Every time I log into Facebook, I see so many people who are trying to be witty through their statuses. I’ve always found it humorous (and not in the way they are aiming for). So, I thought it was very interesting how Baron analyzed away messages on instant messengers. I definitely remember trying to be funny on my AIM profile, and saying that I was “away” just so I could talk to my closest friends without having to respond to anyone else.
Social media gives teenagers such a great tool to mold their appearance to the world, and as Baron writes, away messages provide “a platform for self-expression” (78). I think people often use humor to try and stand out from their peers, and to cover up their inadequacies. And at the same time, humor is a safety net for people to avoid talking about serious matters. Baron writes, “Several [teenagers] felt they had to justify themselves when their away messages were not funny or creative, typically explaining that they lacked time or energy to craft amusing postings” (79). One AIM member even posted a long list of away message tips, saying that “humor is the only way to go- i’m not looking for a deeper understand of life, or a little tug on the heart strings from my instant messenger” (Baron 80).
Davison’s essay about internet memes was also interesting, and made me think about how easy it is to be funny online. Davison writes that humor is passed along online at an “incredible” speed, and that nearly everyone in the world has access to the memes that are posted on public sites (123). Instead of having to tell a joke in person, someone can publish a meme or a funny Facebook status, and they get instant gratification through comments and shares. This makes humor easier and more accessible, but it also puts a greater pressure on people to be as funny as those around them.
I think you are correct about the instant gratification of sharing a meme you create. In the same way, the attention is short lived with the abundance of content, especially when it comes to memes.
Like you, I was constantly amused by the numerous “humorous” status updates of my Facebook friends. Sometimes I felt like they were focused more on how many ‘likes’ they could than actually commenting on how they were!
I was also one of the people who left my away message on at all times, just so people wouldn’t reach out to me or interrupt an important conversation I was having. I barely used AIM when it came out, and I only used the chat function of Facebook a handful of times. I certainly didn’t spend a lot of time creating the perfect away message! But I can certainly understand the pressure high schoolers feel to have the best online presence, especially since so much of their social life occurs on the internet.
I agree that there does seem to be a constant pressure to be funny. Sometimes I will see people post really funny memes or even their status is funny and often times I will get inspired to either say something funny or go find a funny picture.
I agree you you that people use humor to avoid talking about serous topics. Also that people feel that they have to justify themselves with their away message as well as their status.
I agree with the tie to instant gratification with posting of memes online. When you present a joke in person you don’t reach as many people at one time versus the internet “the more the merrier.”
I agree with the idea of instant gratification but what about the lack of instant gratification. For example if you tell a joke in front of friends you know if it was funny or not by peoples reactions, however if you create a funny FB status or meme you might wait hours for a like or comment or maybe not even get a response.
I think you’re also correct when it comes to the subtle social pressure to be funny. Because we’re all editors and publishers of our own content with the introduction of social media into our daily lives, there’s a strange sort of pressure to publish.
I agree that there is the pressure to be funny. I find people usually only wanting to post on twitter and facebook if they have something funny to say. There is that pressure of wanting to be entertaining and interesting and the fear that people will unfollow or unfriend you if you aren’t.
I definitely agree about teenagers showig their true personalities via social media. I know a lot of people who are very sociable on twitter and facebook but in person they lack there of. I agree that humor helps us to make comments funny and taking the pressure off of whether or not being cool.