Online Alter Egos

MTV’s True Life documentaries are known for their shocking, real and often emotional moments. The women featured in this episode found a battle within themselves and their alter ego on the web. The episode, I Live Another Life on the Web, and this article I discovered are both very pertinent to many of our class discussions. Not surprisingly, these issues occur frequently and affect many individuals throughout their lives.

During our various class discussions, we have agreed that many individuals use the web as a convenient method to hide their insecurities. Also, in one of our most recent handouts we discussed different terms that we use to define ourselves. Among these terms we discussed that, many of these women had an unrealistic self-concept and unhealthy methods of developing their self-esteem.

It is very simple for an individual, such as the women in the episode and the article, to discover hidden confidences through their online identities. However, the results can be positive because various users such as Keiko, a Second Life user from True Life, were able to build their confidence online and slowly direct their energy to everyday life. On the subject of Second Life, the article discussed the lack of physical barriers when an individual uses this 3-D virtual world. This is a valid point because an individual who is not physically capable can meet other people from around the world, without being judged on their differences.

Second Life users are able to configure their “avatar” to be something or someone they have always desired. To be fair, I am sure many users model the avatar after themselves, but it is still difficult to convey an accurate portrayal of individual’s personality. In addition, online alter egos allow individuals to delay their problems, such as social anxiety in the case of Judy from True Life. It is simple to use an alter ego as a quick fix, but generally the solutions are not long term.

However, there are many problems with users becoming dependent on their online alter ego. People are not being themselves and potentially giving others a false sense of relationship. Are relationships developed online focused more on a user’s real world persona or their alter ego? This is a difficult question to answer and it may be subjective depending upon the individual and their online participation.

The individuals featured in the article and documentary, have expressed various reasons for their online participation, but the results are similar. They are living another life losing sight of valuable face-to-face communication and their desire to evolve themselves into the person they want to be.

The Evolution of Social Networking Sites

We often think of social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace as a method to keep in touch with friends, share photos and develop relationships. However, this article takes a slightly different approach to social sites. According to the article, social networks are going corporate in order to enhance the communication among works and increase their productivity.

As I was reading this article, I was thinking back to our most recent class discussion on the distinctions between a group, community and social network. Most of our class, including myself, agreed that social networks generally are used for self-gain and they can be somewhat vague. However, after reading the article, it appears that social networks are evolving beyond self-gain into an effective communication method to combat the unstable economy.

It is important to note that these social networking sites are not your traditional Facebook and Myspace. While they carry the same concept, their specifics are very different. Most of the corporate social networks are private for employee use only and they have been proven to reduce the amount of unnecessary material generally associated with e-mail. Another major advantage is the wealth of information that is spread quickly on an international level improving business operations for both companies and consumers. Among the noticeable improvements is worker productivity because workers can ask company related questions and develop a unique corporate culture.

As I re-read the article, several of the characteristics of these sites are very similar to the list of attributes we compiled in our class discussion about online communities. In our class discussion, we listed the important aspects of a community including: regularity among multiple members, discussions, shared/directed information, shared interest and expanded knowledge. Many of the preceding terms are also used when describing corporate social networks. During our online class unit, we read a literature review, which stated the reason why most people choose to join a virtual community is to access information (Furlong, 1989; S.G. Jones, 1995; Wellman et al., 1996). Information exchange is also one of the foremost reasons companies are shifting to social networks, displaying another important similarity.

As corporate social sites are becoming more common and effective, I believe we will see an evolution from social networks into online communities. Online communities will allow companies to develop international connections and disseminate information efficiently.

The "New" Facebook

Facebook is undoubtedly one of the largest social networks and online communities, with 100 million members throughout the world. It has not only become a source of entertainment it has become a way of life for many members. As Facebook released its “new” design millions of members were annoyed and protested through petitions which are evident within this article. One petition listed in the article contained nearly 1.5 million names. That statistic is astonishing, 1.5 million names over a social network that should be used for friendships and recreation.

Recreation is a common characteristic of online communities according to the Virtual Community article in our readings. However, I believe Facebook is moving beyond the recreation aspect and is evolving into a daily routine for most members. In our online unit, we read an article by Howard Rheingold concerning individuals who had become addicted to their online communities and Facebook is no different. Our generation is slowly becoming dependent on services such as Facebook, with one user in this article referring to Facebook as “…a classy girlfriend you once loved.”

It would be safe to say that most of the members that were opposed to the new design were from our generation, ages 16 to 24 years old. Our generation should put this energy into issues such as the presidential election and the economy, rather than an online community. In the future is it honestly going to matter what bumper sticker you gave someone or will an individual be more affected by the current $700 billion bail out. I guarantee students can describe the new design of Facebook more adequately than the cause for rising fuel prices. It may be easier for me to voice my opinion because I am not an avid user of Facebook, although I am a member.

Overall, I think Facebook is a good thing to keep in touch with friends and family. However, the problem arises when a “new” design for Facebook is turns into a social issue. Our generation should spend less time focusing on small issues and look at the larger picture.