Pearson explains a theory known as identity- performance and compares the modern process of self-presentation to that of an actor superficially constructing the personality of a character (Pearson, 2009). People are living their lives simultaneously through Facebook, in what is known as glass bedrooms. We are now at a stage of digitalisation that our identities are pre-meditated and deliberately constructed. On Facebook we don’t need to be ourselves, we can be who and whatever we want to be. We can be cooler, funnier, and wittier online.
However, how is this any different, or worse than school yard conforming? Long before the internet children have changed their self presentation to fit a mould and therefore be socially accepted. A pop culture reference, Sandy and Danny in Grease both deliberately re-create their identities. I see few differences between this and saying your favourite film is kill bill instead of the little mermaid.
My only criticism, as discussed in week 2’s lecture is the notion of friends as a commodity (Leong, 2011). The obvious motive behind creating a more desirable online persona is unquestionably to accumulate more friends. Quantity over quality has become the opinion of a generation. It is this element of online identity-performance that causes concern and gives credence to agreements against the use of SNS.
Reference List
- Pearson, E. (2009). All the World Wide Web’s a stage: the Performance of Identity in Online Social Networks. First Monday, volume 14, Number 3. Available online at: http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2162/2127
- Leong, Dr. Susan. (2011). Week 2: Performing me: Maintaining visibility on the Social stage. Available online at: http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_74007_1%26url%3D.
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