“People are accustomed to thinking of the online world as a social space” (Donath and Boyd 2004) and as such look to social networking sites to continue their real-world social lives on a platform like Facebook or MySpace. Some critics argue that if a user’s social networking profile includes some of these real-life ties, “in theory, the public display of connections […] should ensure an honest self-presentation” (Donath and Boyd, 2004). However Pearson suspects that this isn’t always the reality (2009).
Pearson considers the idea that the constructions of one’s identity on a platform like Facebook or MySpace is very much a performance (2009). Users construct their online identity relative to their networks (Pearson, 2009). These self-descriptive profiles may include photos, group links, web links and much more all serving a specific purpose: to form the users identity online (Donath and Boyd, 2004 and Pearson, 2009). A current example that can be offered is the vast majority of my friends on my network aimlessly joining different groups or pages on Facebook, for no other reason than to take part in the trend. Whether or not my friends have an affinity to these groups or pages seems to be irrelevant.
Social networking sites allow its users to feature as much or as little information about themselves. The combination of these applications allow for a public display of connection by a user (Donath and Boyd, 2004). Depending on the management of these connections, social ties and networks can either be strengthened (Donath and Boyd, 2004) or hindered (KCB201 Tutorial Discussion, March 25, 2010).
Pearson considers the idea that the constructions of one’s identity on a platform like Facebook or MySpace is very much a performance (2009). Users construct their online identity relative to their networks (Pearson, 2009). These self-descriptive profiles may include photos, group links, web links and much more all serving a specific purpose: to form the users identity online (Donath and Boyd, 2004 and Pearson, 2009). A current example that can be offered is the vast majority of my friends on my network aimlessly joining different groups or pages on Facebook, for no other reason than to take part in the trend. Whether or not my friends have an affinity to these groups or pages seems to be irrelevant.
Social networking sites allow its users to feature as much or as little information about themselves. The combination of these applications allow for a public display of connection by a user (Donath and Boyd, 2004). Depending on the management of these connections, social ties and networks can either be strengthened (Donath and Boyd, 2004) or hindered (KCB201 Tutorial Discussion, March 25, 2010).
References
Donath, J. and D. Boyd. (2004). Public displays of connection. BT Technology Journal 22 (4): 71–82. Retrieved March 24, 2010, from http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/contentWrapper.jsp?content_id=_3070112_1&displayName=Week+5%3A+%22Vital+Signs+of+Life%22+or+Maintaining+Visibility+on+the+Social+Stage&course_id=_60765_1&navItem=content&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.danah.org%2Fpapers%2FPublicDisplays.pdf
Pearson, E. (2009). All the World Wide Web's a stage: the Performance of Identity in Online Social Networks. First Monday Journal 14 (3). Retrieved March 24, 2010, from http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/contentWrapper.jsp?content_id=_3070112_1&displayName=Week+5%3A+%22Vital+Signs+of+Life%22+or+Maintaining+Visibility+on+the+Social+Stage&course_id=_60765_1&navItem=content&href=http%3A%2F%2Ffirstmonday.org%2Fhtbin%2Fcgiwrap%2Fbin%2Fojs%2Findex.php%2Ffm%2Farticle%2Fview%2F2162%2F2127http%3A%2F%2F
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