Q: Since we can only virtually see what is being presented through communication through blogging, how can we actually believe the content? Should there be a set of standards or just pure faith in its measurement? Esther Michell, April 19.
Thank you for the good question Esther. As with any information we receive, we must consider the source and the context. Information from online sources like blogs, virtual communities, news, business, and government sites differ in credibility, intent, and bias. Online news sites hosted 112 million visitors in the first quarter of 2006 and some internet users only receive online news (NAA, 2006 as cited in Cassidy, 2007). Journalism’s goal is reporting unbiased information from creditable sources. A journalist perceives his or her role as either neutral, using only verified sources, or dig for the real story and investigate claims. (Cassidy, 2007). The public trust in media has declined, 60% of Americans believe that the media in politically biased. The public’s perceived credibility of ABC dropped from 83% in 1985 to 65% in 2002 (Cassidy, 2007). Journalists rate online sources lower than print and TV because they believe that the immediacy that stories can be posted online creates many errors (Cassidy, 2007). A website’s perceived credibility is influenced by the design, genre, expertise, and trustworthiness. Newssites are perceived more creditible than web blogs and personal websites (Flanagin, 2007).
References:
Cassidy, W. P. (2007). Online news credibility: An examination of the perceptions of newspaper journalists. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12, Article 7. Retrieved May 1, 2007, from http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol12/issue2/cassidy.html
Flanagin, A. J., & Metzger, M. J. (2007). The role of site features, user attributes, and information verification behaviors on the perceived credibility of web-based information. New Media & Society, 9, 319-342.
5/03/2007
Q: Dual Identities
Q: Why are people drawn to having an "Internet alter ego?" Is it an insecurity or ego issue? In other words, why are people likely to embellish truths to appear "better" online? This is not just relevant for Internet dating or chat rooms, but even on sites like MySpace or Facebook. – Si Robins, April 17.
Thank you for the question Si. People are drawn to the internet for many reasons. Internet users’ attraction to identity experimentation online includes a range from seeking status and stardom to dating and self-presentation. In the world of blogging and virtual communities, individuals seek status by posting large amounts of advice, opinion, and information for strangers and the act is motivated by reciprocity (Lampel & Bhalla, 2007). These communities, like Myspace, Yahoo!Answers, and Blogger, allow participants to freely communicate massive amounts of information to an unlimited number of readers. “Some authors manage to create a persona, making themselves a "celebrity" among the community of bloggers [and media]. … This small group of A-list bloggers has arguably the largest influence on the public's perception of blogging because of their high profile” (Trammell & Keshelashvili, 2005, p. 969). Trammell and Keshelashvili (2005) found that these A-list bloggers strategically balance their online likeability and their true values and opinions. This impression management strategy is successful when an author demonstrates competence, appear modest while promoting his or her abilities. Authors retain readers by appearing exciting and asking visitors to comment on questions (Trammell & Keshelashvili).
However, in online dating, participants want to present the ideal self that is also the actual self. They do not attempt to gain stardom by writing updated blogs and participate in a network of links from and to other blog pages. The goal of online dating is to present one’s self truthfully and include characteristics that attract others. Participants are confronted with presenting self within the limitations of the medium. Facts and strategies that are included in computer-mediated dating are much different that what is included when meeting face-to-face (Ellison, Heino, & Gibbs, 2006, p. 416). In any given situation, an individual interacting with another will use some type of self-presentation strategy. With the lack of social cues and sense of anonymity, users feel expressive freedom and are less likely to refrain from self-promotion and identity experiments.
References:
Ellison, N., Heino, R., & Gibbs, J. (2006). Managing impressions online: Self-presentation processes in the online dating environment. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 11, 415-441.
Lampel, J., and Bhalla, A. (2007). The role of status seeking in online communities: Giving the gift of experience. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12, Article 5. Retrieved May 1, 2007 from http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol12/issue2/lampel.html
Trammell, K. D., & Keshelashvili, A. (2005). Examinin the new influencers: A self-presentation study of A-list blogs. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 82, 968-982.
