A little while ago I was on York
University’s website, when I noticed an advertisement for an article written by
psychology students who had done a research study on personality and facebook.
Interestingly enough the article was talking about how there is a high
correlation between narcissism and facebook (makes sense… but just feels better
when the science kids have stats to prove it!). It talked about how it was
found that those who photoshoped their profile pictures were more likely to
have narcissistic tendencies (once again… Duh… lol). But what I found quite
interesting is this idea of creating an identity that either feeds an already narcissistic
personality or aids in adding a little confidence to an unsure one.
Photos of you and your friends, an
actual list of the number of friends you have, profile pictures,
self-descriptions, wall posts, “likes”, and even what you choose to post on
someone else’s wall. All these things are watched by your “friends” on facebook
(interestingly enough the list of people
you have on facebook are all called “friends” but… my oh my… I have seen that
this label cannot be called accurate). But all the things I listed above can
easily be sculpted into what a person wants to display. Basically what I am
saying here is the social networking powerhouse we like to call facebook is an
attempt for human beings to try to create a meaningful identity. People either
create this identity for themselves, or for others to see. But what’s the point
in creating an identity? To me, seems like everything we do… is usually done to
add some kind of purpose to what can seem like an empty existence. So we create
this identity to convey who we are or might want to be. We all have that friend
on facebook with something like… 600 friends and bajillions of photoshopped
pictures of themselves. So my question is why? And my answer is identity.
A person’s self-concept has a
huge role to play in this. Identity is linked to your self-concept and your
identity needs the base of confidence in order to be functional. By
self-concept I am referring to the understanding of who you are and having
confidence in this identity. A healthy self-concept is usually created and
solidified by the age of 22-65. Before and after this age rang is usually
linked to self-esteem issues (oh joy). RANDOM THOUGHT: Is it just me or has
anyone else noticed elderly people become so damn emo when they get old. “Well…
I’ve only got a few more years to go…” “It’s okay, I won’t be here long” etc.
etc. JEBUS oldie getcho self together! At such an old ripe age they should be
enjoying life and spreading their knowledge like friggen peanut butter, not
sitting in a room talking about how they’re going to die tomorrow at their grandchild’s
2nd birthday party (thank you… just thanks. What a great way to
create a joyous atmosphere). When I turn into
wrinkly-white-haired-saggy-boobed-Rav I know imna be rockin my one piece on a
beach somewhere in mexico, drinking my pina colada and eating my fresh
cheesecake. I will never be an emo oldie. Tis a promise to myself, tis a
promise to the world.
Anyways… back on topic. Facebook
seems to help people create their own identity to add meaning to their lives. This
is quite an obvious idea, but interesting nonetheless. So from this we could ask
how technology affects identity. By creating identities of ourselves, are we
able to better understand who we really are? Or are we just becoming more lost?
I’m afraid… I haven’t the slightest idea. In some ways it seems like technology
individualizes humans. In other ways it seems like it’s creating a group of
unaware… confused retards. Perhaps it’s a mix…
I find it quite interesting how
people find things that might add meaning to their lives and latch on to it. I
read a quote once that went something like this:
“Your birth is a mistake you’ll
spend your whole life trying to correct.” –Chuck Palahniuk
Interesting thought… and very true. I feel like people latch on to things that aid
in giving their life importance. They help to “correct” this idea of an empty
existence that really isn’t their fault at all. In order to understand the
meaning of your existence you first start with who you are, and it seems only
natural that people would latch on to facebook so passionately.
Okay I know I am making humans
sound so sad and… confused. As stretched out as this idea this might sound like
(facebook and the meaning of life O_O)… it definitely does have some truth.
So what about loneliness? Are we
more connected to people through facebook or are we just more reassured of our
loneliness? The interesting thing is… (I admit this included me when I was in
grade 11ish) I have talked to a bunch of people and they have agreed that
facebook can be damn depressing at times. You have all these people on there
like “Look at me! Look at what I did last night! Aren’t we crazy fun!” written
all over their profile pictures. And then you can’t stop your face from meshing
into that “forever alone” meme (bum chin and all). Now it seems like facebook
has no effect on me besides the terribly unflattering twitchy-eyed shots that I
get tagged in, but I admit… at one point it did (confessions). Perhaps facebook
has the ability to keep us connected to those we choose to stay connected with.
But it also has the ability to remind us of the world outside our lives that we
are not included in.
Overall seems like technology
really raises some interesting questions. Does it help us form an identity or
cause us to create a fake one, and loose ourselves in the process? Does
facebook connect us to people or make us more aware of how disconnected we
really are? Baffling indeed… but besides all of this… Mark Zuckenburg… Rav is
proud of thee.
And genius ideas like facebook… well that makes me feel
hearts&sheit son.
~YE YEE!
<3
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