Goffman and Online Identity
Friday, August 21, 2009 by j001
Erving Goffman put forth several ideas about the self and personal identity. One if these is that we only have an identity because we exist in the eyes of others, that is, if it weren't for other people, we wouldn't have an identity. In relation to what we have studied in class this week, Goffman's ideas about the self an be related back to personal web pages such as Facebook, myspace and Blogging sites.
People online identities on Facebook and myspace are some forms of our identity that would not exist if others weren't observing. There would be no reason to change interests, or update statuses if there was no one to observe these qualities of the self. In a more general approach, Facebook would not function as a social site unless people were there to observe others.
The selves that people construct on social networking sites are rarely for self clarification of their identity. In the more public arena of Facebook, the reason for sharing things about the self is so that others know things about the person.
In addition to this, Blogging websites offer a more in depth look at a person's identity. Where Facebook sets a template for people to fill in with their preferences for books, films, and political views, Bloggers can make these for themselves, giving a more rounded and less permanent construction of their identity, the more changeable, frequent updates that blogging allows for means people can write about their current favourite book, or a a good movie they just saw, offering on going insights into their identity.
People online identities on Facebook and myspace are some forms of our identity that would not exist if others weren't observing. There would be no reason to change interests, or update statuses if there was no one to observe these qualities of the self. In a more general approach, Facebook would not function as a social site unless people were there to observe others.
The selves that people construct on social networking sites are rarely for self clarification of their identity. In the more public arena of Facebook, the reason for sharing things about the self is so that others know things about the person.
In addition to this, Blogging websites offer a more in depth look at a person's identity. Where Facebook sets a template for people to fill in with their preferences for books, films, and political views, Bloggers can make these for themselves, giving a more rounded and less permanent construction of their identity, the more changeable, frequent updates that blogging allows for means people can write about their current favourite book, or a a good movie they just saw, offering on going insights into their identity.