Thank you for the question Si. People are drawn to the internet for many reasons. Internet users’ attraction to identity experimentation online includes a range from seeking status and stardom to dating and self-presentation. In the world of blogging and virtual communities, individuals seek status by posting large amounts of advice, opinion, and information for strangers and the act is motivated by reciprocity (Lampel & Bhalla, 2007). These communities, like Myspace, Yahoo!Answers, and Blogger, allow participants to freely communicate massive amounts of information to an unlimited number of readers. “Some authors manage to create a persona, making themselves a "celebrity" among the community of bloggers [and media]. … This small group of A-list bloggers has arguably the largest influence on the public's perception of blogging because of their high profile” (Trammell & Keshelashvili, 2005, p. 969). Trammell and Keshelashvili (2005) found that these A-list bloggers strategically balance their online likeability and their true values and opinions. This impression management strategy is successful when an author demonstrates competence, appear modest while promoting his or her abilities. Authors retain readers by appearing exciting and asking visitors to comment on questions (Trammell & Keshelashvili).
However, in online dating, participants want to present the ideal self that is also the actual self. They do not attempt to gain stardom by writing updated blogs and participate in a network of links from and to other blog pages. The goal of online dating is to present one’s self truthfully and include characteristics that attract others. Participants are confronted with presenting self within the limitations of the medium. Facts and strategies that are included in computer-mediated dating are much different that what is included when meeting face-to-face (Ellison, Heino, & Gibbs, 2006, p. 416). In any given situation, an individual interacting with another will use some type of self-presentation strategy. With the lack of social cues and sense of anonymity, users feel expressive freedom and are less likely to refrain from self-promotion and identity experiments.
References:
Ellison, N., Heino, R., & Gibbs, J. (2006). Managing impressions online: Self-presentation processes in the online dating environment. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 11, 415-441.
Lampel, J., and Bhalla, A. (2007). The role of status seeking in online communities: Giving the gift of experience. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12, Article 5. Retrieved May 1, 2007 from http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol12/issue2/lampel.html
Trammell, K. D., & Keshelashvili, A. (2005). Examinin the new influencers: A self-presentation study of A-list blogs. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 82, 968-982.
Q: Older Surfers: Online
Q: Do you think with more and more dating, history, e-mails, and other adult useful sites that the cybercultural will turn from the younger era of instant messaging, profile pages such as myspace and facebook will turn to the older generation? -- Katlin Kuntz, April 10.
Good question Katlin. We are continually introduced to new media technologies that improve communication and inspirer ideas. Integration of the new technologies helps bring the community together. Older adults adopt new technology slower than young people. However, worldwide the 65 and older group is quickly increasing the number of its online members (Lina, Hummert, & Harwood, 2004 ). Older Japanese adults enjoy participating in virtual communities because they can reconnect with communities, create new relationships, research important topics. Bleise (1982) listed ten motivations that the elderly use mass media (as cited in Kanayamma, 2003, p. 270):
Good question Katlin. We are continually introduced to new media technologies that improve communication and inspirer ideas. Integration of the new technologies helps bring the community together. Older adults adopt new technology slower than young people. However, worldwide the 65 and older group is quickly increasing the number of its online members (Lina, Hummert, & Harwood, 2004 ). Older Japanese adults enjoy participating in virtual communities because they can reconnect with communities, create new relationships, research important topics. Bleise (1982) listed ten motivations that the elderly use mass media (as cited in Kanayamma, 2003, p. 270):
- as a substitute for interpersonal interactions;
- to gather contents for interpersonal interactions;
- to form self-perceptions and to gather information about
societal perceptions of various groups of people; - to learn appropriate behaviors;
- intellectual stimulation and challenge;
- as a less costly substitute for other media;
- networking and mutual support;
- self-learning;
- entertainment; and
- companionship and safety.
