World of Warcraft: Fostering Extroverted Introverts

World of Warcraft is the massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed and published by video game studio Activision-Blizzard, with a focus on social play and conquering challenges as a part of a group. Oddly enough, the stereotype exists of World of Warcraft (WoW) players that they are antisocial introverts who would sooner spend hours in a virtual world as opposed to taking a step outside into real-life. And yet, WoW by it’s definition as massively multiplayer is a game with it’s Read more [...]

Fake it ‘till you make it: LinkedIn users manipulating their profiles to land their dream job

Abstract By analysing texts relating to performing identity, impression management, deception and honesty in how LinkedIn users create and maintain their online identity, this paper argues how LinkedIn has changed the way professionals portray themselves and associate with their peers. Drawing on peer reviewed articles relating to social interactions involving identity performance, this paper draws a distinction between how these interactions differ between ‘real identity’ and ‘online identity’, Read more [...]

Online games have provided the impetus in the digital age for gamers to meet, form and sustain communities and to ultimately transition them beyond the game themselves.

Online games have provided the impetus in the digital age for gamers to meet, form and sustain communities and to ultimately transition them beyond the game themselves. Abstract: This paper aims to highlight the positive effects video games have instilled upon gamers through it’s social affordances to serve as the catalyst for friendship building beyond the games themselves into the wider online community. Evidence will be drawn from both gamers and industry experts to support how video games Read more [...]

Safe and Unsafe Online Communities for People with Issues Surrounding Body Image

Abstract There are many online communities dedicated to helping people achieve their ideal body or learn to love the body they have, but are these communities safe? Negative body image is something that many people have to grapple with in their life especially young women (Kostanski & Gullone, 1998). People come in so many shapes and sizes, the world is full of beauty, even if the media encourages us to believe that beauty is only found in a few lucky people. This can create a lot of stress Read more [...]

Tinder and the perceived intimacy of online relationships

18084076_Jonesh_FinalConferencePaper Online dating was once stigmatised as a service designed for those who were desperate for love, and for those who wanted to deceive other people (Ramirez, Bryant Sumner, Fleuriet & Cole, 2014). Digital technology has changed this, and now approximately 15% of Australians are using mobile-dating application, Tinder (Bruce-Smith, 2015). Smartphones and applications have changed the way people approach romantic relationships (Newett, Churchill & Robards, Read more [...]

Online Gaming Avatars Offer Individuals the Ability to Alter Self-Presentation and Identity within Virtual Environments and Communities

Abstract The following paper discusses the usage of online gaming avatars within virtual environments and communities and the ability for individuals to alter self-presentation through avatars in an online gaming context. The articles utilised describe online gaming, communities and virtual environments through massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) such as World of Warcraft (WoW) and Second Life as a “third place” (Hendershott & Oldenburg, 1991) for sociability and computer-mediated Read more [...]

#community: Hashtags generate a sense of belonging

Download: Hashtags generate a sense of belonging Abstract This paper explores how hashtags are used on social media as a kind of textual signpost signifying aspects of our identity. Through these signposts users alert others to their emotions, thoughts and affiliations, all of which help generate a sense of belonging to something online. From its beginnings as a searchable piece of metadata, hashtags help others find others beyond their own circle of friends to discover a collective of similar Read more [...]

Taking the “Social” out of “Social Media”: How technological advancement and the Internet Age have affected our ability to truly connect.

  PDF Version :Muhieddine_18460100_conference_paper Abstract With iconic social networking sites like Facebook now a ubiquitous and arguably integral part of daily life, it is crucial to understand the cultural impact of social media and the techno-baggage that comes with it. In the race to expand their user empires, social media companies have gradually offered more and more facets to their respective sites and apps. Sharing media and messages is easier than ever, but has this enhanced the Read more [...]

Seizing the Memes of Production: The Dictatorship of the Proletariat and Facebook

Abstract Facebook is one of the biggest social networks and is pervasive throughout much of the word with billions of users. The Dictatorship of the Proletariat is a state of government proposed, in much communist literature, as a transitional state from revolution to communism. What do these have in common and why compare a political theory with a social network? These are the questions this paper aims to answer and discuss. By examining the structures of Facebook set out for managing community Read more [...]

The Formation of Online Identities in Young Girls through Self-Presentation

Tanana_Fatima_15362818_Final Conference Paper Abstract This paper considers the implications of Instagram for the identity formation of young girls as they adjust their self-presentation to meet expectations and feel accepted by online communities.  Physical appearance, beauty, body image, poses and selfies, are just some of the aspects of self-presentation that this paper will explore and how they are affecting young girl’s confidence, insecurities and self-doubt over their real identities. Read more [...]