Blog 2: The Identity Puzzle

 

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg claims "You have one identity. Having two identities for yourself is an example of a lack of integrity" (McNeill, 2012, p.104). In theory this may be true, however does our choice of what piece of our identity we choose to divulge or withhold, make us any less authentic?


I would argue that much like our real social world, when using the internet we interact with others differently depending on the nature of a  relationship. What I choose to share with a close confidant may differ from that of an acquaintance, and each will have their own perspective of my identity. Because I am aware of this, the virtual identity I project is only a part of self, and is a little guarded, but no less real. Google+ has a feature that allows me to categorise my associations and share accordingly. This control reflects real life scenarios, so I feel like my virtual identity is more lifelike than on other social networks, however I am aware that it is not just my input alone that affects my identity.

Dr Ariel Van Luyan (2013) stated in our week 4 lecture that we are not the only person constructing our identity in a virtual world. Laurie McNeil (2013) argues that even in the initial setting up of a profile we are given little freedom to compose and negotiate our identity (p.105). Does the generic line of questioning suggest identity lies merely in attributes such as sex, age, education and employment history? Aboriginal culture would suggest otherwise. "To a blackfellow, a man's name, spirit, and shadow are 'him' in a sense which to us may seem passing strange", (Stanner, 1979, p. 25). Profile settings do not foster diversity. They rarely request race, religion, political views or moral beliefs. There is not a drop down box for 'totem'. This also may infer the virtual platform Google+ is designed with the Western world in mind.

Using Plusdemographics I further explored the demographics of Google+ and discovered the greater part of users to be Westerners, mostly educated males, with a great many employed in technology and communication fields. This leaves me to conclude that although the internet gives us seemingly unlimited access to different cultures, and a better understanding of others, the virtual network cannot truly be considered diverse until all have the opportunity and desire to partake. And until that time, our online identities will conform to that of the majority, and therefore are not wholly of our own making.

References

McNeill, L (2012). There is no “I” in network: social networking sites and posthuman auto/biography. Biography, 35(1), 101-118.

 Self-Identity. (2010). [image]. Retrieved from: http://www.healthylifestyleplus.com

Stanner, W. (1979). White man got no dreaming: Essays 1938-1973.Canberra, Australia: Australian National University Press.

Van Luyn, A.(Producer)  (2013). BA1002 Our space: networks, narratives, and the making of place.[Podcast]. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au