When elderly people in Japan first began using the internet Kanayama (2006) found that problems they encountered where difficulty in learning computer skills and the lack of friends to send email. After learning computer skills and using email, this type of communication “provided a great opportunity for the elderly people to enjoy interaction with others and construct social connections helped elderly people to build social connectedness” (Kanayama, p. 272). Older adults are online and websites dedicated to web surfers over 65 are are created in many corners of cyberspace, including SeniorResourc.com, SeniorJournal.com, and SeniorCitizenBureau.
References:
Kanayamma, T. (2003). Ethnographic research on the experience of Japanese elderly people online. New Media and Society, 5, 267-288.
Lina, M. C., Hummert, M. L., & Harwood, J. (2004). Representation of age identities in on-line discourse. Journal of Aging Studies, 18, 261-74.
Q: Accepted Identity Experiments
Q: Do you think that identity experimentation is acceptable in digital communication? And how do false identities affect online dating and others sites like Myspace/Facebook etc? Robbie Collins, April 19.
Thank you for the question Robbie. The widespread belief that online dating participants lie about personal characteristics in order to present an improved self is only half true. In 2003, CBC News found that 29 million Americans participated in online dating and during each month in 2004, 40 million people visited dating sites (Ellison, Heino, & Gibbs, 2006). The most common characteristics online dating participants falsified in 2001 was age (14% of people), marital status (10% of people), and their appearance (10% of people) (Brym & Lenton, 2001 as cited in Ellison et al., 2006). These low numbers indicate there is something preventing people from using false identities frequently. The characteristics and beliefs of online dating both discourage and encourage deception from its participants. Fiore and Donath (2004) found that individuals who believe others use altered characteristics online tend to use parallel actions of what they perceive as acceptable behavior (as cited in Ellison et al.). Self-presentation is important in online dating. When individuals meet online then meet face-to-face, an accurate initial online self-presentation is important. Ellison et al. (2006) found that online dating participants claim to accurately present themselves. The results suggests that “online representations of one’s ideal self—when combined with the increased accountability engendered by an anticipated face-to-face interaction—may serve as a tool to enable individuals to minimize the discrepancy between their actual and their ideal selves” (Ellison et al., p. 432). In this situation, self-presentation experiments are needed and appropriate if the ideal self resembles the actual self.
Reference:
Ellison, N., Heino, R., & Gibbs, J. (2006). Managing impressions online: Self-presentation processes in the online dating environment. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 11, 415-441.
Thank you for the question Robbie. The widespread belief that online dating participants lie about personal characteristics in order to present an improved self is only half true. In 2003, CBC News found that 29 million Americans participated in online dating and during each month in 2004, 40 million people visited dating sites (Ellison, Heino, & Gibbs, 2006). The most common characteristics online dating participants falsified in 2001 was age (14% of people), marital status (10% of people), and their appearance (10% of people) (Brym & Lenton, 2001 as cited in Ellison et al., 2006). These low numbers indicate there is something preventing people from using false identities frequently. The characteristics and beliefs of online dating both discourage and encourage deception from its participants. Fiore and Donath (2004) found that individuals who believe others use altered characteristics online tend to use parallel actions of what they perceive as acceptable behavior (as cited in Ellison et al.). Self-presentation is important in online dating. When individuals meet online then meet face-to-face, an accurate initial online self-presentation is important. Ellison et al. (2006) found that online dating participants claim to accurately present themselves. The results suggests that “online representations of one’s ideal self—when combined with the increased accountability engendered by an anticipated face-to-face interaction—may serve as a tool to enable individuals to minimize the discrepancy between their actual and their ideal selves” (Ellison et al., p. 432). In this situation, self-presentation experiments are needed and appropriate if the ideal self resembles the actual self.
