6.3.3: The impact of the new media on social identities and interpersonal relationships

social identity

• has to do with group membership

• objective - people may see us as belonging to a group because of some characteristic we share with them irrespective of how important this aspect is to us

• subjective - has to do wiith how we see ourselves in terms of group membership

• groups differing in social status = people looked down upon or up to

• experience different levels of self esteem in terms of self identification

• may refuse to identify with a social identity they belong to

• interpersonal relationships = relationships we have with others

case study: changing identities in the UK

• found that most people in the UK were connected to the internet

• 60% of internet users = members of one or more social networking sites

• the UK is a virtual environment

• blurred distinction between private and public identities

• instrumental in raising awareness of multiple identities

the digital optimist view

• rajendran

• argue that the digital revolution has massively expanded people’s range of potential contacts and field of relationships

• castellacci

• easier to stay in touch with migrant communities

• online dating

• breaks own feelings of self isolation

the digital pessimist view

• opened up new opportunities for people to misrepresent identities online

• anonymity - pedophiles, online grooming

• idealized online portraits generate feelings of inadequacy or envy

• concerned people neglect offline relationships by spending too much time online

• marginalizes offline immediate relationships

• concerned about how the internet exacerbates the worst features of human nature

  • misogyny

  • cyberbullying

evaluation

• relationship with media is evolving and speculative

• social identity

  • rajendran’s idea of impression management overlooks how social identities aren’t simply chosen but are imposed on us

    • being a different person online doesn’t take away who you are in reality

  • people with access to the internet can now acquire a vast amount of information online

  • may reinforce gender dysphoria

  • accessing some things is harmful and dangerous - accessing pro-ana websites when struggling with body issues

  • identities can be misguided and manipulated online by targeting