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>.
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