Reference:
Ellison, N., Heino, R., & Gibbs, J. (2006). Managing impressions online: Self-presentation processes in the online dating environment. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 11, 415-441.
4/06/2007
Digital Final Thoughts
Final thoughs on digital identitiesInternet users in many part of the world present themselves in many ways through websites, blogs, email, and forums. Each online medium differs in the amount of identity information that users can reveal and the amount of information observers use to form identity impressions. Users express and present themselves based on what they want to present, how much they want to present, and on the environmental factors in which they live. The environment in which one lives influences the content or intent of a website or blog. The intent ranges from identity presentation to identity management. The technology of the internet allows users to experiment with this range and the identities within themselves to create meaning that is continuously evolving.
For additional reading: Not every society is allowed to freely self-express and experiment with identity. China has implemented regulatory internet laws that censor content and block websites that contain objectionable material. The government, with cooperation from internet service providers (ISP), search engines, and content providers, censors websites, blogs, forums, bulletin boards, and email. Google and Yahoo, now in China, have rewritten their policies and programs to follow China’s regulations. Internet users are forced to censor the information that is included on their personal websites and blogs that are used for self-expression. If users do not comply, they loose internet connection or are imprisoned.
Other Reading:
Blocking of Wikipedia in mainland China
Google to censor itself in China, CNN.com
Internet censorship gathers steam, CNN.com
Yang, K. C. C. (2007). A comparative study of internet regulatory policies in the Greater China Region: Emerging regulatory models and issues in China, Hong-Kong SAR, and Taiwan. Telematics & Informatics, 24, 30-40.
Online Public Image Maintenance
Internet public relations for image management of celebrities and corporations
Internet public relations (PR) research covers litigation public relations , political public relations, and the media. Litigation public relations and and online political PR explores the use of websites that attempt to improve or maintain the reputation of a public figure or corporation and explores websites used to influence the public image of political figures and government (Reber, Gower, & Robinson, 2006). Political candidates use websites to improve their ratings and attempt to manipulate their public image. Celebrities, like Michael Jackson and Martha Stewart, use websites to improve public image during high profile lawsuits (both website are now down). This tactic is affective in influencing an audience because the media reports what can be found on the sight, which is carefullly chosen information from the website owner. Haggerty (as cited in Reber et al., 2006), defines litigation PR as managing communications during a legal dispute proceeding to “affect the outcome or its impact on the client’s overall reputation” (p.24). Many researchers in this field agree that the two goals of litigation PR are to influence the outcome of the court case (Butler, 1996; Fitzpatrick, 1996; Haggerty, 2003; as cited in Reber et al.) and to “protect the client’s reputation before and during the trial” (p. 25). Websites using reputation management for litigation PR achieve these two goals through managing the public’s attitudes toward a client and not simply focusing on knowledge or facts about the client (Reber et al.).
The design, content depth, and complexity of websites, elements that create credibility, is of great importance to the future reputation of the website owner. Website observers have a range of perceptions when viewing different types of sites. Flanagin and Metzer (2007) discovered that genre influences credibility levels, news website had the highest perceived credibility and personal website had the lowest perceived credibility. Trustworthiness and expertise influence credibility; however, credibility is not an automatic characteristic and it is judged by the observer of the information presented on the site (Flanagin & Metzger). Websites effective in influencing credibility perceptions contain “well-designed, reputable genres of sites, … [and] involve messages of low persuasive intent” (Flanagin & Metzer, p. 338). Those who design effective websites for litigation PR follow these characteristics and would also incorporate Kent and Taylor’s (1998) five principles for building dialogic websites. The researchers suggest:
1. Create a dialogic loop that allows observers to question the organization, which in turn can respond to concerns.
2. Insure that information on the website is useful to allow the public to be involved as an informed participant.
3. The website must encourage return public visitors by using desirable elements like updates, downloads, mail information, and forums.
