Abstract: This paper explores the role that online communities and the social network play in the development and implementing of identity from adolescents through to young adults. This is done primarily through the analysis of the various features and benefits of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Blogger as well contributing factors to identity development such as community design. Various identity theories are also briefly explored to allow for an understanding of how identity development in the Web 2.0 era is changing for adolescents and young adults and becoming a key determinant in the sustainability of online communities and networks.
Keywords: social networks; community; social media; identity; Facebook; Instagram; Blogger; community design; identity theory
As online communities and networks expand and the number of adolescents accessing the internet continue to increase (Johnson, 2006), the role that Web 2.0 communities play in developing and implementing identity online and offline is becoming commodious. Communication is a key driving source for why and how we utilise social networks. Donath (1996) states that communication is essential for evaluating an interaction and that knowing the identity of whom we are communicating with is also essential; however, she also notes that identity can be ambiguous. In the physical world we can link our identity to our physical bodies, whereas online our identities are linked to the pictures and words we choose to post. For young people, being exposed to a multitude of content on a regular basis, during a time where their identity and self-awareness is developing, can be overwhelming but also formative of their personalities, values, attitudes and beliefs as well as how they interact in communities both online and offline. Throughout this paper I will be arguing that social networks and communities are important platforms for the growth of identity in young people in the developing digital era. I will be doing this by analyzing the features and benefits of different platforms including Instagram, Facebook and Blogger, as well as interpreting the ways in which social networks develop communities and how these communities and networks are relevant to the identities of their users.
Building Communities and Community Identities on Social Networks
The internet, and now the rise of social networks, allows social humans the ability to learn, connect, educate, share and influence. As Papacharissi (2011) explains, networks exist to spread knowledge and that we live in an information network that continuously expands out to other users. Through these information networks, one can develop their online identity. For children who are only just beginning to form a concept of their own identity, the new multimodal forms of learning (Burke, 2013) which consist of both virtual playgrounds and school playgrounds give children great opportunity in exploration of others and themselves. Chatrooms and online video games are lending the features of avatars and anonymity at a young age and utilizing ‘play’ to create community and engagement (Burke, 2013). Buckingham and Willet (2006) analyse the online community consisting of ‘gURLs,’ which they define to be female tech savvy web users and creators that empower their thoughts and interests through their online platforms and through features of blogging websites such as text and banners; it is considered a space where girls can speak their own language and develop their online presence and identity. There are many different communities out their depending on an individual’s identity or their interests and the various digital platforms, such as online games and blogs give users the ability to express themselves through narrative and images.
Influence, whether it be from mass media created content or convergence culture within social networks, is another defining factor of identity online as much of the content one submerges themselves in is user-generated, or mass media generated, changing the inner values or desires of the user, therefore altering the content they wish to post which then in turn alters their online persona. Online communities thrive based on their community design, something that is prevalent amongst social media platforms, most recognizably on Facebook and Instagram. Design affects how people interact and how they influence one another and even the user’s interests, based on the content that they are exposed to. The design and interaction that user’s come into contact with on these platforms is what ultimately makes them want to continue using them; they may feel a sense of belonging or community or they may feel influenced or motivated by the design of the platforms to continue logging in and creating content and having an online identity. Ren, Kraut and Kielser (2007), explore the difference between identity-based attachment and bond-based attachment, these are essentially the reasons why people continue to be a part of particular communities. If you have an identity-based attachment, you become a part of and stay in the group because you identify with the group as whole; whereas bond-based attachment refers to a singular connection with an individual in the group. These two identity characteristics along with community design are dominant determinants of identity development and community construction.
Despite being one of the biggest social media platforms in the world, Papacharissi (2011) does not see platforms such as Facebook as communities but rather as social venues where communities come to meet. So what makes a community? The ability to socialize, create meaningful connections to others, provide entertainment, and allow for support and empathy to be put out into the online space are all building blocks of a community online. When you log on to Facebook the page reads: “Facebook helps you connect and share with people in your life.” This means hat you can bring your offline ommunity online but Facebook allows for this and so much more; you can now connect with people you do not know, businesses, celebrities, charities and whatever else resonates with you as an individual, which all helps to build your profile even larger.
