Identity and Social Networking - Goffman and Giddens

Erving Goffman- The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life

• The idea that we manage our behaviour in regards to our situation to achieve our goals ("impression management"). 
• He distinguishes between two types of behaviour:
• Front stage- in public places (work place or in a social gathering), with people we don't know that well, we are more likely to conform to what is expected of us.
• Back stage- more private places (at home or at a place where one feels comfortable), with people we are close to, we are more likely to be ourselves. This behaviour Goffman suggests is closer to the truth of the individual's real identity (authentic).

• This can be used in terms of social media interaction. Because people feel like they are in a 'back stage' environment whilst online (being alone) they fall into the trap of not acting how they would in public, this can lead to bullying or lack of etiquette. 
• Goffman's theory can also be used to highlight behaviour on social networking sites as being 'front-stage' behaviour when people conform to the site's rules. For example users having a profile picture of themselves on Facebook.

Key Ideas:

Impression management: The version of yourself you portray to achieve your goals. Constructing identity.

Front-stage behaviour: How you behave in public places (e.g. school, work). Usually involves conforming to the situation.

Back-stage behaviour: Behaviour in private, not so concerned about perception. More honest.

Identity as performance: We can control what identity we portray. Everyone is like an actor.

Antony Giddens - Modernity and Self-Identity.

 (He suggests that our identity is a conscious activity and as a result is malleable, which allows us to be more playful.

Giddens says people have to be constantly self-reflexive (make decisions about who they want to be), e.g. their clothing or beliefs. 

He also proposes the idea of the self as a project, meaning we are always working on ourselves and making changes to the biographical narrative we want to show people. 

Unlike Goffman he does not state anything about honesty, but merely we are constantly changing due to external factors like the media, other people and experiences. 

In regards to social networking...

• Gives us greater opportunities to construct and develop our own identities (self as a project). 
• Social networking also gives us more creative and diverse ways to do this, e.g. Tumblr)

Key Ideas:

Self-reflexive: How people make decisions about themselves, about who you want to be.

Self as project: People constantly changing/constructing themselves. Nobody stays the same.

Biographical narratives: People create different stories to create different scenarios.

Identity as fluid and malleable: Your identity is changeable, it's not fixed. Enables people to be more playful, multiple personalities.