Tensions of identity in a networked era: Young people’s perspectives on the risks and rewards of online self-expression

Abstract

This article explores how young people – for whom issues of identity are particularly salient – conceive of the new opportunities for self-expression provided by digital media technologies. In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 ‘digital youth,’ ages 15–25, who were highly engaged in at least one form of digital media activity at the time of their interview. Participants were presented with a hypothetical scenario designed to probe their conceptions of identity, both online and offline. The themes identified in the interviews are organized into a conceptual framework that summarizes the strategies young people use to reconcile the tension between multiplicity and consistency in a networked era. The framework comprises four ‘spheres of obligation’ – to self, interpersonal relationships, online social norms, and broad community-level values – that function as implicit limits on self-multiplicity. Participants varied in the weight they gave to each sphere when deciding how to express themselves in this networked era.

Who am I Online? Understanding the Meaning of Online Contexts for Identity Development

“…For example, experiences of deindividuation-reduced self-awareness and responsibility for one's action (McKenna and Bargh 2000), may lead to antisocial behaviours in online contexts. Other potential problems may be difficulties in integrating multiple self-presentations (Davis 2012). What has been labelled the ''fragmentation hypothesis'' (Valkenburg and Peter 2011) describes the hypothesis that the multiple selfpresentations that contemporary adolescents have to handle may lead to a sense of identity that is diffused and shattered.…”

Disconnecting with Social Networking Sites

“…We know that the distinctiveness of online identity expressions can be attributed to the purposes and structural features of particular online spaces, as well as the people who frequent them (Davis 2012). As Baym (2010) states, different sites influence selfpresentation in different ways, such as by providing visible links to other people or offering attire and accoutrements to build identities.…”

“…It has been argued that social norms appear to both limit (Davis 2012), and expand (Van Doorn 2010), the range of identities that one can express in a particular online context. It is also the case that SNSs exhibit processes that can create, control and monitor new public spaces through the architecture of the network itself (Mejias 2010) and indeed their philosophy (see Chapter 2).…”

Online Forums as Definitional Ceremonies

“…White's interest in the construction of multiple identities and narratives was greatly supported by these definitional practices. White (2000) showed in his work how identity construction emerges within a social sphere, where the recognition and appreciation of identity is brought into existence (White, 2000;Davis, 2012). Definitional ceremonies allow participants to construct identity with other participants within the ceremony itself by assigning value and meaning to and from one's narrative.…”