Social media as a useful tool for young adults to express and shaping their identities online.
Stream: Identity and Online Advocacy
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to show the essential use of social media tools for the young adults to express and shape their identity. It shows how much the social media tools have been a great help for the young adults to express themselves freely as per their own self identity. And also by putting emphasize on the fact that web 2.0 has been link to the social media tools and that it has been evolving drastically since the last few years.
The 21st century is actually seen as a progress towards the technology day by day with an evolution for the online world. By analyzing the different ways they express and shape their identity online, research have been done accordingly with some proofs given by some researchers. And also research done have shown us more on the importance of social media and as well as on some limitations of social media. By which shows some strong facts and points on how young adults are evolving themselves on online platforms. These are some of the research done for the paper. Lastly, the overall of the paper is mostly on the advantages that social media tools are showing upon young adults for their expressing and shaping of identities. However, it shows the real way these young adults are creating themselves into a future sharp adults on the online platforms.
Keywords: Identity, Young Adults, Social Media Platforms, Shaping Identity, Expressing Identity
The term social media is nowadays considered as a priority for many people whether it is young or old. As taking the recent pandemic situation, social media has been a great help for them, especially the young adults. Whether it is through education, work or socializing time. It is the source that helps people around the word to stay connected to each other. For all people nowadays, social media is a very convenient and important communication network. We can use it to get to know new people and keep in touch with old ones who live in different countries. To begin, online identity refers to the social identity that an internet user develops through participation in online communities and websites where they have the ability to connect with other people via social media platforms. It is a method of easily identifying young adults. Also, as a matter of fact the link of web 2.0 to that of social media is an evolution in the internet world as stated by Van Looy (2016), in the book “Social Media Management”. Therefore taking these statement into consideration it is apparently seen that the term social media tools are being mostly use by youngsters nowadays. As they are seen as the new generation with the most using of the internet. As a research done by Jones, (2009), it is seen that “More than half of America’s teens and young adults send instant messages and use social networking sites, and more than one-third of all Internet users engage in these activities. Which is they are the ones who are most involved on the social media tools. Thus, the following research that will be discuss in the paper will be on how social media is a useful tool for young adults to express and shape their identities.
The expressing of emotions and speaking freely online by the young adults
To begin, it is a fact that young adults place a high value on being able to express their identity through social media tools. As a result, one of the facts is that social media tools, such as Facebook, are viewed as a very useful tool for young adults. Because they can express their identity in a variety of ways. Also taking, writing a post and posting it, is one way for them to easily express themselves. This gives the audience a glimpse of their identity. Such as taking the “memes” for examples these are some good aspects to see how much youngsters express themselves and as well as shaping their own identity online. As this is an ongoing progress that they create , that side of the young adults give audience the glimpse of their identity that they are creating online. As for example posting a post on a certain topic would give other users the idea of the actual identity of the young adults. Also that would shape the identity of the young adults in a certain way that this may help them t think a lot. Therefore, this may create a link to the other person as the latter may feel connected to what the post is. Thus, this has a very good side of the social media tool towards the bond of people online. Also, considering this situation Facebook users may also comment and give their own opinion on these posts, this create a good engaging of knowledge for the young adults. Nevertheless the term participatory culture can be notice, where the participatory media of users are being in practice. Users commenting and sharing of young adults post online. Also, where engagement are being involved between audiences and young adults. This somehow help them to have a better experience of the online world by shaping their mind and skills. From a research of Rheingold (2008), he claimed that “Participatory media are social media whose value and power derives from the active participation of many people”. It means the social media helps the young adults in expressing their identity by involving themselves with other online users and somehow to articulate themselves in the outer world.
Participatory Culture in helping the young adults to express and shape their identity online.
Hence, taking the concept of participatory media, it is also a fact that young adults use Facebook to express themselves through emojis as well. As commenting of an emoji on certain post, whether it is a video, photo or even comments, it is a way for them to express their identity. As sometimes emojis are the easiest ways for them to be able to express their identity. Taking an example given by Zika (2021) from a young adult, it is mentioned that emoji help to soften the harsh messages the latter write. Following up with an incident occur mentioned in Zika research, “A message with emoji elicits different reactions in me than a message without emoji. Emoji has a psychological impact on the person who receives it. For example, they sent me a difficult message that was difficult for me to deal with, and I felt compelled to retaliate against whoever sent me the message in my response. Someone else, on the other hand, sent me a difficult message, but at the end of the message he included an emoji with heart eyes, making it easier for me to deal with his message, and I reacted to the substance of his message”. That example from Zika, shows how much emoji has an importance and impact in their life the youngsters. Somehow this help young adults in expressing and shaping their identity with those emojis. Nevertheless the social media is shaping them in such a way that they are becoming so involved with social media tools online that their are expressing themselves through those system.
