Your Life in A Snahpshot by Giovanni Zuniga

Your Life in a Snapshot

“How are Facebook users identity formed with the creation of the

users timeline?”

 Giovanni Zuniga

Uppsala University

Course: Image, Identity and New Media

Introduction

People must constantly adapt and update themselves in an attempt to cope with the creation of modern media. The reason is that no matter which way we look modern media is all around us in our daily lives. The constant use of internet is becoming such an interconnected part of our lives that we are creating new identities through the use of social media such as sites like Facebook that have changed the very definition of what it means to be social. This modern revolution of technology is forcing us to take re-evaluate our identities on the internet due to the fact that our identities are what connect to our modern social lives. Facebook is a prime example due to its connection with what it means to even social because it promotes users to create an identity with the creation of a page. This wall/profile lists who we are with, where we are from, what we study, how old we are and even goes so far as to ask what are our political and religious views are. The creation of this profile forces people to try to create something of an identity that others can have free access too when they friend us, though the wall is now being updated for a new soon to be non-optional ‘Timeline.’

The timeline was first introduced as early as December 2010 but soon removed (Duffy) and has been met with strong disdain that of a survey of 4,000 facebook users only 8 percent said they liked the change (Blond). The timeline merges the original wall/profile to create a singular page that according to facebook.com “is your collection of the photos, stories, and experiences that tell your story.”(www.facebook.com) This timeline uses plethora of new features such as a cover photo that is a large banner at the top of your profile picture in which you select a photo that you feel encapsulates you an individual and show how unique you truly are according to facebook.com. The attempt is to choose a photo that is large and showcases you because the banner is also visible to everyone like profile picture. Other main features include that timeline allows people to view other peoples timeline from when a person first joined Facebook up to the present. A person can then scroll down the timeline and look at highlighted events such as when a relationship began, or when someone was born or when they started to work at a certain company. These main events can also be star or be put as life events. Events that are star are automatically put on your timeline and expanded so other can see them easily. Much like star events, life events are events that you feel people should know about you because these events are automatically set to public and thus everyone that scrolls through your page can see these life events. These are the main features that distinguish ‘timeline’ to the original wall/profile that people are used. With the creation of this brand new feature which as soon as March 30 will become non-optional how are users using this as a means to create more of an identity? This essay will attempt to study the effect timeline on has on its users and how people are using this platform to create an online identity and the extent people are using the full range of options to both be understood and understand others.

           

         Thesis Question: How are facebook users using the creation of timeline as an attempt to create their true identity as a snapshot of themselves?

Theory

Identity          

With the creation of modern social media theories must be updated and re-evaluated due to the fact that we are constantly put in different situations that previous theories could no longer be applicable too. With the creation of new ways to be social people must adjust to the situation which can be seen in Goffman’s Dramaturgy Theory in which all the ‘all the world’s a stage’ according to Gauntlett’s interpretation in Media, Gender & Identity. Gauffman attempts to explain that everyone adjusts to the situation they are placed in by adjusting themselves to fit the stage while at the same time must also take into account the audience they are performing for. This basis of this idea that all the world is stage with all people playing there parts gives into the sociological thought process that people are constantly performing in all aspects of their lives according to the situation they are placed in with the account of time, place, audience. (Gauntlett) Such that one self is the creation of the location they are at even to the extent of modern media with a wall being the outlet of the stage. Though he also couples this theory with the idea much like a stage there is both a front and backside to every actor. The front is where the person showcases the person they are based on the location while the ‘back stage’ is the persons true self where they are allowed to act out who they truly are. The idea of creating an act could interpret people’s use of the features of timeline in general to better create an identity they feel suites them better by staring certain life events.