4. The website interface should be easy to navigate and include a table of contents.
5. Preserve visitors by not leading users away from your website through links to other sites. (Kent & Taylor, 1998, as cited in Reber et al., 2006).
Martha Stewart and Michael Jackson successfully used websites for their image management by using Kent and Taylor’s principles. The celebrities’ sites included “press releases, open letters, formal statements, downloadable court texts, responses to media coverage, a vehicle for sending notes or letters to the defendants via email, recently updated information, and prominent home page links” (Reber et al., 2006, p. 36). The sites also used framing to “[counteract] negative publicity, … [balance] media coverage, … [make] the defendant’s viewpoint known, and to [contest] the defendant’s [innocence] (Reber et al., p. 37).
Other reading:
Martha's Website, USA Today.
Jackson and Stewart, Online journalism review.
References:
Reber, B. H., Gower, K. K., Robinson, J. A. (2006). The internet and litigation public relations. Journal of Public Relations Research, 18, 23-44.
Flanagin, A. J., & Metzger, M. J. (2007). The role of site features, user attributes, and information verification behaviors on the perceived credibility of web-based information. New Media & Society, 9, 319-342.
Internet public relations (PR) research covers litigation public relations , political public relations, and the media. Litigation public relations and and online political PR explores the use of websites that attempt to improve or maintain the reputation of a public figure or corporation and explores websites used to influence the public image of political figures and government (Reber, Gower, & Robinson, 2006). Political candidates use websites to improve their ratings and attempt to manipulate their public image. Celebrities, like Michael Jackson and Martha Stewart, use websites to improve public image during high profile lawsuits (both website are now down). This tactic is affective in influencing an audience because the media reports what can be found on the sight, which is carefullly chosen information from the website owner. Haggerty (as cited in Reber et al., 2006), defines litigation PR as managing communications during a legal dispute proceeding to “affect the outcome or its impact on the client’s overall reputation” (p.24). Many researchers in this field agree that the two goals of litigation PR are to influence the outcome of the court case (Butler, 1996; Fitzpatrick, 1996; Haggerty, 2003; as cited in Reber et al.) and to “protect the client’s reputation before and during the trial” (p. 25). Websites using reputation management for litigation PR achieve these two goals through managing the public’s attitudes toward a client and not simply focusing on knowledge or facts about the client (Reber et al.).
The design, content depth, and complexity of websites, elements that create credibility, is of great importance to the future reputation of the website owner. Website observers have a range of perceptions when viewing different types of sites. Flanagin and Metzer (2007) discovered that genre influences credibility levels, news website had the highest perceived credibility and personal website had the lowest perceived credibility. Trustworthiness and expertise influence credibility; however, credibility is not an automatic characteristic and it is judged by the observer of the information presented on the site (Flanagin & Metzger). Websites effective in influencing credibility perceptions contain “well-designed, reputable genres of sites, … [and] involve messages of low persuasive intent” (Flanagin & Metzer, p. 338). Those who design effective websites for litigation PR follow these characteristics and would also incorporate Kent and Taylor’s (1998) five principles for building dialogic websites. The researchers suggest:
1. Create a dialogic loop that allows observers to question the organization, which in turn can respond to concerns.
2. Insure that information on the website is useful to allow the public to be involved as an informed participant.
3. The website must encourage return public visitors by using desirable elements like updates, downloads, mail information, and forums.
4. The website interface should be easy to navigate and include a table of contents.
5. Preserve visitors by not leading users away from your website through links to other sites. (Kent & Taylor, 1998, as cited in Reber et al., 2006).
Martha Stewart and Michael Jackson successfully used websites for their image management by using Kent and Taylor’s principles. The celebrities’ sites included “press releases, open letters, formal statements, downloadable court texts, responses to media coverage, a vehicle for sending notes or letters to the defendants via email, recently updated information, and prominent home page links” (Reber et al., 2006, p. 36). The sites also used framing to “[counteract] negative publicity, … [balance] media coverage, … [make] the defendant’s viewpoint known, and to [contest] the defendant’s [innocence] (Reber et al., p. 37).
