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Summary Of Alice E. Marwick's Online Identity

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Summary Of Alice E. Marwick's Online Identity
The chapter “Online Identity” by Alice E. Marwick seeks to explain and provides a thorough understanding on the topic of identity, especially in the spectra of online identity and how can identity be constructed online via new media platforms. Marwick started the chapter with the definition of identity; in general and also includes definitions from various scholars. She continued the chapter with theories of identity, while at the same referencing some of the prominent scholars that contributed to the topic of identity, such as by Erving Goffman with his theory of how people present themselves distinctively based on context and audience (1959) to a more postmodernists approach by Anthony Giddens where he referred identity as a “project” (1991). …show more content…

In my opinion, there are no distinction or differences in portraying self, be it online or offline. As people are using social media as a platform for communication and interaction; the idea of presenting our ideal selves in contrast with our real selves has become more common. Green (2013) mentioned about the differences between your “real self” and your “ideal self”. According to her, your “real self” is what you are, this includes your traits and personality, while your “ideal self” is what you aspire and inspire to be. This differentiation is particularly true and I can relate it to myself. I do not consider my identity to be any different offline and online. My online self is an extension of my offline self. Indirectly by being online, I have become the person I am today - my “ideal” self influence my “real” self, for example of the way I think and behave to the way I dress. In my opinion, your “ideal” self motivates you to be the person you want to be in real life. For example, by seeing a person’s achievement and success online; it triggers my “real” offline competitive side. I am inspired to be like them. Therefore, I believed that, via social media platform, our real and ideal selves …show more content…

Personal connections in the digital age, Malden, MA: Polity.
Boyd, d. (2010). Social network sites as networked publics: Affordances, dynamics, and implications. In Z. Papacharissi, ed. A networked self: Identity, community, and culture on social network sites. New York: Routledge, pp. 39–58.
Davis, K. (2012) "Tensions of Identity in A Networked Era: Young People's Perspectives on the Risks and Rewards of Online Self-­‐expression." New Media and Society 14(4): 643-­‐51.
Ganda, M. (2014). "Social Media and Self: Influences on the Formation of Identity and Understanding of Self through Social Networking Sites". University Honors Theses. Paper 55.
Giddens, A. (1991). Modernity and self-identity: Self and society in the late modern age. Cambridge: Polity.
Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. New York: Doubleday.
Green, R.K (2013). The Social Media Effect: Are You Really Who You Portray Online?. Retrieved 2017, 20th February, from,http://www.huffingtonpost.com/r-kay-green/the-social-media-effect-a_b_3721029.html
Marwick, A. (2013). “Online Identity.” In Hartley, J., Burgess, J. & Bruns, A. (eds), Companion to New Media Dynamics. Blackwell Companions to Cultural Studies. Malden, MA: Blackwell, pp.


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