An extensive debate has formed over the years since the explosion of social networks about online and offline identities. An identity is defined according to (Oxforddictionaries.com, 2014) as the characteristics determining who or what a person or a thing is. An online identity is defined as a identity that a person establish in an online environment such as social networks. An offline identity is defined as a identity that a person establish in an offline environment such as in real life.
The debate about these identities is that for one person these identities either differ or they are the same. Online profiling utilizes online identities and therefore the reason for this extensive debate. Is the identity that are being profiled the real identity of the actual person? According to the research done by (Nauert, 2013) there is a bit of an overlap between online and offline identities. But is this overlap great enough to definitely say that online and offline identities are the same? People find it difficult to understand their real identity (An unquiet Mind, 2012) and therefore the natural trend of online identities is to differ from the real identity, because people are still finding their real identity. If you cannot understand your real identity how can you establish an online identity based on your real identity?
What we post, share and do online depends mainly on two things. Firstly, the "friends" and our relationships with them on a social platform (Rowe, 2010). For each different relationship we have with people we choose to share certain information about ourselves, for example you won't share the same information with your friends than what you share with your mother or even your partner. As mentioned by (Rowe, 2010) th...
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...The Conflict of Online & Offline Identities. [online] Available at: http://skeptic.skepticgeek.com/2012/02/25/online-offline-identities-conflict/ [Accessed: 22 Mar 2014].
• Mccarty, K. M. 2012. Examination of How One's Perceived Online Identity on Social Media Affects One's Perceived Real-Life Identity.
• Nauert, R. 2013. Online Personality Influences Real-Life Identity - Psych Central News. [online] Available at: http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/01/21/online-personality-influences-real-life-identity/50633.html [Accessed: 22 Mar 2014].
• Oxforddictionaries.com, (2014). identity: definition of identity in Oxford dictionary (British & World English). [online] Available at: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/identity [Accessed 3 May. 2014].
• Rowe, M. (2010). The credibility of digital identity information on the social web: a user study. pp.35--42.
In our age of endless involvement in social media, we often see that people know online aren’t what they seem. Some social media users don’t know that same people we follow or are friends with on Facebook are controlling the way they are being perceived by other users. It’s a new social phenomenon born online and isn’t taken noticed by the everyday users, but there had been movies and stories about it. The topic of identity on social media is being bought up more often in the worldwide conversion about what social media means to us. In the essay “Impression Management on Facebook and Twitter” by Annalise Sigona seeks to inform readers and social media users about the unknowns about the impression and the way user present themselves in social media. When reading this essay, I was introduced to new term, and something I had vague understanding for.
In “Straddling Online and Offline Profiles, Millennials Search for Identity” Rachel Lowry writes to discuss the idea of how millennials are facing an identity crisis, and search for their true self. As today’s 20-year-olds make online personalities to market themselves professionally and socially, some fear that the difference between the two can hinder them from discovering their true identity. “As today's younger generation navigates the transition to adulthood, reconciling between online and offline identities can be difficult.” ("Straddling Online and Offline Profiles, Millennials Search for Identity | Deseret News") Lowery states in her article. I agree, a great deal of millennials who have spent their whole lives with this advanced technology,
"Identity is a dynamic feature of social life. That is, it is something that is constantly evolving and changing. For some people, identity can change rapidly and dramatically, of course, but for most of us our identities evolve slowly and imperceptibly" (Livesey, n.d., p.1).
defined as a person X has a personal identity if and only if they have the same
Before the internet, our characteristics such as style, identity, and values were primarily exposed by our materialistic properties which psychologists define as the extended self. But people’s inferences to the idea of online self vs. offline self insisted a translation to these signals into a personality profile. In today’s generation, many of our dear possessions have been demolished. Psychologist Russell W belk suggest that: “until we choose to call them forth, our information, communications, photos, videos, music, and more are now largely invisible and immaterial.” Yet in terms of psychology there is no difference between the meaning of our “online selves” and “offline selves. They both assist us in expressing important parts of our identity to others and provide the key elements of our online reputation. Numerous scientific research has emphasized the mobility of our analogue selves to the online world. The consistent themes to these studies is, even though the internet may have possibly created an escape from everyday life, it is in some ways impersonating
A person can have more than one identity to be recognized as but when identity are thought of, people will mostly focus on the external markers of identity; what we can see on our self, physically.
