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.
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