Other reading:
Martha's Website, USA Today.
Jackson and Stewart, Online journalism review.
References:
Reber, B. H., Gower, K. K., Robinson, J. A. (2006). The internet and litigation public relations. Journal of Public Relations Research, 18, 23-44.
Flanagin, A. J., & Metzger, M. J. (2007). The role of site features, user attributes, and information verification behaviors on the perceived credibility of web-based information. New Media & Society, 9, 319-342.
4/05/2007
Identity Experimentation Online
Gender and age online identity experimentation
The online world is a magical medium that allows individuals to create and
experiment with identities and break out of the stereotypes of age, gender, or race. In their online identity experiments, adolescents attempt to gain popularity, men and women experiment with gender-switching, and older adults attempt to overcome stereotypes (Lina, Hummert, & Harwood, 2004). In online self-presentation, individuals choose information about themselves to present to others online (Valkenburg, Schouten, & Peter, 2005). Jones and Pitmann (as cited in Valkenburg et al., 2005) recognized self-presentation strategies to include: ingration to be well liked, intimidation to be feared, and self-promotion to gain respect (p. 384). Valkenburg et al. found that adolescents engage in identity experiments more often in early rather than late adolescent years, younger girls tend to present themselves as older, and boys often present themselves as macho. In gender-switching, presenting a gender to others online that differs from the individual’s actual biological sex, individuals “desire to play roles of people different from one’s self” (Roberts & Parks, 1999, p. 521). Roberts and Parks (1999), in studying the social role playing websites of online MOOs (object oriented MUDs), found that 40% of social MOO participants and 60% of role play MOO participants have tried gender-switching yet infrequently. LambdaMOO and Ghostwheel are popular social and roleplay MOOs where participants are in an online house setting or a fantasy-world game setting. These studies also found that heterosexuals and non-disabled individuals “were less likely to gender-switch” (Roberts & Parks) and younger users were not in the majority of this behavior (p. 536). Individuals that had experimented with switching were usually experienced with MOOs. The most frequent reason for not gender-switching is “the belief that it is dishonest and manipulative” (Roberts & Parks p. 537). In their books, authors Rheingold, “Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier” an online book (1993), Turkle, “Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet” (1995), and Stone, “The War of Desire and Technology at the Close of the Mechanical Age” (1995) (also online), examine the impact of computer-mediated-communication and the attraction of gender-switching identity experiments.
Older web users over 65 are increasingly online. Websites dedicated to web surfers over 65 are appearing in many corners of cyberspace, including SeniorResourc.com, SeniorJournal.com, and SeniorCitizenBureau. Seniors are attracted to this medium and use positive themes in their online communication to overcome age stereotypes, express their views uninterrupted, and use social creativity strategies (Lina et al., 2004). Positive themes include “mind-over-body attitude, active engagement, wisdom and maturity, and the freedom of age” (Lina et al., p. 262). Overcoming stereotypes by using social creativity strategies include emphasizing one’s ability to make good decisions (Lina et al.). These strategies are used to reconstruct age identities. Lina et al. found that “negative age stereotypes were positively managed, and positive identities were constructed within a negative framework … Themes and framing tactics illustrate the complexity of age identity, a mix of chronological, health, and personal identities” (p, 272).
New technology surfaces frequently that all types of people use to express or experiment with online identities. The instant messaging programs Yahoo and MSN now have a display for a pictures or avatar. Imvu is an instant messaging community dedicate to using graphics like 3D avatars, personal websites, typing in bubbles, and animation.
Other reading:
SeniorNet , LambdaMOO and Ghostwheel
References:
Lina, M. C., Hummert, M. L., & Harwood, J. (2004). Representation of age identities in on-line discourse. Journal of Aging Studies, 18, 261-74.