With youths being such a heavy part of our online communities, it is unsurprising that many of them have taken up another aspect of online community collaboration, or remix culture. There are entire genre communities on platforms such as Blogger and YouTube that allow creative liberty to their users, whether it be in the form of mash-ups or through the creation of memes. These forms of creation constitute significant cultural, social, technological, and learning behaviors (Ahn et al., 2013) and as the digital sphere continues to develop it is not surprising that digital culture, along with its remixing and remediation, is becoming a part of the everyday lives of young users. As teachers urge their students to participate in class, adolescents may be just as motivated to be a part of the participatory culture taking place online. It is strongly argued also that youths cannot possibly gather the knowledge of permissive copying practices when in fact studies have found that children as young as five years old develop concepts like having ideas and voicing negative reactions to copying (Ahn et al. 2013). Essentially, this is evidence of how youths can begin developing their core understandings and values and how they can be integrated into the online social networks that they will both contribute and interact in as they develop.
You can put a definition on to what one believes community means, however the widespread nodes of the internet have allowed communities and henceforth individual users to define themselves as whatever they want to be. There is something for everyone. Young people are increasingly going online, whether to escape reality or to establish their identity in the social network. In 2004 Slater explores the idea of disembodiment from identity, that perhaps users are detaching themselves from their bodies which contains the benefits of textuality and anonymity; you can be whoever you want to be, and nobody has to know that it is you, if you do not want them to.
Factors of Online Communities that Influence Online Identity
Of course our identity is firmly rooted in where we geographically come from and the cultural norms that have intrinsically shaped our values, attitudes and beliefs throughout our lives. In connection to the online sphere and social networks one can see how geographic location can impact the development of building communities online; in China, online social networkers use different platforms as compared to western users, this is primarily a result of the restrictions on internet usage but also, many of the platforms that they use such as Weibo and WeChat are designed to be appreciated by these culturally relevant users as they are utilised not only by Chinese influencers and brands but they are largely utilised across the country. If everyone in you know is Weibo then you too will most likely use Weibo to talk to them. Other cultural factors of online communities can be interests, typically music or photography; religious values and beliefs as well as the user’s propensity for privacy. How much a user wishes to share about themselves or their online identity depends entirely upon the user. Facebook does not require their users to fill out all of their profile characteristics, but rather what you want people to see. This can then be further manipulated based on the user’s security preferences. There are now so many different platforms out there to be explored by youth today based on individual factors, such as age, location and interests. For example, anyone can make a Musically account, where you film yourself parodying songs that you like or are culturally relevant in the moment. These videos can then be shared to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube and depending on the audience of your profile, enjoyed. Popularity of specific applications and platforms is generated from use, inviting friends via the platform, and word-of-mouth. Boyd (2007) found that teens admire the ability to visualize how their social world would look through their networked collection of profiles; they can visualize all of their friends online so they would in turn want their friends to visualize them.
Taking a look at Facebook, approximately 940,000 users in Australia are between the ages of thirteen and seventeen and with Instagram approximately 1 in 3 Australian’s are users (Cowling, 2018). These are fast becoming prime platforms for young people to begin building their online identities and join online communities. These platforms have been so successful as a result of their customizability. The notion of building your own profile including a profile picture, facts about yourself and your interests and then hyperlinks to your other profiles and platforms is once again of interest to a wide range of internet users. It is appealing because you can make your profile accurate to your offline profile or you can live your fantasy and take on the identity of whoever you please. Young users are wanting their profiles to reflect their interests and who they are and by giving youth the opportunity to share this journey with their peers it may make it easier for other young people to help form their identities, when they may be struggling with who they want to be and who they want to be seen as online. Teens and young adults often face the question of ‘who am I?’ With a vast array of environments, knowledge networks and social networks, users aren’t limited and they can explore different customs, societies and interests without fear of being reprimanded or put down which they may fear in their offline life.