            Though Goffman’s theory is rational it does have it’s fault as pointed out by Gauntlett in that it may be to simple of a theory because it “is simple and almost obvious.” The main problem is the ability to distinguish where the true self lies and where the front actually ends. Also other points that are faulty with Goffman’s theory is stated by Bibu van den Berg in his paper Self, Script and Situation: Identity in a world of ICTs. He discuss Goffman’s theory at length by stating that Goffman’s theory in general has a consistent way of thinking theory but falls short in his description of ‘the situation’ and even to what extent people interpret a situation by asking what cues are needed for someone to interpret a situation. Berg attempts to argue that each situation have scripts that ‘human beings use to come to a ‘definition of a situation’. He then extends his argument into how technology is affected with scripts with the addition of another scholar by stating “Roger Silverstone’s notion of ‘double articulation’. According to Silverstone technologies always have ‘double articulation’: they are both “material objects located in particular spatio-temporal settings” and “symbolic messages located within the flows of particular socio-cultural discourses” Such that he is states that even in technology based situations have the script laid out by being the object in a situation much likes situational scripts. This argument can be used to understand peoples reaction to ‘Timeline’ by interpreting how the features are the cues that allow the person to interpret the situation and thus act according to the set script.

Lastly it also necessary to view this new feature with both in a macro v. micro level as stated according to Gauntlett’s interpretation of Gidden’s theory of Structuration. To state it simple as stated by Gauntlett “Human agency (micro level activity) and social structure (macro level forces) continuously feed into each other. The social structure is reproduced through repetition of acts by individual people (and therefore can change).” Such that Gidden’s attempts to study how our micro level actions might affect the macro level expectations placed upon us.  He states that on a macro level or viewing society in general we adhere to certain rules because the idea is that we have norms that are placed upon set by the constant repetition of creation rules. Much like the idea it is traditional that when we are placed in a situation we must act accordingly, men must act manly and women feminine . Though this actions can interpreted because society would become outraged at the idea of men acting feminine and vice versa. However, he also states that our micro level actions have the possibility of changing macro level rules as stated “This means that there is a social structure – traditions, institutions, moral codes and established ways of doing things; but it also means that these can be changed when people start to ignore them, replace them, or reproduce them differently.” This theory can interpret the creation of timeline because the feature would not have been thought of without the actions of the users of Facebook desiring something either consciously or unconsciously. This can also can interpret the use of ‘timeline’ and how users view their micro actions such as staring an event, or placing a life event for all to see with the idea of a macro interpretation of their ‘timeline’ in general as an identification of their identity.

Methodology:

            For this study I decided to use a qualitative study due to the limitations of a strong time constraint and was looking for avid Facebook users between the age of 18-25 that use it on a daily basis. The study was sent to ten people that include people who both use timeline currently and people who still have no switched over and their interpretation. I decided to use a questionnaire to gain more in depth answers from the individuals that did respond about how they feel about both Facebook in general and timeline. Below is a copy of the questionnaire.

Questionnaire:

1)      Gender/Age

2)      Do you use facebook?

a.       How many hours a day on average?

3)      Do you identify with your facebook?

a.       Do you feel that your page encapsulates yourself? Why or why not?

4)      Do you use Timeline currently?

a.       Did you choose to use it or was it forced upon you?

b.      If you choose to not use it why have you not switched over?

5)      What are your thoughts on timeline?

a.       Do you feel think it’s new features such as life events?

                                                              i.      With the creation of life events does it allow for users to showcase more of their identity?

                                                            ii.      Do you feel that you can reveal more of yourself to others?

6)      What are your thoughts on the cover photo?

a.       Do you think that because it takes up such a large area it encapsulates more of what people think of you due it size? Why or why not?

7)      When you look at someone else timeline what do you focus your attention on?

8)      When you scroll through another persons timeline what events do you look for?

a.       Do these events help shed light on your friends? Do you feel that you know your friends better now?

9)      If you have timeline what do you feel your cover photos says about in comparison to your profile picture?

10)  Looking over 5 random profiles what do the cover photos say about the person in less than three words. 

The first two question are simply used for demographic purposes. The third question was created to help gain insight on how this individual feels about Facebook in general. Questions 4-8 we made to understand how users felt about other people’s timeline and also give personal insight of what they feel timeline does for the interpretation of identity. Question 9 was made for users who do use timeline currently and how they feel about the cover photo due to it’s sheer size on a person page and it’s visibility to all those that view their page. The last question was done to give insight on what others think about their friends cover photo in general.

