The revolution of new media and 'us.'
Lexy Haggard
In our fast-pace technological society, the demand to engage in new media is a budding social pressure, one that most find themselves conceding to. Social network sites have gained remarkable traction in recent times as a platform for both young people and adults to interact socially and professionally in a way like never before (Boyd, Danah. 2011). This global immersion in new media has dramatically altered our day-to-day lives particularly the way in which we interact with one another. Deuze (2011) offers the modern perspective that “the appropriations of media penetrate all aspects of contemporary life,” a life he describes to be lived “in, rather than with media.” This concept is perfectly demonstrated in the facebook ‘ecards’ which highlight the noticeably relatable ways in which people worldwide have transformed their lives to keep up to date with new technologies and incorporate varied forms of social media to their daily routine.
These ‘ecards’ ultimately bring to light the way in which almost all forms of new media are readily accessible from a variety of our everyday devices including smart-phones, laptops and apples range of products making that instagram ‘gym selfie’ (taken before you get all hot and sweaty of course) a definite must! This excessive involvement with social media and people’s concern surrounding the way we are perceived on these platforms poses the question, why is it that we do what we do?
Well, according to Theresa Sauter (2013) “day-to-day processes of self-formation are becoming more and more implicated with new digital tools” suggesting the need for acceptance and likeability as something instantaneously receivable via SNSs. Furthermore, Sauter suggests that the status update is infact a tool for users to express themselves/their identity to others on a larger scale than possible in reality with the added comfort of sitting behind a computer screen lacking face-to-face confrontation. This notion is accurately reflected in a study conducted by The New York Times Customer Insight Group (2011) reveals that 68% of the 2500 surveyed users of online sharing sites, share content on the internet to give others a better sense of who they are and what they care about. With SNSs options to ‘like’ and ‘comment’ on others posts it is understandable why people turn to these platforms in search for positive attention and that much needed self-esteem boost! This theory is likewise discussed by Deuze (2011) as he distinguishes that “media become the playground for a search for meaning and belonging.”
According to Donath and Boyd (2004) social networks have a variety of valuable functions providing direct access to information about jobs, other people, and the world at large. “The types of social networks that develop in different communities have a profound effect on the way people work, the opportunities they have, and the structure of their daily life.”
So, while new media continue to develop at an unprecedented rate, “…it is too soon to tell what the final consequences will be, but it seems unlikely that they will ever be universal or stable” (Baym 2010).
References:
Baym, Nancy. 2010. “Ch 1: New Forms of Personal Connection.” In Personal Connections in the Digital Age, 1 - 21. Cambridge MA: Polity Press.
Boyd, Danah, (2011). Chapter 2 : Social Network Sites as Networked Publics – Affordances, Dynamics, and Implications. In Papacharissi, Zizi, A networked self – identity, community, and culture on social network sites, (pp.39 - 58). New York: Routledge.
Deuze, Mark. 2011 “Media Life.” Media, Culture & Society 33 (1): 137-148. (Available on CMD)
Donath, Judith and Boyd, Danah (2004). Public displays of connection., BT Technology Journal 22 (4) pp.71-82.
Sauter, Theresa (2013). ' What’s on your Mind ? ' Self-writing on Facebook as a tool for self-formation., New Media & Society pp.1-17.