Orchard, L. J., & Fullwood, C. (2010). Current perspectives on personality and internet use. Social Science Computer Review, 28(2), 155-169. Retrieved June 16, 2010, from Sage Publications Online.
Postman, N. (1997). Science and the story that we need: Problems of the information glut. First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, 69, 29-32. Retrieved June 17, 2010, from Academic OneFile.
Valkenburg, P. M., Schouten, A. P., & Peter, J. (2005). Adolescents’ identity experiments on the internet. New Media & Society, 7(3), 383-402. Retrieved May 29, 2010, from Sage Publications Online.
Walther, J. B., Van Der Heide, B, Hamel, L. M., & Shulman, H. C. (2009). Self-generated versus other-generated statements and impressions in computer-mediated communication: A test of warranting theory using Facebook. Communication Research, 36(2), 229-253. Retrieved June 16, 2010, from Sage Publications Online.
Interchanging Boundaries
“Our immediate challenge in CMC research has to do with refinement of theories, and the most important refinement has to do with the articulation of boundary conditions, which stipulate the contextual conditions in which different theoretical chains-of-events are expected to occur” (Walther, 2009, p. 748). “Researchers need to examine whether cross-contextual assumptions applied to some theories fit certain contexts after all, and set it aside when the assumptions do not fit. Efforts are needed to discern how and under what circumstances and with what inducements online communication facilitates one process or another, or movement between modes” (Walther, 2009, p. 750). “Since people communicate within any single relationship across many media we need to see how all these media fit together and define social life” (Walther, 2009, p. 751).
According to Baym (2009), "Online realms are no longer contained within their own boundaries; our interactions with one another are increasingly multimodal where most people connected online are also connected offline. We conduct our relationships face-to-face, over the phone, and online through modes as diverse as e-mail, instant messaging, social network friending, personal messages, comments, shared participation in discussion forums and online games, and the sharing of digital photos, music and videos" (p. 721).
Internet Interactivity
“The Internet provides numerous communication spaces in which people meet others. Through matchmaking sites, role-playing games, discussion boards, blogs, and social networking sites; people are constantly observing and interacting with others, seeking out family, friends, like-minded individuals, or even complete strangers to, in which a variety of influences may confront them in terms of how they make sense of both themselves and others” (Walther, Van Der Heide, Hamel, and Shulman, 2009, p. 230).
“The Internet also provides a means to take part in various online activities, for example, leisure activities (e.g., online gaming), social activities (e.g., online chat), and information activities (e.g., online newspaper). Patterns of Internet consumption tend to vary greatly and this is said to be a possible function of personality” (p. 155). With an aim to provide an overview for trends in personality and Internet consumption, Orchard and Fullwood’s (2010) findings “suggest that different personality types use and appreciate the Internet differently. Introverts are said to prefer online communication (specifically anonymous style interaction), more so that extraverts, because of the unique features of CMC, which helps them to access their “real me.” Extraverts, however, still participate in online social activities but may prefer to use activities that most saliently reflect their offline identity” (p. 165).
Exploring Self-identity
Valkenburg, Schouten, and Peter (2005) contend that, “Internet communication has several characteristics which may stimulate individuals to undertake identity experiments; (1) It is characterized by reduced auditory and visual cues, which may encourage users to emphasize, change or conceal certain features of their physical self, (2) Internet communication is anonymous, especially during the early stages of Internet-based relationships, and (3) Internet communication often happened is social communities that are isolated from those in real life” (p. 384). From their research, the authors found that “The most important motive to engage in Internet-based identity experiments was self-exploration (i.e. to explore how others react), followed by social compensation (i.e. to overcome shyness) and social facilitation (i.e. to facilitate relationship-formation)” (p. 397).
Personal Thoughts and Scholarly Reflection
In a summation of this post, these five scholars portray a fairly conclusive representation of the span through which new media impacts our everyday life. The boundaries between the “virtual” and the “real” have been blurred, and the interactional relations which transpire online have become just as relevant to people as those occurring offline. Due to the vastness of potential communication activities and opportunities found throughout the Internet, individuals often reflect upon the interactions they experience with others; utilizing these encounters to explore their self-identification.
I suppose that I am just in the absolute minority, because although I consider myself to be an introvert, my personal preferences do not follow any of the research findings. I have no desire to use new media technology to access the “real me,” or to explore myself, overcome shyness, or form relationships. Perhaps instead of labeling myself and introvert, I would be better suited to refer to myself as privately skeptical of the sea of “others” who compile the Internet’s virtual populace.
"Advances in communication have led to an information glut guaranteed to overwhelm individuals unless they have a comprehensive defining narrative to give the information meaning." This statement was presented by the late Neil Postman, a scholar of exceptional authenticity, whose writings often lend to the enhancement to my new media perspectives. In 1997 he cryptically proclaimed, "I believe we are living just now in a special moment in time--at one of those darkening moments when all around us is change and we cannot yet see which way to go." Although this way of thinking has become extremely trivial, my regard for it remains imperious.
COM 6270 Readings:
Baym, N. K. (2009). A call for grounding in the face of blurred boundaries. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 14, 720-723.
Walther, J. B. (2009). Theories, boundaries, and all of the above. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 14, 748-752.
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