The Huffaker reading addressed how adolescents use weblogs to explore and form their identity. The CMC context allows for more a more flexible and varied presentation of the self. Identity can be constructed through personality traits, interests, beliefs, roles, and involvement with other groups and users. In the corporeal world, these same people might have their identity assigned to them through such physical traits as gender and race. Online, they have more freedom to explore and construct their own identity. The Huffaker reading mentioned the level of disclosure of personal information on teenagers’ blogs. They revealed the extent of personal information provided on teen’s blogs. If basic gender and race information was not revealed in their profile, it was often expressed in their personal journal entries. Because every site is different, each type of CMC creates a unique context. Each site creates a different environment and set of expectations and requirements for the users. People change their methods of expression, and can disclose more or less information depending on their audience. If there is a forum for support and embracing cultural identity, they might do so. But they have the right to choose.
In the Facebook platform, it becomes necessary for users to fully present themselves in an honest and transparent way. By providing information, images, interests, and involvement, each user is motivated toward apt expression. The positive affirmation that surrounds that open expression creates a stronger sense of identity. Previous platforms enhanced anonymity, and encouraged users to create false or homogenous identities. Today, diversity is expected and embraced.
The CMC context of this class blog has not led me to think about physical categorizations. The interaction does not really lend itself to self-expression. Our writing does reveal pieces of ourselves, but we are not creating an individualized presentation. It is secondary to the class assignments. Our comments are more relevant as students than as members of one particular identity. If our attributed names were removed from our posts, I would find it difficult to guess which person wrote what.
I agree that diversity is expected and embraced more today than it ever has been. LiveJournal, etc were all centered around keeping contact with a very small amount of close friends, and yet Facebook and the new social media sites are focused on making ourselves as public as possible. People reveal so much about themselves in an attempt to be accessible and attainable.
I agree the class assignments does not really allow us to present our self in order to form an identity. Our comments are as student but I think it was fun during the last chat that we were actually able to identify who was who. I really believe that the environment helps define what information will be released.
I agree with your statement “diversity is expected and embraced”. This is very true in today’s society. People enjoy conversing with people from different cultures and backgrounds which has become a really easy thing to do because of the internet. Also, it ties into presenting yourself in a positive light and positive affirmation. You seem more interesting if you can communicate with a variety of people.
I agree that this class blog is not really set up for us to present ourselves. It is more of a scholarly thing where we post about things Dr. Markman asks us about. I also agree that without everyone’s names being attached to the posts, it would be hard to know who wrote which posts. Facebook does allow you to present yourself, but in whichever way you want to. It is also easy to go on google and get a random picture and create a whole new identity and pretend to be someone else.
I found it interesting that the researchers found that users of Facebook were involved in serious impression management. I think the quote I liked the most was “like an internet dating site.” It seems that there is really no way to be 100% honest or to be absolutely and completely ‘nonymous’ on the internet. Everyone is going to present their best face, whether that be choosing the best picture, making the funniest status update or tweet, etc. It reminds me of our blog posts for class, because even though these are our personal posts, they are the professional or academic side of us, not the whole of us.
I agree that we have minimal data to make racial or gender assumptions through our communication on the class blog. However, we can learn from each others points and perceptions which then creates clusters of agreement and disagreement about the material we are learning.
You make an excellent point that each site creates a different context in CMC. I think this is an important, yet often overlooked, point in studying the ways in which we interact online.