physically invisible amplifies the disinhibition effect. You don't have to worry about how you look or sound when you say (type) something. You don't have to worry about how others look or sound when you say something. Seeing a frown, a shaking head, a sigh, a bored expression, and many other subtle and not so subtle signs of disapproval or indifference can slam the breaks on what people are willing to express. In everyday relationships, people sometimes avert their eyes when discussing something personal and emotional. It's easier not to look into the other's face. Text communication offers a built-in opportunity to keep one's eyes averted.

Asynchronicity: In e-mail and message boards, communication is asynchronous. People don't interact with each other in real time. Not having to deal with someone's immediate reaction can be disinhibiting. In e-mail and message boards, where there are delays in that feedback, people's train of thought may progress more steadily and quickly towards deeper expressions of what they are thinking and feeling. Some people may even experience asynchronous communication as "running away" after posting a message that is personal, emotional, or hostile. Kali Munro - emotional ‘hit and run’. Solipsitc Introjection: People fantasize about flirting, arguing with a boss, or very honestly confronting a friend about what they feel. In their imagination, where it's safe, people feel free to say and do all sorts of things that they wouldn't in reality. At that moment, reality IS one's imagination. Online text communication can become the psychological tapestry in which a person's mind weaves these fantasy role plays, usually unconsciously and with considerable disinhibition. All of cyberspace is a stage and we are merely players. Dissociative imagination: one's online persona along with the online others live in an make-believe dimension, a dream world, separate and apart from the demands and responsibilities of the real world. They split or "dissociate" online fiction from offline fact. people see their online life as a kind of game with rules and norms that don't apply to everyday living (Finch, 2002). Once they turn off the computer and return to their daily routine, they believe they can leave that game and their game-identity behind. Why should they be held responsible for what happens in that make-believe play world that has nothing to do with reality? Minimising authority: While online a person's status in the face-to-face world may not be known to others and it may not have as much impact as it does in the face-to-face world. In most cases, everyone on the internet has an equal opportunity to voice him or herself. Everyone - regardless of status, wealth, race, gender, etc. - starts off on a level playing field.what mostly determines your influence on others is your skill in communicating (including writing skills), your persistence, the quality of your ideas, and your technical know-how.

Benign (Good) disinhibition: These can include efforts to improve self-understanding and personal development, assistance in resolving interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts, or exploration of new emotional or experiential realms of one's identity. Toxic (Bad) Disinhibition: describes behavior that includes rude language, threats, and visiting places of pornography, crime, and violence on the internet–places the person might not go to in real life. Also a reduced emphasis on physical appearance with a level playing fields due to less judgement. Those who are normally constricted can now interact freely, for example those with disabilities. David (2012) The outlets of social networking allow the user to make changes to their self and identity online that they would not necessarily make offline due to confidence issues Negatives Tyagi (2008) psychiatic problems - current psychiatrists not fully prepared to help young people with internet related problems Wei (1997) clinical psychologists have identified problems with adults who fail to integrate their online and offline selves, resulting in conflict and dissonance Supported by Blascovich (2011) who identified dissociative identity disorder in individuals when they are unable to integrate themselves. Davis (2012), argues that social networking sites provide means of self- expression for users but by having these outlets of expression, creates an issue of balancing multiple selves and their respective audiences

Impression Management > Chester & Bretherton (2007): the process of controlling the impressions about you that others forms

Enli and Thumin (2012) > argue that there are choices in what aspects of us to represent and users of social networking sites decide how torepresent these aspects as a way to complement the work done through presentation and self-performance > also suggest that social networking sites create a hybrid space that challenges the traditional contexts of online/offline socialization and public/private spheres. Within this discussion of public vs. private, there is an analysis of public communication and broadcasting on Facebook that changes the dynamics of who is producing and consuming content online (Enli and Thumim 2012:100). Another aspect of selfrepresentation comes from the users creation of hierarchies and groups of who receives or sees the messages they post. Within this realm, there is analysis of popularity, which deems more friends online as a badge of status among younger Facebook users Personality > Big 5: stable, extrovert, openness, consciousness, agreeable > openess: trait characteristic of bloggers (freedom to express and need for self expression), show off how witty and creative they are > agreeable: conerned with self presentation, cooperating anc acomodating to foster favourable impressions > introversion: have more detailed facebook profiles and work harderr to promote online to cmpensate for lack of skills offline. More able to express themselves and have less concern for others reactions (Marriott and Buchanan, 2014). They are more likely to engage in identity experiements > stable/neurotism - behave the same online and offline rather than escape from reality. ● Hall et al (2010:) > high conscientious: less likely to misrepresent self as they are worries about conseuquence > More agreeable: less likely to misrepresent themselves as they do not want to decieve others > less open: more likely to misrepreent self > Extroverts: do not misrepresent as they are happy with themselves and expect others to like them > neurotisism: no difference between online and offline ● Mehdizadeh (2010) social media is ideal for public boating (numbers of friends/likes) and superficial relationships are easier. Narcasists spend longer on facebook and engange in mre self-promotional activities such as posing in more photos. Gosling et al (2011) xtraversion predicted not only frequency of Facebook usage (Study 1), but also engagement in the site, with extraverts (vs. introverts) showing traces of higher levels of Facebook activity (Study 2). As in offline contexts, extraverts seek out virtual social engagement, which leaves behind a behavioral residue in the form of friends lists and picture postings. Results suggest that, rather than escaping from or compensating for their offline personality, OSN users appear to extend their offline personalities into the domains of OSNs Addictive use of social media has become an area of increasing research interest. Marshall et al (2015) We examined the personality predictors of Facebook status update topics. Extraverts more frequently update about their social activities Openness is positively associated with updating about intellectual topics. Self-esteem is negatively associated with updating about romantic partners. Narcissists more frequently update about their achievements, diet, and exercise. Andreassen et al (2017) This study examined addictive social media use in over 23,500 participants. Addictive use of social media was associated with being young, female and single, Addictive use of social media was related to higher narcissism, Addictive use of social media was related to lower self-esteem. Vogel et al (2014) acebook use is associated with lower trait self-esteem. Indeed, the results showed that participants who used Facebook most often had poorer trait self-esteem, and this was mediated by greater exposure to upward social comparisons on social media. Study 2 examined the impact of temporary exposure to social media profiles on state self-esteem and relative self-evaluations. The results revealed that participants’ state self-esteem and relative self-evaluations were lower when the target person’s profile contained upward comparison information (e.g., a high activity social network, healthy