Young Adults in shaping their identity in the eyes of the society
Secondly, expressing identity online also helps young adults in the form of shaping themselves in order to create a very good impression in the society, in the eyes of public. Another factor that influences what they say and do on social media platforms is demonstrating a strong commitment to their work and to their true self. Occasionally, revealing their true identity boosts their confidence and demonstrates that they are capable of doing work, which is appreciated by audiences in the society (Grieve & Watkinson, 2016). The social media tools somehow is the key of their success in life as it is the opening of a public sphere for the young adults into the professionalism a bit. As being online makes them see and realize of many things which would help them to express their identity. They get to explore more and more online which somehow enhance their own personality into a better and better one. Surfing on social media also help these young adults in following a good path in the society , as through online social media platforms they get to experience many things and see and realize them them. Thus, people are more connected to network affordance, which constantly plays a role in self-evaluation and constant reflection of what they can provide for certain. This is why it is critical for young adults to always present their true self on their social media page in order to build a good name for themselves as a result of their identity in the eyes of audiences. As somehow this will help them in the future for their own reputation in the society. Those young adults have higher status because they have good communication skills, which can be seen on social media platforms where they interact with their friends on photos they post and share. Concurrently, in web 2.0, social media has evolved into a modern tool that all young adults use to gain knowledge of participating in and understanding concepts related to their world. However, social media sometimes have some limitations when it come for the young adults to express their identity. As sometimes they may be misunderstood on the social media platforms, as other users may not fully understand what they express and understand it in another way. These are some facts that have occurred recently in the new web 2.0 era. Furthermore, while sharing their media texts on social media, they may be doing so with their own mindset, but other users may not be on the same page as the young adults, particularly when it comes to the elderly. They may find something incorrect or unfavorable in what the young adults shared and expressed. Therefore this may lead to a clash between the two generation. Thus, it is compulsory for young adults to take into consideration of what they share and express on social media tools, especially Facebook which is a very use tool by the elder people.
To summarize, while social media has many advantages in our lives, it is something which we cannot denied of. As most of our young adults have create an identity on it. But, it is not healthy to become addicted to it. It will have negative effects on learning, cause us to live in denial, and harm our health. Young people devote a significant amount of time to social media. Peer pressure, low self-esteem, and mental illness are also more dangerous to them. Several studies have linked increased social media use to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, sleep problems, eating anxiety, and suicide. Young adults should spend more time playing sports, studying, and participating in school activities to avoid becoming addicted to social media. Being a part of these social media tools allows young adults to “think about the person they want to be” by exposing them to the public sphere online who live the life they desire. Individuals then want to demonstrate to the world that they are a part of the community by changing their lifestyle, behaviors, actions, and purchasing habits to emulate their own identity and showcase who they want to be. However, lives have been drastically altered as a result of social media. Whether it is young adults and adults lives have become more convenient as a result of social media, which is a very useful tool for us in the twenty-first century and can assist us in improving our lives. We must be conscious of how we employ them. If we can learn to use social media effectively, it will be a positive change for us.
REFERENCE LIST:
Correa, T., Hinsley, A. W., & De Zuniga, H. G. (2010). Who interacts on the Web?: The intersection of users’ personality and social media use. Computers in human behavior, 26(2), 247 253. https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0747563209001472token=3943BBD524521C3AA10C33AC2E7086FCA32743073AEDC1BB50B350AB828719E062CF93F2719CC2729D95F4C1F994F969&originRegion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20220402075542
Grieve, R., & Watkinson, J. (2016). Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. Mary Ann Liebert Inc. Advance online publication. https://doi-org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/10.1089/cyber.2016.0010
Jones, S., & Fox, S. (2009). Generations online in 2009. Pew Internet and American Life Project. http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/Generations-Online-in-2009.aspx
Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media. Business Horizons, 53, 59–68.
Rheingold, H. (2008). “Using Participatory Media and Public Voice to Encourage Civic Engagement.” Civic Life Online: Learning How Digital Media Can Engage Youth. 97–118. https://www.issuelab.org/resources/881/881.pdf
Van Looy, A. (2016). Definitions, Social Media Types, and Tools. In Social Media Management (pp. 21-47). Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-21990-5_2
Zilka, G. C. (2021). Attitudes, Emotions, and the Use of Emoji in Social Networking Apps by Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. Interchange, 52(3), 337-
355. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10780-021-09439-z
Hello Yorna, Indeed your paper is very enriching base on the relationship of youngsters and social media platforms. Moreover during the pandemic that has help them so much to develop their iwn mindset by staying at home. I would like to know what are your thoughts in a world with no internet?
