youth online

Forming an Online Identity

TO BEGIN

David Karp launched the short-form blogging site Tumblr in fall 2007. Thousands of users quickly flocked to the site, says The New York Observer, for its “clean interface, ease of use, and community elements.” As of May 3, the site currently boasts nearly 18 million total blogs and more than 5 billion total posts (Tumblr).

Tumblr allows users to make original posts or to reblog posts others have made. Some users, like Gil, a 20 year old New Yorker, choose to only post original content, while others reblog nearly all the time. Some users also post personal anecdotes or photos, while some choose to remain faceless bloggers.

I am interested in finding why young people choose to portray themselves how they do online. I believe that, whether they realize it or not, these teenagers and young adults are influenced by those around them, on or offline.

AUTHORING ONESELF

In Angela Thomas’ book Youth Online, she argues that, though the physical body is seemingly absent in the virtual world, online communities provide a place for one to produce a new type of body (6). Thomas believes, despite the early observations made praising the Internet for being a place of complete disembodiment (11), that identity is always about the body (8). She also states that “identity is characterized by aspects of self, others and community” (8). Here, Thomas supports my belief that people are influenced by others in creating their online identities, as she explains that identity is developed by the bodily states and desires of being and becoming, as well as belonging and behaving (8).

WHAT TO POST

In my interview with Rachel, a 19 year old college student from Missouri, when asked what decision making went in to what she posted to her Tumblr account, she responded: “Next to none. If I like it, I post it.”

Gil, 20, stated that the sole influence to his posts was his mood.

A 21 year old student from California, Brad admitted to putting some thought into his posts. “I try to only post/reblog things I believe in, support, and like,” Brad said. He also stated that his decisions are sometimes swayed by those who view his blog because he can post things he knows someone else will like, that he likes, as well.

Rachel, who has 1,039 followers, said that she does censor herself to some extent, refraining from posting sexual pictures because she knows people as young as 12 follow her blog.

While Cheyenne, a 15 year old student in Ohio, maintained that she only posts things on her blog that she likes or enjoys, she also admitted that there is some influence from her followers. Cheyenne only said, though, that people on Tumblr expose her to new music she hasn’t heard of.

A sixteen year old student in Ohio, Tyler said in his interview that there was no change or influence on his posts from his followers because, he said, his followers share the same interests.

Bridget, 20, is a college student in Ohio. In her interview, as well as stating that she posted things that she thought others would find interesting, Bridget said that she should probably think more about what she posts online.

RATIONALITY

In the opening chapter to his book Sociological Insight, Randall Collins explains that reasoning is actually based on nonrational foundations. Collins points out, for example, that politicians often claim that their own program is completely rational while their opponents are not (4). I interpreted Collins argument to mean that, whether we realize it or not, our decisions are typically based in emotion.  

I believe that this relates to my argument that young people are influenced by others in their decisions. With out even knowing, a thought could cross one’s mind that “Perhaps my followers would like this,” or “Maybe I shouldn’t post this.” Whether one’s response to that thought is to go with or against it, there is some influence.

Experimenting With Online Identity

TROLLS

In Thomas’ book, she explains that the embodiment of the virtual world allows for experimentation in identity. One may take on a new identity, making themselves older, younger, the opposite sex, even a thing. She recognizes that the anonymity of this virtual world, however, can create a safety net for aggressive or inappropriate behavior (18). There is new found courage and freedom in this online realm, which can be either good, like exploring one’s identity, or bad, like lurking and even harassing other Internet users.

These abusive users — called “trolls” — are also building their online identities. Anonymously, the trolls of the Internet thrive off the reactions of others, therefore influencing online users while they too are influenced by others.

COMMUNICATING

Common Tumblr Lingo (with links to Urban Dictionary):

• GPOY - Gratuitous Picture of Yourself
• THIS - A sign of agreement
• I can’t even…
• Cool story, bro
• U MAD? - Used when mocking someone
• srsly guise - “Seriously, guys”

In his book American Nerd, Benjamin Nugent provides a history of the computer culture invention 1337, or “elite speak” (154). He compares the often violent language of online gamers to the “Russified English” of Anthony Burgess’s novel Clockwork Orange (155). He then explains that one of the reasons for an elite system of slang is to feel a sense of belonging (156). This supports my thoughts that young people form their identities online with the aid or influence of others.

When asked about her use of Tumblr slang and memes, Cheyenne said that she used some Tumblr slang offline from habit. She did not think, however, that the language helped her to bond with her online friends.

Tyler said he also uses online slang outside of Tumblr because he and his friends understand and find it funny.

PRIVACY

Of the six people I interviewed, the majority do not share their full names, Facebook accounts, or other personal information on their blogs. Most of them feel that the online realm is too dangerous. Gil’s answer for why he does not give away personal information he answered: “Simple, there are some crazy ass people in this world and the internet makes it bigger.”

Bridget does provide some information, such as her full name, to the public of Tumblr but she said she does not give out too much “because I don’t think it’s safe to give out such information to people I don’t know personally.”

One of the six young people does share her full name and happily adds her followers on Facebook. Rachel believes that she might as well, “simply because if they really wanted to know they could find out with a little searching.”

In Ken Denmead’s article on Wired, he states that many people feel that the younger generation simply don’t care about privacy. He believes, however, that the digital natives do in fact understand that they have a right to privacy. From what I have seen, speaking to these six young people, it would seem to me that these kids do care about their privacy. Of course, they did not learn of the dangers of sharing personal information online. This too was influenced by others.

IN CONCLUSION

While some bloggers only create original posts, many reblog. Most believe that they are doing this completely on their own accord. Thomas would argue that online users are driven, not just by the state of being or becoming, but also the desire to belong or behave (8). Nugent would say that, in their behavior online, these young people are looking for a feeling of belonging (156). It may be possible that online users are influenced by this search for belonging with out even realizing it, just as sociology argues that even our rational behavior is based on nonrational foundations (Collins, 4).

It is clear that these young people are thinking about their identities, deciding what they like or dislike and what to share or keep private. I believe that there are outside influences on these decisions. Whether the young people are unaware of these influences or simply denying them, there is clearly some evidence to say there are some.

Works Cited

1. Collins, Randall. Sociological Insight: an Introduction to Non-obvious Sociology. Second ed. New York: Oxford UP, 1992. Print.
2. Denmead, Ken. “Is Online Privacy a Generational Issue?” Wired.com. Condé Nast Digital, 1 Oct. 2009. Web. 03 May 2011.
   <http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/10/is-online-privacy-a-generational-issue/>.
3. Nugent, Benjamin. American Nerd: the Story of My People. New York: Scribner, 2009. Print.
4. Shafrir, Doree. “Would You Take a Tumblr With This Man?” Observer.com.
   The New York Observer, 15 Jan. 2008. Web. 03 May 2011. <http://www.observer.com/2008/would-you-take-tumblr-man>
5. Thomas, Angela. Youth Online: Identity and Literacy in the Digital Age. New York: Peter Lang, 2007. Print.