Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyse the importance of Facebook, as a commonly used social networking site and its relevancy as a medium for introverts to voice out, interact, socialise and collaborate within the online society and WebSphere. In point of fact, an individual has the golden opportunity to adopt any online persona or identity they desire to portray in the online realm; that is anyone could portray themselves as someone totally different from who they are in their actual life. Introverts can construct their unique online identities on Facebook thereby allowing them to express themselves adequately and freely. Undoubtedly, introverts would be more at ease to interact with other users online rather than face to face conversation. Henceforth, social media proves to be a user-friendly social media tool which assists introvert people to be themselves and interact with others more democratically. As such, this paper will further highlight on the fact wherein introverts behave in a distinct way online in contrast to extroverts as well as the significance of social networking sites like Meta commonly known as “Facebook” as the foremost place introverts would go to suit in irrespective of their real identity or online personas.

 Keywords: #Introverts, # Social media platform. # Facebook, #Behavior #Online community

INTRODUCTION

With the technological advancement in the 21^st Century, contemporary individuals more specifically introverts are now able to express their social identity, online persona as well as voice out democratically via social media platforms. In line with this, with the emancipation of social media the communication and collaboration pattern of introverts has revolutionised within within the online environment. In point of fact, there are two categories of people who are categorically known as the introverts and extroverts. In line with this, the extroverts are those people who are very confident, well-outspoken and they unhesitantly communicate with everyone while the introverts are described as the anti-social, distant, self-contained, isolated yet they enjoy the company of closed-ones within a boundary level. Henceforth, proving “Introversion is about how one reacts to stimuli, comprising of social stimulus. Extroverts bloom on encouragement, whereas introverts have a tendency to be more stimulus-vulnerable and consequently they can undoubtedly get overstimulated’’ (Schat 2012). As such, the advancement in technology has reinforced the fact that social media networks have become a fundamental phase in one’s life, which acts as a medium used globally by many people to connect, socialise, communicate as well as collaborate with others. In line with this, this paper will further investigate upon the approaches that introverts apply to interact; the terms of what sort of persona they want to exhibit and how they shall initiate a connection online while using the notion of third space.

1. Online communities enhance introverts to fit in.

With the development of social media across all technological platforms, introverts are now seizing these features to meet people with similar thinking, habits and interests whilst engaging and interacting with other people irrespective of any online communities more specifically on those they are more likely to fit in. Kahnweiler (2013) declares “Introverts have wonderful ideas that go unnoticed” as well as they can think of prominent thoughts in social settings, however they can’t find a way to voice out their opinions. As such, the third space is a space where people negotiate, contest and rearticulate social issues and also a platform which enhances introverts to voice out their opinions and expressions without any fear of being judged. In fact, Third Place is a concept used to describe a space which falls somewhere between the two standard social environments wherein a person spends time interacting and forming relationships (Campbell, 2016). For instance, Facebook, is a third area for introverts where they are immersed in a new world whereby, they can be fully be themselves while fostering dynamic interactions globally. To add on, introverts are further able to feel a sense of belonging in the online community where they are less likely to be nervous and underconfident as they are surrounded with individuals of their choices who share similar thoughts and compassion towards them.

Actually, it is viable for individuals to argue that online communities are more difficult and complexed for introverts to have live interaction yet it is highly debatable. Lately, many researches have been conducted to determine the significance and relevance of online communities which supposedly foster face to face interaction , whilst the results pointed out that due to the intensified use of social networking sites like Facebook , several issues like anxiety, stress and socially constructed norms are leading towards barriers and expectations of being socially included as well as excluded, in spite of, the position of distinct sorts of relationship regarding the use of online communities and face to face interaction are thus still indeterminate (Spradlin et al. ,2019).The research which has been conducted points face-to face interactions are not superseded by social media use. Also, the study highlights that the use of Facebook is connected to extroversion and social media platforms which actually help individuals, who are not socially proficient to feel more connected as well as indifferent with others thus, helping individuals to fit in the online community at ease. For instance, an introvert can have a conversation with a random online individual and whence comfortable enough, the latter can decide to have a face-to-face meeting in actual life. Therefore, proving having a prior conversation online certainly help individuals to know more about a person and when they actually meet, there are mutual understanding, relativity and social ease. According to latest statistics, over 17% of marriages start through online dating (Matthews 2020). In fact, people can meet their best-friends, life partners, online listeners and many more relationships via just social media platforms.

2. Introverts have possession over their online identity.

With the latest features of social media, contemporary citizens are now getting unlimited options and choices to showcase their preferences irrespective of any characters and avatars thereby, benefitting more the introverts. According to Zhou, Xu and Zhao (2018), social media platforms such as Twitter and Weibo, most of their users have digitalized their data in terms of their personal information. Yet, nowadays, there are many cases of cat-fishing and hence, it is quite complex to record the real and reel identity of people who are signing in these social media and communicative platforms whilst including the introvert community who are shy and yet registering the same way like other people. Also, modern social media users can decide and designate freely the characters or online persona they want to portray to other online users. In fact, there are different online characters who can be normal, complete, permanent and unbiased fingerprints of large communities of people, therefore, making them capable proxies for personality classification (Zhou, Xu and Zhao, 2018).    