Roberts, L. K. & Parks, M. R. (1999). The social geography of gender: Switching in virtual environments on the internet. Information, Communication and Society, 2, 521-540.
Valkenburg, P. M., Schouten, A. P., & Peter, J. (2005). Adolescents’ identity experiments on the internet. New Media and Society, 7, 383-402.
The online world is a magical medium that allows individuals to create and
experiment with identities and break out of the stereotypes of age, gender, or race. In their online identity experiments, adolescents attempt to gain popularity, men and women experiment with gender-switching, and older adults attempt to overcome stereotypes (Lina, Hummert, & Harwood, 2004). In online self-presentation, individuals choose information about themselves to present to others online (Valkenburg, Schouten, & Peter, 2005). Jones and Pitmann (as cited in Valkenburg et al., 2005) recognized self-presentation strategies to include: ingration to be well liked, intimidation to be feared, and self-promotion to gain respect (p. 384). Valkenburg et al. found that adolescents engage in identity experiments more often in early rather than late adolescent years, younger girls tend to present themselves as older, and boys often present themselves as macho. In gender-switching, presenting a gender to others online that differs from the individual’s actual biological sex, individuals “desire to play roles of people different from one’s self” (Roberts & Parks, 1999, p. 521). Roberts and Parks (1999), in studying the social role playing websites of online MOOs (object oriented MUDs), found that 40% of social MOO participants and 60% of role play MOO participants have tried gender-switching yet infrequently. LambdaMOO and Ghostwheel are popular social and roleplay MOOs where participants are in an online house setting or a fantasy-world game setting. These studies also found that heterosexuals and non-disabled individuals “were less likely to gender-switch” (Roberts & Parks) and younger users were not in the majority of this behavior (p. 536). Individuals that had experimented with switching were usually experienced with MOOs. The most frequent reason for not gender-switching is “the belief that it is dishonest and manipulative” (Roberts & Parks p. 537). In their books, authors Rheingold, “Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier” an online book (1993), Turkle, “Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet” (1995), and Stone, “The War of Desire and Technology at the Close of the Mechanical Age” (1995) (also online), examine the impact of computer-mediated-communication and the attraction of gender-switching identity experiments.Older web users over 65 are increasingly online. Websites dedicated to web surfers over 65 are appearing in many corners of cyberspace, including SeniorResourc.com, SeniorJournal.com, and SeniorCitizenBureau. Seniors are attracted to this medium and use positive themes in their online communication to overcome age stereotypes, express their views uninterrupted, and use social creativity strategies (Lina et al., 2004). Positive themes include “mind-over-body attitude, active engagement, wisdom and maturity, and the freedom of age” (Lina et al., p. 262). Overcoming stereotypes by using social creativity strategies include emphasizing one’s ability to make good decisions (Lina et al.). These strategies are used to reconstruct age identities. Lina et al. found that “negative age stereotypes were positively managed, and positive identities were constructed within a negative framework … Themes and framing tactics illustrate the complexity of age identity, a mix of chronological, health, and personal identities” (p, 272).
New technology surfaces frequently that all types of people use to express or experiment with online identities. The instant messaging programs Yahoo and MSN now have a display for a pictures or avatar. Imvu is an instant messaging community dedicate to using graphics like 3D avatars, personal websites, typing in bubbles, and animation.
Other reading:
SeniorNet , LambdaMOO and Ghostwheel
References:
Lina, M. C., Hummert, M. L., & Harwood, J. (2004). Representation of age identities in on-line discourse. Journal of Aging Studies, 18, 261-74.
Roberts, L. K. & Parks, M. R. (1999). The social geography of gender: Switching in virtual environments on the internet. Information, Communication and Society, 2, 521-540.
Valkenburg, P. M., Schouten, A. P., & Peter, J. (2005). Adolescents’ identity experiments on the internet. New Media and Society, 7, 383-402.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)