Instagram and Snapchat = the new lover?

Hi Hugh,

I definitely agree with what you're saying! Many university-age students engage in building a profile, which essentially consists of only putting one's best moments or highlights forward, to be seen by their cohort. In doing so, not only is this false image projected (in line with Goffman's notion of performing character), but the actor is then able to receive social confirmation of their image in the form of likes, with Instagram and Facebook in mind. Through this process, the individual does not even have to imagine themselves as an object – since the likes/reactions/comments already tell them what others think of them – or at the very least, attempting to assume role and read the thoughts of others becomes drastically easier because of this one-click approval via social media.

Personally, I believe this is a bad thing – after all, Goffman states that the individual's interpretative process is informed by their referential group, and if one believes that these 'best-foot-forward' profiles are truly representative of their peers, then they will adopt unrealistic standards for themselves. Also relevant is the notion of poster's remorse, where an individual deletes a post simply because it didn't garner enough likes, therefore apparently not garnering enough gratification.

I definitely agree with the comments, many people in recent years have taken to the phenomenon of social media. Not only is it a way to connect with your peers but it is as Erikson said a way for people to see how they are in comparison to their similar others. Erikson suggested that to sooth this identity confusion and the complexity of gaining social roles is through the growth of cliques and stereotypes. Through social media, it is almost like an online clique. Everybody wants to befriend the other and they want to fit in; be it through a means of likes, reactions or comments. We want to assume these roles and I don't think it is the best for our society. These individuals are "eager to be affirmed by their peers" and they aren't really creating a role for themselves. They are aligning their interested to the generalized other which is the social media model in a way.

I agree that social media has become a platform for self affirmation. I also agree that, as explained by Jaden, that individuals have the urgency to elaborate their front stage by putting their "best-foot-forward". In my previous experience, I've seen arguments take place on Facebook threads. Most often, the individual with the most "liked" comments are encouraged to continue their argument because they perceive to have the "correct" opinion. In contrast, individuals with the least "likes" may accept defeat to avoid further embarrassment. The fear of losing face is quite striking, especially when you're exposed to a potentially large audience. Having said this, I think that we should be cautious of how social media can be used for self validation. Social media can be liberating in a sense that you have access to information and the opinion of others, but, as Weber would say, social media can become an iron cage once it is over utilized. I have seen where popular YouTube vloggers have had to distance themselves from social media because their source of happiness became dependent on their fans' comments. Social media becomes engrained in everyday life, and eventually, individuals may begin to engage in certain events not for pure enjoyment, but for "show". It's become such a prevalent phenomenon that we have a collective understanding of what it means when our friends encourage us to "do it for the likes".

I agree with your point that the individuals consciously construct their own profiles and identities based on the information that they receive and the communication that they have. Social networking sties are platforms that allow the users to give the performances and shape their identity. A lot of users present themselves in ways that match specific audience expectations or are socially acceptable. I think one of the purpose of constructing the self is to achieve a particular social goal.