The way in which communities formed online impact one’s identity, sense of self, or sense of purpose online can be seen as a reflection of how users interact online and how they build their profiles. Social networking sites are, like we explored before, social venues where users can come to gather. A private community may require a user to apply to join; the private group can then assess the user’s profile to see if they would be an appropriate participant for their group. A private community can be created through a private Facebook page or Instagram profile (that uses hashtags and private messaging to communicate and share) or it can be created through blogging platforms such as Blogger, WordPress and Tumblr which can put passwords on their user’s blogs, and can be only be accessed if the site owner gives you their password. Private communities such as these are useful tools for young users and content creators to be a part of the current phenomenon of whatever platform is currently trending yet it also allows for their safety when sharing their profiles online. Private communities are often policed or monitored closely to watch for bullying and negativity and with most users having a shared common interest there may not be any space for poor behaviour. An example of this would stem from community Facebook pages. High schools, universities and suburbs can have their own profiles where offline community participants can congregate online to voice their thoughts or share events. Facebook has the feature of a group mediator whom has the ability to add and remove users from the profiles, as well as delete comments and images if they infringe on the set rules, which the feature of pinned posts/notices is useful. Public communities, whilst harder to monitor, may also allow for more freedom in terms of self-expression and content creation, even if that does include remixing. Both of these communities need participation, content and discussion to maintain their relevancy and the more the platforms allow their users to share about themselves, the bigger they grow.
Creative and Emotional Privacy for Young Internet Users
Being a participant in online communities and of social media has become almost a compulsory act for teens and young people who are wanting to engage within the sphere of their universe, but what is it costing them (Hodkinson, 2015)? Hodkinson (2015) uses the analogy of the bedroom like that of an online space or profile for a young user; it is about ownership of space or having something of one’s own. These users are bearing all to people they do not know in offline in their safe spaces but who is to know if these spaces really are safe. I think that in an atmosphere where an individual can fully be themselves, it is important to them that the interaction that they receive on their pages or content is appeasing to them. Young people could always have more urgency towards their safety as a result of internet predators. We must think of these online spaces as teens think of their bedrooms; as a private space for them to be themselves, artistically or emotionally, and trust that they would not interact with potentially sour trolls online.
There is a sense of territory, particularly on spaces such as Blogger, where almost everything is customizable; ownership and territory are not limited to young users, however it is increasingly important that we come to acknowledge the creative and emotional importance of these spaces, rather than limit what young users can do, explain how they can protect themselves whilst also having their own space online, just as one would do if they were to rent or buy a home offline.
As social networks expand to hold multiple purposes for its users, whether it be for information, communication, content creation, business and economic purposes and even for emotional expression and connection to the world, it is important to recognize that digital media and social media communities are becoming a part of growing up and identity development. Through the establishment of both private and public communities online, on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Blogger; people now have access to a variety of ways in which they can build and expand upon their online profiles. There are new ways for them to explore the type of content that they want to put their name to and a variety of ways for them to remain safe whilst doing it. Overall, identity can be developed and expressed through the features and allowances of digital media platforms and communities can be built online based off these identities. Online communities are there to help engage users, create discussion and develop bonds and social network identities are explorative of how we as users wish for others to understand our online presence; they can help to create friendships, reinforce or explore cultural values and societal norms and can influence our overall interests therefore shaping our identities and the communities that we are a part of.