...clude the sense of human identity. People who express several aspects of self cannot develop the “aesthetic self,” as they have no experience in sharing the real feelings to others. People who express several aspects of self cannot develop the “aesthetic self,” as they have no experience in sharing the real feelings to others. Turkle’s analysis of the computer as a reminiscent object and the human relationship with the object helps us to understand online identity. Undoubtedly, technology has changed the way of leaning and thinking that helps to find the identity of individuals. As we are highly depend on technology and computer in recent times, the dependency and relationship with computer and technology are the potential to severely influence our formation of identity. As Erik Erikson and Turkle rightly said, internet has provide a safe place to find our identity.
To begin with, we technically are not born with identity; it is a socially constructed attribute. Identity is a transient thing, which changes over time as we grow and mature. The self-concept, which is our own personal understanding of who we are, combines with self awareness to cultivate a cognitive representation of the self, called identity (Aronson, Wilson, & Akert, 2010, p.118). In other words, who we are is controlled by internal and external factors that combine to make us who we become. Bring new media outlets into the equation, such as the internet, and media is now regarded as an "extension of everyday life and a tool of cultural change" (Singh, 2010). Thus, identity formation, as a social concept, is being transformed in new and even more global ways.
In today’s society, there has been a greater emphasis on identity than in the past. The perception of identity has changed due to the growing human population, and being able to distinguish oneself from the general population. Identity is the uniqueness of a person. As people get older, their identity might change since they become more aware of the society and also are more independent. By creating and recognizing an identity, one can interact with others who have a similar identity. Identity can be formed socially. There are several factors that influence an identity.
Multiple identities have been increased by the creation of cyberspace communications according to "Cyberspace and Identity" by Sherry Turkle. Turkle uses four main points to establish this argument. Her first point is that online identity is a textual construction. Secondly she states that online identity is a consequence-free moratorium. Turkle's third point is online identity expands real identity. Finally, her last point states that online identity illustrates a cultural concept of multiplicity. I disagree with many aspects of her argument and I have found flaws in her argument. Technology is an area that does not stand still and consequently outpaced Turkle's argument.
Identities that are created through communication are identities that you communicate to others. They are identities that you express about yourself while you are communicating with others. It is also how other people see you through your actions, ideas, and thoughts. It is how we define ourselves through our communication with others and how our communication defines us (Martin & Nakayama, 2011.) When I am communicating with a stranger, my identity is as a Mexican American. When I communicate with a friend, my identity is as a kind and caring friend. When I communicate with a teacher, advisor, other student, or professor, I am identified as a student. When I communicate
The first aspect being addressed is the problem with social network sites exposing information. Social networking has created an environment where it is nearly a duty to expose oneself. Profiles on these social websites are updated everyday with personal information such as locations, status, and future plans. Anyone can search another’s name and find information about their history, pictures, and activity. With the help of social networking sites...
Whitley, E, Gal, U, & Kjaergaard, A 2014, 'Who do you think you are? A review of the complex interplay between information systems, identification and identity', European Journal Of Information Systems, 23, 1, p. 17, Publisher Provided Full Text Searching File, EBSCOhost, viewed 13 April 2014.
This paper aims to explore the different reasons behind people having different personas in Twitter and real-life through a look at how the social networking site provides a unique opportunity for self...
Most common among young adults and teens, social networking plays a significant role in the social lives of adolescents. The teenage years are “a time of identity formation and role development” (Pew Internet and American Life Project 11). Online identity among friends and peers has now become as significant as one’s own personal identity, in that online information can be seen by many and online interactions have become a primary source of communication. As a result, teens tend to concentrate greatly on social life and now a majority use social networking sites and other social media as an outlet for this personal growth.