Data Analysis:

Among the sample that were surveyed there was 10 responses to the questionnaire. Of those that responded  60% were female and 40% male. Since the study was limited to people I would be able to reach and were willing to complete the survey under the allotted time is the reason that this study is based on a more qualitative approach. Of the ten that responded that are avid Facebook users 100% fell in between the age group of 18-25, with 19 being the youngest user and 24 the oldest. Finally the average use of Facebook on a daily basis was 2.55 hours.  Although the study is small and is more based on the answers given according to the questionnaire the chart Figure 1 shows what gender the user is. Then it is cross referenced with how long they use Facebook by hours usage on a daily basis and then whether or not they identify with their Facebook according to question 3, and then their explanation 3.a ‘Do you identify with your Facebook? Do you feel that your page encapsulates yourself? Why or why not?” This chart was created to show an emerging pattern that most individuals that use their Facebook for either 2 hours or more have more identification with their Facebook. This possible conclusion along with the answers provided will form the first part of the analysis on how people feel about their identity on Facebook.

Secondly and more importantly is to analyze how people felt about Facebook with the addition of timeline both from the people who use timeline currently and those that don’t.  According to Figure 2. which is an extension of the original figure my extending their answers. According to those that answer there is different opinions because 40% percent don’t use timeline currently. While 60% use timeline use it currently 2/6 were forced into the feature and thus are able to give a different perspective on how they feel about timeline and the features they were forced into it. They each gave different opinions about their views on the features and this will be analyzed according to the theories presented earlier about how they feel about their personal identification with the usage of the many features of Timeline. 

Figure 1.

Gender	female	male	female	female	female	female	male	male	female	male
hours	2	3	2­+	1	.1	2	8	2	2+	3+
identify	no	yes	yes	No	no	yes	yes	no	yes	yes

Figure 2.

Use Timeline	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Forced	Yes	N/A	No	No	N/A	Yes	N/A	No	Yes	No
Like Timeline	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

Identification with Facebook

          First it’s necessary to view how people create their identity and whether they even identify with their creation such as their Facebook profile. According to Goffman’s Dramaturgy Theory “all the word is a stage” according to Gauntlett’s interpretation in Media, Gender & Identity. Such that this theory can give insight in why people have certain patterns why they are put on the same stage. According to Gaufman’s book The Presentation of Self in Everday Life he stated that each person may adjust to the situation such as stated on pg. 104 in Media, Gender & Identity “In every interaction with another person or group, each of us routinely fosters more or less of an illusion (which may or may not reflect how we ‘really’ feel) designed to give the ‘right impression’ to our ‘audience”. So this can help explain how the ‘front’ people give on their Facebook profile is a performance brought on by the necessity of even being on stage. As stated by one of the responders  “No. Because I don’t give informations about myself on facebook, so the only things that could “encapsulate” my self would be things people post on my timeline, but it’s always party-related, and I don’t consider my self as only a party girl.” The answer provided showcases that an individual may have a front that is on Facebook that is not a correct because the ‘stage’ gave her a certain way to perform. As such that other people told her she must act this way but still this does not her identification because as stated she is not what her Facebook showcases.

Identification with Timeline Features

          Though I’ve only briefly analyzed peoples identification with their Facebook the main analysis of this paper needs to be about peoples identification with Facebook Timeline. As stated earlier before Gauffman’s Theory is criticized because it’s too simple and almost obvious. Such that it is necessary to both analyze using Berg’s theory of the script and Gidden’s theory of Structuration. Both Question 5 (A) and 6 are the main contributors on how people feel about timeline in general and their though about identity.