References:
Ahn, J. , Subramaniam, M. , Fleischmann, K.R., Waugh, A. , Walsh, G. and Durin, A. (2012). Youth identities as remixers in an online community of storytellers: Attitudes, strategies and values. Proc. Am. Soc. Infor. Sci. Tech., 49:1-10. doi:10.1002/meet.14504901089
Boyd, D. (2007). Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life. In D. Buckingham (Ed.), MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Learning Youth, Identity, and Digital Media Volume. Cambridge, MA.: MIT PRESS.
http://www.danah.org/papers/WhyYouthHeart.pdf
Buckingham, D & Willett, R. (2006). Digital Generations: Children, Young People, and New Media. Retrieved from http://link.library.curtin.edu.au/p?pid=CUR_ALMA2186270010001951
Burke, A. (2013). Children’s Construction of Identity in Virtual Play Worlds: A Classroom Perspective. Language and Literacy; Toronto. Volume 15 (issue 1). 58-73.
https://search-proquest-com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/1428558472?accountid+10382
Cowling, David. (2018). Social Media Statistics Australia – January 2018. Retrieved from
https://www.socialmedianews.com.au/social-media-statistics-australia-january-2018/
Donath, J. (1996). Identity and Deception in the Virtual Community. Communities in Cyberspace. Kollock, P. and Smith M. (eds). London: Routledge. Retrieved from: smg.media.mit.edu/People/Judith/Identity/IdentityDeception.html
Johnson, G. (2006). Internet Use and Cognitive Development: A Theoretical Framework. E- Learning and Digital Media, volume 3 (Issue 4). 565-573. https://doi.org/10.304/elea.2006.3.4.565
Papacharissi, Z. (2011). A Networked Self: Identity, Community, and Culture on Social Networked Sites.
Ren, Y. , Kraut, R. , Kielser, S. (2007). Applying Common Identity and Bond Theory to Design of Online Communities. Organization Studies. Vol 28 (issue 3). 377-408.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840607076007
Slater, D. (2002). Social relationships and identity online and offline. Retrieved from https://dourish.com/classes/readings/Slater-SocialRelationshipsIdentity.pdf
Hi Ebonni, this is an interesting topic and also an interesting perspective to argue. It is interesting to read that social networking in fact can benefit those growing up in the social networking world. I personally have a younger sister who has grown up owning smart devices and it is interesting to see how this has shaped her learning and developement compared to mine where there were no such thing as iPads, iPhones, social media or social networking. I am sure that there would be many controversial views from parents on whether social netorking is in fact beneficial to a childs social developement. I really enjoyed reading your article however and it is great to see that you chose a controversial view to argue.
– Lauren
Hi Lauren
Thanks so much for your feedback. I was also inspired by my own younger brother who is also growing up in the network and it is interesting to see how much they are relying on the internet for communication, socialising and identity development. It is definitely a daunting thought to believe that much of our socialisation and growth is attributed to social networks but I think that it’s very important to speak about it and look at the different perspectives.
-Ebonni
Hey Ebonni,
I think this is a great topic, as social networks have become a huge part of people’s lives, especially for interacting and providing others with an online version of you.
You make an interesting point about online identity and how we can only link our identities through pictures and words, whereas offline identity is a physical aspect that is defined through physical bodies and movements. Although I did not grow up in a social networking environment from a very young age, I was still introduced to it when I was going through my teenage years. You also discussed how users could make their profiles accurate to themselves or they can create fantasy accounts that can depict a different version of them. It is interesting to think that some people can change themselves completely in the online world, which can change the way teens build their identities.
I do agree that social media communities have become a large part of the development of identities of younger people, as social networking sites have become one of the main sources for interaction and friendship. I also think that it can be difficult for people to understand themselves through their surroundings in the offline world. Social media communities, including private groups with users they may not know personally, can definitely have a major influence towards their identity development. I enjoyed reading your paper and the topic, as I’m sure a lot of us can relate to how we portray ourselves online.
Sophia
Hi Sophia
Thanks so much for reading my paper, I’m glad that you took away the points I made. I agree that the creation of these ‘fantasy’ identities can make it harder for people to define themselves and know who they are in reality. I think that this is also why I think it is important to talk about social media and be transparent about how the functions of social networks are used to manipulate and build identity. It is also necessary to remember the difference between existing online and how that identity translates in the physical world.
