Social Networking

As we discussed in class, we’ve all had some sort of experience with social networking sites, whether it be Xanga, MySpace, or FaceBook. Therefore I’m sure most of us know what it feels like to have more “friends” online than offline, to have your privacy threatened when someone you’d rather avoid decides to friend you, and to spend more time than necessary “carefully grooming yourself online,” as Rosen states in her article, “Virtual friendship and the new narcissism.”

In Rosen’s article, she gives an overview of social networking sites and their influence, from how the sites are changing the connotation of “friend” to how the sites are encouraging self expression and presentation. Rosen particularly discusses how sites such as MySpace and Facebook function as a digital self-portrait for the users, as she compares social networking sites to painted self-portraits and self-memorials/statues. Rosen analyzes the practice of impression management on social networking sites, as she states how a profile page is like “an embodiment of your personality” and how it is an opportunity for users to engage in identity play as they constantly modify and edit themselves on these sites.

Doctorow also discusses the practice of impression management on social networking sites in his article, “How your creepy ex-co-workers will kill Facebook.” He gives the example of a young woman teacher who had to censor and modify her Friendster profile when her students and boss began friending her. But unlike Rosen, Doctorow isn’t as critical towards social networking sites. Rosen concluded her article by stating her concern with how essential face-to-face communication is diminishing with the growth of computer-mediated communication through social networking sites. Doctorow, on the other hand, believes social networking sites are a temporary fad, as he suggests that as more users flock to social networking sites, the likelihood of privacy invasion will increase, which will thus cause users to leave and cause sites such as FaceBook end up in the “scrapheap of net.history.”

Rosen believes social networking sites and the emergence of “virtual friends” can potentially overtake the intimacy in relationships that usually occur outside of social networking sites. Doctorow thinks otherwise, as he believes that social networking sites are unsustainable and thus unlikely to do any harm. I support Rosen’s statement with how face-to-face communication is becoming less common due to the availability of other channels of communication such as social networking sites. However, I do not think social networking sites such as Facebook can cause significant harm as I also agree with Doctorow’s statement on the unsustainable nature of social networking sites.

Before I end this post, I want to return to Rosen’s analysis of impression management on social networking sites. Before writing this post, I went through my picture folders and found an archive of some of my old profile pictures from my first MySpace profile picture to the pictures I currently have up now in my Facebook profile. As I reviewed the pictures, I recognized how my pictures developed from typical profile pictures such as a regular headshot to pictures that really reflected my personality and interests. What Rosen pointed out in her article was true—social networking sites are a platform for users to create a self-portrait as they experiment and play with self-presentation. Narcissistic though it may seem, I believe my practice of self presentation on social networking sites have ultimately helped me to become more aware of my identity, and I’m glad for that.


Discussion Questions

1. “Rosen believes social networking sites and the emergence of “virtual friends” can potentially overtake the intimacy in relationships that usually occur outside of social networking sites. Doctorow thinks otherwise, as he believes that social networking sites are unsustainable and thus unlikely to do any harm.” Who do you agree with more?

2. Do you think social networking sites are negatively affecting the quality of relationships? (Rosen’s argument of less intimacy, the lack of qualities true that friendship entails such as vulnerability, etc.)

3. Doctorow predicted that users would eventually leave social networking sites as more people flock to them. He gave the example of the young woman teacher whose privacy was invaded when her students and boss friended her on Friendster. Do you think you will ever leave your social networking site if faced in a similar circumstance? Do you think Doctorow’s prediction will come true?