Life Events

          The first question had to deal with the new feature life events. The reason this was chosen because Berg’s theory of the  ‘script’ and ‘cue’ can be used on how people create their identity as a whole on timeline. As stated by Berg himself “I define a script as a set of ‘contextual cues’ explicitly or implicitly governing (courses of) action in connection with a situation” Such that the situation in this explanation is the addition of Timeline on Facebook. So we can analyze how people feel about timeline by understanding that they are now given a new ‘scrip’ and must act accordingly. As stated by one of the users to question 5(a) “It’s easier at least. [Life Events] Everybody can see everything from the beginning of your Facebook. If you are really into timeline, you can show everybody which events where important for you, so yes [it’s easier].” Such that life events are a direct cue to the way a person must act, and thus forcing the person on stage to act with certain cue’s such as the addition of life events. As stated by Berg “From my definition of ‘scripts’ as ‘contextual cues’ it follows that they are bound up with the environments or situations that we find ourselves in or move between.” So the whole idea of Timeline’s creation seems that a script was created that forces it’s users to stick to certain cues and thus able to perform accordingly which in this case is the stage of Facebook.

Cover Photo

            Although at the same time it is still necessary to view the addition of the feature of a cover photo or banner because of it size on a page. Most of the users had comments on the cover photo with 6/10 disliking the photos. Yet 9/10 still said that the cover photo had a huge impact on their view of another person’s page because it’s size on the page. As stated by one of the users “ It makes you prejudge the timeline in one second. If it’s a person taking the timeline seriously, it will be a picture of people, otherwise it will be funny or a landscape.” Such that this feature forces users to have to present even another front but are still given a direct cue on how to act. Though of all those that answered and those that have timeline 2/6 did identify with their cover photo, though only somewhat. As stated to answer to question 9 a user responded “my coverphoto is of something I love i.e. starwars and suits..sooooo yeah,”. So this  shows that most people feel that their cover photo is important when viewing someone else’s but have little identification wit their own cover photo. This can then be related to Goffman’s Dramaturgy Theory but showing that people view other’s ‘performance’ with much more critical eye. Yet at the same time when give the ‘cue’ to act on their stage they don’t agree with their performance.

Macro v. Micro Level

            The way each person performs on their stage is based on what cues they are given so they can then act accordingly to the script provided. Though the script in this case the creation of Timeline features  is the micro level elements we must examine against a macro level to understand why people have a general consensus of not identifying with their micro level movements. A large reason Facebook created timeline according to their website was to show “your collection of the photos, stories, and experiences that tell your story.” Such that Facebook wanted to created a larger stage for people to perform and thus hopefully show more of themselves. Although according to Giddens theory of Structuration “This means that there is a social structure – traditions, institutions, moral codes and established ways of doing things; but it also means that these can be changed when people start to ignore them, replace them, or reproduce them differently.” So this can be understood people motivation to disagree with many of the features because although the cues are there people may refuse them at times. Thus they are able to change the stage so they can better showcase themselves in other ways.

Conclusion:

          As shown above with the analysis above there is a problem with the identification with a person’s Facebook. Although at the same time it can be noted that people do realize that their Facebook does have to deal with their identity even if they don’t identify with it directly. As pointed out by Gauffman’s theory, all the world is a stage, the use of Facebook is a stage. Though with the creation of timeline and the addition of its features it seems that the script of how to perform on Facebook is being given more cues, and although people disagree with the script they still must act accordingly if they want to remain on stage.

References:                                                                                           

1.      Gauntlett, David. Media, Gender, and Identity: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2004. Print.

2.      Berg, Bibi Van Den. "Self, Script and Situation: Identity in a World of ICT's." Erasmus University, Faculty of Philosophy: 64-68. Print.

3.      Bond, Anthony. "Facebook's Controversial 'timeline' Feature Is Supported by Just One in Ten Users." Mail Online. Daily Mail, 30 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2093811/Facebooks-controversial-timeline-feature-supported-just-users.html>.

4.      Duffy, Jill. "12 Things You Should Know About Facebook Timeline." PCMAG. PCMAG, 25 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2393464,00.asp>.

5.      Gauntlett, David. Media, Gender, and Identity: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2004. Print.

6.      Paul, Ian. "Facebook's New Timeline Layout: A Getting-Started Guide." PCWorld. PCWorld, 23 Sept. 2011. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. <http://www.pcworld.com/article/240485/facebooks_new_timeline_layout_a_gettingstarted_guide.html>.

7.      Facebook. "Facebook Help Center | Facebook." Facebook. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. <http://www.facebook.com/help/search/?q=timeline>.