-Ebonni
Hey Ebonni, I really enjoyed reading your paper on Identity and how growing up involved in a digital culture means exploring not just your own but others identities as well. I like the point made about, how so much of what we portray ourselves to be online is based off of the influence of mass media and content from peers which may cause us not to post something we see value in because of a persona that needs to be maintained. I also enjoyed reading about the difference between bond based attachment and identity based attachment as reasons for why a person continues to stay in a group or community. I think that the part where you talked about trusting young people to interact with other like minded people really resonated with me. Lots of adults just think the worst and try to patrol their teens online by talking about predators online instead of saying that it can be a place of self expression. It is important that young people are given the freedom to use online judgement, it is one crucial way in which their identity is formed.
Rachel
Hi Rachel!
Thanks so much for reading my paper and understanding what I was trying to get across. The internet can be an influential and powerful identity forming tool if young users are educated on the functionality of the platforms. I really like how the internet and social communities can be a form of self-expression and a way to connect with other like-minded users. This is how bonds form. I agree that whilst yes, parents do have cause for concern when it comes to internet predators, it also comes down to education and communication. In this digital age, children should be aware of how to avoid interacting with negative influences online and they should be able to communicate with their guardians when they are feeling unsafe or unsure. Often in this day and age our online identity is what we resonate with most in this world, over our physical body but the point of my paper was also to highlight that you can’t have one without the other.
Thanks for reading
-Ebonni
Hi Ebonni,
I really enjoyed reading your conference paper. I found it refreshing to read a paper which doesn’t focus on one particular stream fo online identity, but instead examines the whole scope of social media and online identity. I think this makes your topics of discussion more relatable because you are covering the whole spectrum, so there’s areas for everyone to agree with.
I found your segment on influence very relatable, especially the best where you say influence is a defining factor of identity online “as much of the content one submerges themselves in is user-generated, or mass media generated”. I wholeheartedly agree with your agree here and would be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t believe that influence is a driving force behind identities online. I think influence can be both a conscious and subconscious concept to our identity online, as I’m sure many users aren’t totally aware that their online identities do indeed mimic that of something or something else, even if it’s just subtle. Would you agree?
Moving further down into your paper and I found it interesting when you said how geographic location can impact the development of building communities online. Of course China is a radical example due to their heavily regulated internet access, however, if one thing has come out of social media and online communities, it is that it doesn’t matter your religious, cultural, political, or geographic standpoints because when you’re online you are able to adapt and construct your identity to your own desire.
Your conference paper was very easy to read and I enjoyed the areas of online identities and online communities that you touched upon.
I would love to hear your thoughts regarding my feedback 🙂
Hi Elli
Thanks so much for reading my paper and for such interesting feedback! I agree completely on what you said about influence and I think it would be very interesting to research more into how social networks can influence users in a subconscious capacity. I would definitely agree that I myself am influenced by what I see on Instagram and Facebook in regards to fashion and music taste so I definitely would not be surprised that the younger generation of children learning all of their knowledge and relying heavily on these networks for information and communication would be influenced even more so without even realising it.
I also agree that with what you said about geographic locations impacting the development of online communities, yes, China is the radical example but I would also say that western platforms such as Facebook are also quite extreme. Facebook has essentially become the new phone book for accessing almost anybody in the world, but even so, those in under developed societies use Facebook, only they use it in a different way and build different online relationships. As well with extreme religious ideologies becoming accessible online, it is being discussed across social networks if there should be more government control of online activities to ensure the safe consumption of media and information online. I think whilst yes the internet can bring together a diverse range of characters, it is necessary to be aware of various platforms used around the globe, particularly as online businesses continue to grow, it will become more important to understand the best way in which to reach audiences and stakeholders.
-Ebonni
Hi again Ebonni,
I’m so glad you’ve responded so well to my feedback.
Yes, I definitely think researching how social media can subconsciously affect adolescents would be a extremely interesting concept to dive into.