Hey Arasen,
Thank you for your feedback.
Indeed youngsters and social media are two points link together nowadays. As a social media user i personally think that it is very useful for youngsters to make use of social media. And also replying to your questions internet is the main point nowadays as it is the use of every possible thing we do. Hence, a world without internet is a very negative aspect. As internet is the key to everything nowadays. Such as referring to my paper young adults make use of internet to express themselves in a world of media and technology.
Nice Work!
Went through it.
Personally i would like to know from your own point of view how do you actually express yourself on social media plarform and how do you think this is shaping your identity?
You’ve shown everything possible way for youngsters to shape theie identity online. That’s a very good point indeed. Reading this has made me realize that indeed social media platforms is actually a very good place for young adults to express themselves.
Hello Ejilen!
Thank you for your feedback and response.
Well answering to your questions I think social media platforms has help me to become a very open minded person as I can freely share things on social media and as well as express myself freely. As a writer myself i write poems and share it online on my platforms. This has really help me accordingly.
Great Job Yorna! Loved your point of view on this subject and in-depth analysis.
Hi Yanish.
Thank you very much for your feedback. Indeed it was an in depth research on how young adults express and shape their identity online.
First of all I would like to say, I agree with the fact that social media is a very useful tool in our everyday life. Indeed, I would say something personally about my experience while using social media such that Facebook, some people took my image and create another account without my permission. This destroyed my trust over social media as a teenager and my online identity.
As a teenager do you believe to share your identity online ?
Hello Yorna! Good Paper indeed. The point you shown are very much enriching as indeed social media tools are strong factors for young adults these days. They use it as a very important tools in their life to express themselves and as well as shape their own identity. Personally i think young adults have great hand in shaping their identity online. And also they can do so freely with lots of influences. I would like to ask you how has social media shaped your identity online and what are your thoughts on the expressing of identity online?
Hello Garen, Thank you for your feedback.
Indeed social media tools are very much enriching for young adults. Yes answering to your questions, for me social media is a place where i can express myself freely by sharing whatever i feel is right and resourceful accordingly. I am very much at ease with the social media plarforms in order to shape my identity. As it has made me realise many things which i find it has improve my life personally and professionally. My thoughts on the expresing of identity online is a very good things as people can freely open up themselves, especially when it comes to young adults. This is a very good thing.
Hello, thank you for feedback Tiloshna.
Indeed referring to your unfortunate incident i personally think people should limit of what they share on social media. As a result they should also know who to share stuff with. As such consider your issues many youngsters get meddle in such stuff as this may affect them mentally so much. And thus bring them to a disturb youngsters life.
Me as a teenager or youngsters i would personally think to share my identity as per a limit. And also as per my friends zone. But yes i am very much to the positive side of sharing my identity online. But still to the limit of friendzone.
Hello Tiloshna. Indeed the key to everything is social media. Thank you for sharing your personal experience here. Personally i think it is a very negative experience for you as stealing someone photos to create a fake account is very illegal. Hence i would personally say that the sharing of identity and sources online should be done to a limit. There should be a limiti also to who we are friends with. The friendzone should be very much checked. Hence, as a teenager i would say they should know what they share as it is a crucial age as well.
Hello Yorna Nice work.
Keep it up.
I agree with your point of view.
Great perspective!
Hello Darshini.
Indeed thank you so much for taking the time to read my paper.
Hello Yorna, I’ve gone through your articles and you have good points out there. Great work!! I would further add, that the emergence of new platfort such as TikTok youngsters seem to express themselves more with the creation of different videos. They develop new creative concepts to their videos and show great talent and less timidity from their part. Moreover social media platforms did workout smoothly for some ongoing classes whether in the secondary or tertiary sector letting them participating and expressing their ideas and knowledge on the different subjects taught. Those social media platforms will help the youngsters develop their identity and shaping them into bright adults if those platforms are use the right way with good guidance.
Hello Teerooven
Thank you for your feedback.
Indeed you have put forward some awesome points relevant to the topic paper. Yes indeed Tiktok is now the most open social media platform somehow for young adults to express themselves and put forward freely what they want. It has somehow given the youngsters a very open minded way for them to express themselves through dance music video. And also base on the pandemic topic it has also been notice that students have been able to work freely base on the technology online. Great topic indeed. Thank you
I have read your article and i agree with your point of view.
Keep up the good work.
