In a nutshell, online identity is Internet user establishes in online communities and websites. Identity is one of the most complex constructs as different approaches led to multiplication of its meanings rendering the concept difficult to grasp (Guta & Karolak, 2015, p.116). On the Internet, people can freely construct their desired social identity, including gender, nationality, etc. Identity is a fluid construct that is constantly shaped and reshaped by our experiences and interactions as well as social context (Guta & Karolak, 2015, p.116). The same goes for online identities.
Most social media can edit their profilephoto, which can make a first impression on the Internet. When people want to connect and start a conversation to someone or a group of people, photos is their first choice to interact with the person or the group (Marshall 2010, p.42). When people communicate with new netizens on the Internet, profile photo can shorten people’s distance, which is also the key to strangers’ interest in you on the Internet platform. People often show some photos on social platforms, such as dining they eat, group photos with family, and scenery when traveling. These pictures can help users find people who have similar hobbies. This behavior is very popular among young people. All of these can help people build up their network image. Because the content that users want to publish on social media is what they want to present to netizens, or it may be false. They just want to get fans or build their own satisfied social image on the Internet. WeChat is one of the most popular social media in China. The functions of WeChat are also very user-friendly. For example, you can scan QR code for payment, share Moments, etc. Moments is a public platform that can send text or pictures, but only WeChat friends can see it, and friends can praise and comment.If you share a photo that you don’t want to show to some of your friends,you can add restrictions for viewing, and the shared things can be limited. I often share photos of travel and daily life in my Moments, which makes my new friends have a further understanding of me and chat about topics of interest together. Many young people don’t want their parents to see their daily life. For example, about personal feelings, or some complaints they write on the Internet. Young people don’t want their parents worry about their mood, they want to show a positive identity in front of their parents. Young people often share their mood and daily life online in order to get the resonance of their contemporary. Sometimes Moments I send is limited to my family to watch. Facing different people on the Internet, our online identity is different.
The screenshot above is my WeChat Moments. WeChat is very safe, because only my friends can see my Moments. I often published interesting things in the Moments. I don’t need to decorate my photos, because I only publish them to record my life and share with my friends.For example, when I meet a delicious restaurant, I will share it in my Moments at once. When I release it, I will add the location of the restaurant. My friend can taste it if they are interested in it. WeChat is a very popular social media platform in China, even my grandparents also use it. They can call me voice or video, which are free when they have internet.
Compared with WeChat, my Twitter is rarely published, because my friends in China don’t use it and have no fans, I don’t get response when I published in this social media platform. And tweets are for all users and may expose their privacy. Most of the reason I use Twitteris help my study. My major needs to learn how to use it expertly. I also use Instagram, I often post my photos of myself and travelling , and I will decorate the photos before release, such as adding filters, photoshop etc. The action is to attract more fans to follow me.
Different social media platforms have different role plays. When I post in the WeChat, I am real,and relaxed, I can boldly share my traveling and daily life with my friends. Communicating with people on WeChat is the same as in my life. It’s like a communication tool, and I don’t have to restrain myself. On the contrary, in the Instagram, people usually show their unreal daily life and show themselves perfectly, so people usually beautify the photos, attract attention as much as possible and attract more fans.
Online identity isa fluid construct and people use it differently on different social media platforms. When we use social media, we should pay attention to its security and protect our privacy while making friends. Don’t blindly believe in bloggers on social media platforms. They just post one-sided things on the Internet to gain attention and fans.
Reference List:
- Guta, H and Karolak, M 2015, ‘Veiling and blogging: social media as sites of identity negotiation and expression among Saudi women’, Journal of International Women’s Studies, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 115-127.
- Marshall, PD 2010, ‘The promotion and presentation of the self: celebrity as marker of presentational media’, Celebrity Studies, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 35-48.
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