In point of fact, in the virtual world, one is free to select their characters and personas irrespective of any kind they to be portrayed and freely choose their usernames, names and profile pictures. For instance, via Facebook, any user can create his/her account under a unique fiction name whilst using pictures of cats, dogs or any random picture as their profile icon. According to Moore, Barbour and Lee (2017, p. 4), these types of users are called the performative dimensions and they even stated that “to present a publicly mediated persona, we must perform our identity, profession, gender and effectuate our tastes, interests, and networks of connection through activities like engaging and commenting on posts, liking other contribution as well as framing a selfie.” To add on, the article also assumes that the performative dimension is merely to express the true version of the users in real life. As Facebook is a platform wherein one can express and voice out opinions democratically and freely, hence, an introvert can easily use a fiction profile picture and express themselves anonymously. Undoubtedly, these kinds of dimensions; social media platforms are often used by celebrities, athletes and even national leaders.

3. The conduct of introverts online is different from extroverts

An introvert would act differently on social media than an extrovert, although their actions are beyond their usual environment. Zhou, Xu, and Zhao (2018) investigated on whether extroverts and introverts post distinctively on Weibo, a Chinese social networking site. The concerns varied of how many users post, what and how are their approaches while they purchase online. It has been proved that introverts were shown to tweet relatively more often than extroverts, whilst contrastingly extroverts prefer to maintain a face-to-face conversation rather than being alone or isolated. In line with this, extroverts prefer to share songs and contents irrespective of formats; images or videos whereas introverts prefer re-tweeting stories. In the virtual communities, extroverts tend to engage with their friends more consistently compared to introverts who imply broader social dynamism. Furthermore, many research highlight the role of the self in the use of social networking sites. Actually, introverts are more adept in digital interpersonal relationships which is described to be an easy online medium to express and voice out their opinions. Introverts who are often more apt to limit their personal interactions and social networking sites which offer them specific opportunity to portray themselves in accordance of their preference. Henceforth, proving “Social networking sites ,for instance, ”Facebook has been characterized as the “ideal medium of communication for the introverted ones since they can be linked with their own world digitally or alone simultaneously”(Harbaugh,2010).

4. Introverts have the ability to establish boundaries.

Social media is a medium for introverts to have a sense of belonging and to be more comfortable as well as confident to be themselves, interact with others and create new bonds, however, with the incorrect sort of limitations, it could be oppressive. Research has shown that social networking sites can lead to oppression and stress for individuals to disclose their individuality to others in the online community (Kahnweiler 2013). On the other hand, implementing boundaries is vital for introverts as it enhances them to have a sense of restraint over their situation. Moreover, introverts who are particularly conscientious social media users, could be a step forward in interacting with other users in the online community. As such, introverts must choose and draw to their preferred social media platforms as it enhances their individuality to further hone on their skills whilst boosting their interaction skills. “Introverts would endeavour to appear more outgoing and sociable in online communities’’ (Harbaugh, 2010). In fact, the recluse one may still use social media to construct and recreate their online persona by various means which a common individual cannot accomplish when they are offline. Furthermore, introverts can also opt of making diverse friendships by establishing boundaries and limits. Nowadays, users can monitor and track who can view their contents shared on social media platforms.  It is undeniably a plus for an introvert as the former can limit his privacy options to acquaintances and closed ones only while having the options with whom to share his posts. Henceforth, social media platform namely, Instagram has provided a ‘close friends’ and ‘Favourite profiles’ option for to be able to classify, view and share contents with specified people.

CONCLUSION

On a concluding note, the ongoing digital revolution, advancement in technology as well as social media have massively revolutionized the way an introvert person interact and socialize. Introvert people are encouraged and pushed effortlessly to embrace the active aspect of identities in the digital environment wherein they could use identities and avatar besides their true names and adopt a distinct persona. Furthermore, they are even able to showcase their official facet while revealing their true selves. In point of fact, everything is determined by their behavioural attribute. Hence proving, the levels of comfort and ease that introvert people have with online engagement since they can keep track of the number of their social contacts within the online community. Also, as introvert people are often more at ease in online communities as well as socializing in groups, hence, it further reinforces their interests and characteristics, therefore, raising the notion of transitional space, where they are represented fairly. Besides, online communities have proved to be so efficacious for introverts which enable them to improve their personal communication skills and be apt to have good quality connections to some limitations where one can establish while assessing the privacy options the internet as well Meta offers.

Reference list

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Kahnweiler, J. B. (2013). Quiet Influence: The Introvert’s Guide to Making a Difference (1st ed.). Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/curtin/detail.action?docID=1160955#

Matthews,  H. (2020). 7 Online Dating Marriage Success Statistics(2022). Dating Advice.com. 7 Online Dating “Marriage Success” Statistics (2022) (datingadvice.com)

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Zhou, Z., Xu, K., & Zhao, J. (2018). Extroverts tweet differently from introverts in Weibo. EPJ Data Science, 7(1), 1-22. http://dx.doi.org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/10.1140/epjds/s13688-018-0146-8