Hi
Thank you so much for the feedback Desigen
Hello Yorna,
Your paper seems of great interest which comprise of several points which is of deep analysis.I agree with your perspective that social media is a convenient medium for young adults to shape their identity online and also you have mentioned about participatory culture which is an interesting point you have mentioned, as young adults use social media to express themselves in the comment section through emojis and memes in which they can easily express and shape their online identity.
Keep it up, Yorna!
Hello Navishta.
Grateful for your time you have taken to read my paper.
Indeed the main points of participatory culture and that of the use of emoji for the young adults to express themselves are very much accrurate of what you said. Both of them seems to be of great help for the young adults to express themselves fully.
Hello Yorna. Nice work here. You discussed on that term “participatory culture” which is true as young adults do express themselves by using emojis. I am on the same page with you that social media is a way for young adults to shape their identity online. You mentioned in your essay that it is critical for young adults to always present their true self on their social media page, do you do the same on your social media page? Another question i have is how do you utilise social media to express yourself? Fair to say young adults should take into consideration what they share and express on social media tools in-order to not have clash between two generations. Overall, great work. I enjoyed reading your paper. Keep up the good work.
Kind regards,
Prithvi.
Hello Prithvi indeed the term participatory culture play a big role in the expressing of identity of young adults. And as well as of making use of emojis and all. Coming to your questions of young adults expressing their true self on social media, well i personally think that whatever i share on social media do have an influence on my personal character. As some points online may sometimes influence me on what am sharing about myself. Hence, personally i use social medis as a tool to express myself through poems. As being a writer i personally think that i should not let go of my hobbies and passion for poetry. Thank you so much for your feedback.
Great work on the paper, Yorna. I do agree that social media can be considered as a place to freely express yourself. It’s not just a place to express yourself but also a place to develop your identity. However, exposure to social media has had its fair share of bad as well. Sometimes, teenagers can be directed towards bad influences, or could fall victim to swindlers online as well. As I read in one of the above comments, there are many cases of identity theft as well. What is your view on this? Is being able to freely express yourself online actually a good thing on the long run?
If you are interested, my paper written on catfishing, a deeper dive into the negative side of online expression and anonymity. It would be greatly appreciated if you could go check it out.
https://networkconference.netstudies.org/2022/ioa/445/the-dark-side-of-online-anonymity/
Hello Senera,
Well indeed i do agree that social media sometimes have the negative side of sharing too much of information. As nowadays lots of theft of information are happening online. On my own perspective i actually think it has a balance of sharing of true self and idem online. As it may has its good and bad side. It actually depend completely on the respective person of what he or she is sharing. Thank you for your feedback.
Hello Yorna,
Your paper really did touch upon the subject of online identity, which does give a clear understanding of our generation’s reality nowadays. As you mentioned some people can become addicted to it, and almost to the point of losing their grip on reality itself.
Would you say that it is the same in terms of people who play video games online, through their avatars/characters?
And what is your take on the new V-Tubers trend that is slowly replacing the content creator’s real face online?
Hello Gregory, thank you for your feedback. Well yes indeed a very catching point here, video games sometimes also forms part in that structure. As video games is indeed a big influence for the young adults. And sometimes they tend to imitate their character online as well. These are some grest aspect to show how the expressing online are. Now taking the Vtuber craze it is again one of the big influence for social media users as it it attracting people towards. And this may sometimes create a negative impact in the society.
hi Yorna, I really enjoy reading your paper. The points that you have shown are very good as nowadays social media tools are used by every youngsters in our age and even by older people. The use of these tools are very important as they use it to express themselves to show what is good or not. and to show their online identity even it is fake or not. Or they are shaping it or transforming it because with the influencers they can be easily hooked. Do you think that nowadays young adults may live with their own identity or shape it by themselves or they will depend n influencer to show them what to do?
By the way i am writing a paper on influencers go and have a look!
https://networkconference.netstudies.org/2022/ioa/763/impact-of-social-media-platforms-on-online-influencers-and-followers-identity/
Hello Jean, base on the influence of influencers in social media. This is a very good point to the interference of these things in an young adults life. Also the most big fact is that people always tend to imitate influencers, hence this has an impact on their own sharing od identity and expressing themselves.
Hello Yorna,
Great paper! Indeed, social media is a major way in which youngsters are able to shape their identities in the 21st century, through their interactions with other people as well as through the content which they consume online. In my paper about fandoms and the pandemic, I touched upon how social media facilitates communication between people sharing interests with one another, and I think that Web 2.0 greatly plays into this and, as you said in your paper, allows them to share and interact with content which help shape their identities in the long-term.