habits) than when the target person’s profile contained downward comparison information (e.g., a low activity social network, unhealthy habits Metzler et al (2017) Social networking sites are a substantial part of adolescents’ daily lives. By using a longitudinal approach the current study examined the impact of (a) positive self-presentation, (b) number of friends, and (c) the initiation of online relationships on Facebook on adolescents’ self-esteem and their initiation of offline relationships, as well as the mediating role of positive feedback. Questionnaire data were obtained from 217 adolescents (68% girls, mean age 16.7 years) in two waves. Adolescents’ positive self-presentation and number of friends were found to be related to a higher frequency of receiving positive feedback, which in turn was negatively associated with self-esteem. However, the number of Facebook friends had a positive impact on self-esteem, and the initiation of online relationships positively influenced the initiation of offline relationships over time, demonstrating that Facebook may be a training ground for increasing adolescents’ social skills Seidman (2013) The present study examined the relationship between the Big Five and the use of Facebook to fulfill belonging and self-presentational needs. One hundred and eighty four undergraduates completed a survey assessing personality and Facebook behaviors and motivations. High agreeableness and neuroticism were the best predictors of belongingness-related behaviors and motivations. Extraversion was associated with more frequent use of Facebook to communicate with others. Selfpresentational behaviors and motivations were best predicted by low conscientiousness and high neuroticism. Results suggest that conscientious individuals are cautious in their online self-presentation. Neuroticism, agreeableness, and extraversion were positively associated with the tendency to express one’s actual self. Neuroticism was positively associated with the expression of ideal and hidden selfaspects. The motivation to express these self-aspects mediated the relationship between neuroticism and self-disclosure. Belonging and self-presentation were used to link the Big Five and Facebook use. ► Belonging was best predicted by high agreeableness and high neuroticism. ► Self-presentation was best predicted by low conscientiousness and high neuroticism. ► Neuroticism was positively related to expression of ideal and hidden self aspects. ► Expression of self-aspects mediated the relation between neuroticism and behavior. Marriott and Buchanan (2014) Theorists have suggested some people find it easier to express their “true selves” online than in person. Among 523 participants in an online study, Shyness was positively associated with online ‘Real Me’ self location, while Conscientiousness was negatively associated with an online self. Extraversion was indirectly negatively associated with an online self, mediated by Shyness. Neuroticism was positively associated with an online self, partly mediated by Shyness. 107 online and offline friends of participants provided ratings of them. Overall, both primary participants and their observers indicated that offline relationships were closer. However, participants who located their Real Me online reported feeling closer to their online friends than did those locating their real selves offline. To test whether personality is better expressed in online or offline interactions, observers’ ratings of participants’ personalities were compared. Both online and offline observers’ ratings of Extraversion, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness correlated with participants’ self-reports. However, only offline observers’ ratings of Neuroticism correlated with participants’ own. Except for Neuroticism, the similarity of online and offline observers’ personality ratings to participants’ self-reports did not differ significantly. The study provides no evidence that online self-presentations are more authentic; indeed Neuroticism may be more visibly expressed offline. Tosun (2012) states that the main uses for Facebook include maintaining long-distance relationships, game playing/entertainment, photo-related activities, organizing social events, passive observations, establishing new friendships and initiating/terminating romantic relationships Skues et al (2012) the type of personality a user has changes their ideas of impression management, their openness to connect with others and suggests that lonelier students compensate for their lack of offline relationships

Davis stated that social networking allows for multiple personas and outlets for personal issues, creates a testing ground that is, “Practice for real life. Test being one person online, see how people react, then trying it in real life.” (Davis et al, 2012) Ellison, Steinfield and Lampe (2007) look at the trend from offline to online relationships and the formation of communities based on shared interests instead of shared geography (Ellison Steinfeld Lampe 2007:1144). The authors noted that a majority of heavy Facebook users rely on the site to maintain longdistance relationships rather than as a substitute for offline interactions with people nearby as a way to maintain social capital. The study also found that there is a positive relationship between Facebook use and the creation of social capital (jobs, networking, etc)...