In the weekly reading,
David Marshall describes the way we represent ourselves online as the same way
when we look in the mirror. When we look in the mirror we see ourselves in our
own image and we can see what we want to improve and how we can do so.
With the
use of online social medias such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, we are getting
aware of how we portray ourselves and “We are constantly placing ourselves as with the simple
technology of the mirror, into the picture and onto the screen.” (Marshall,
2010, p. 499).
As I have done prior studies where I have analysed social
media with theories from scholars such as Erwing Goffman, Joshua Meyrowitz and
Nancy Baym, I am now aware of the importance of online portrayal and how important
the way we portray ourselves online on sites such as Facebook is.
This doesn’t mean I am up-to-date on all the sites I do this
on. I have not updated my LinkedIn profile for years and my Twitter-account is
lacking info.
On Facebook I am very aware on how I portray myself though.
I have set my privacy settings in such way, that I have to approve tags and
things posted on my wall.
By doing this, I can shape the online persona of me that is
reflected to my ‘real-life’ identity. This can also have a negative effect
though. Through my personal information, such as profile picture, updates, the
way I write comments people build up their personal image of my persona. (Baym
2010, p 112)
By ‘hiding’ and adjusting information, I am in the risk of
being ‘exposed. This can occur if people find information on my other places,
e.g. on my out-dated LinkedIn profile or if I suddenly post things that don’t match
my identity, or ‘line’ as Goffmann would describe it. This will hurt the
credibility of my online persona will lose credibility I wouldn’t have lost if
I was honest and didn’t filter information in the first place.
References:
Marshall, P.D 2010, ‘The Specular
Economy’, Society, vol. 47, no. 6
Baym, Nancy 2010, ‘Personal Connections In The
Digital Age, Polity Press
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