I can relate to what you said about being personally influenced in terms of your music taste as I’m directly influenced by the music I see online and who’s listening to what, etc. It’s such a common occurrence for people (especially young people) to be influenced online, and it could be hugely influenced or even just subtly influence, it’s still influence at the end of the day.
Yes, I really liked your input regarding my geographic location point. I can understand that certain cultures will have access to Facebook but not have sufficient running water. That is a perfect example of the prevalence Facebook has had on peoples lives and cultures.
Yes I completely agree with your point about government control. I could see that having potential benefits if it is regulated well. I think people need to be more educated on the appropriate ways to interact online and with other online users. Perhaps government control is the right way to go about it.
Hey Elli,
It is interesting that you agree with my ideas about government regulation as this often a controversial topic! I agree with you that if done correctly it could really benefit so many aspects of internet use: from forming the identities of our youth, to encouraging small businesses and young creatives to creating sufficient exposure of serious causes and issues.
Yes! I agree that it is interesting that those without clean water would still be using social media! It is very strange that we have all developed this addiction to being connected and that it overrides some peoples most basic needs. It would be very beneficial for these countries to see how they could utilise social media to enact change!
Ah yes, music is one of the biggest ways that people are being influenced online. For example, Spotify advertises on Snapchat and Instagram and allows its users to create their own playlists, which results in artists not even releasing physical CD’s anymore, rather just relying on social media hype through Instagram and Twitter to notify their fans when they are dropping new music. Apps like Musically and Snapchat have also really subconsciously impacted the music we chose to listen to and are exposed to.
Thanks for your feedback!
-Ebonni
I am glad too that we can agree on the government regulations on the internet, I just hope a lot of other people can agree too, because that’s the only way it can actually happen!
Yes indeed! I think education about social media and the internet is most important in undeveloped countries, as the possibilities and potential that social media and the internet can provide is insane, and to think – if people knew how to utilise these platforms to make real change, then the world would be a drastically different place entirely.
Yes, and it’s not just specifically music either, it’s any art form that we see online. Every platform is advertising for another platform and vis versa, it’s just one big scheme to get as many people to use as many platforms as possible haha.
Hi Ebonni,
Thank you for sharing your paper – it was really interesting and well structured.
I’d love to know what your thoughts are on managing content exposure and the influence of strangers over youth? I often wonder if young people are as easily influenced or vulnerable to being influnced today as much as they were 20 years ago. I am thinking of extremist views and opinions that may shape those in search of their identity… how can we ensure positive influence prevails over negative?
Cheers
Jacinta
Hi Jacinta
Thanks for reading my paper! That is such an interesting point and I think that ultimately it would be difficult to manage content exposure unless you are the mediator of the community or the parent of the user. I also think that the influence of strangers can’t really be minimised as it is those around us and those that inspire us that help shape our identities. I think that limiting online content exposure or managing it to enforce a different approach from younger users would also be difficult. Are we not exposed to the influence of strangers in our physical world? The people we see on the streets, the celebrities we watch in movies and the books that we read all have influencing factors however by managing all that we are exposed to may prevent us from learning about foreign cultures, and other people out in the world. However I do agree that content management in terms of ensuring security and propriety may be necessary for younger users that don’t necessarily see the internet as a positive place. I think that it would be near impossible for positive influence to always prevail, as we have seen in cases of online bullying and online predators however I think it comes down to education in the physical world that can impact the way which content is interpreted.
-Ebonni
Hi Ebonni!
Great work on your paper I really enjoyed it! My own paper focused on a similar topic being the generational differences between identity formation so I was drawn to reading your side of this focused on growing up in the social network. I agree with many of your points and some I found particularly interesting were about design of platforms like Facebook and Instagram as well as your discussion on identity-based vs bond-based attachment.
Regarding your point on design being what ultimately makes users want to continue using a platform id be interested to hear your thoughts on how far you think a platform can push and change their design before they loose their audience and individuals no longer want to create an identity on this platform? E.g how we saw a shift from people using snapchat stories toward Instagram stories when snapchat updated their design.
Hannah 🙂