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What is the first thing you do when you sit down to use the internet? I know that the first thing I do almost every time is check face book and MySpace to see if I have received any message. Even if I have an assignment or some other important agenda I will stop to check these sites. WHY! Well that is easy I want to see if someone has contacted me…someone I enjoy….a friend…I want to experience something fun before I get down to the nitty gritty. With the popularity of MySpace and face book, many people today have a profile in at least one of these networking sites. Is the information they are choosing to share a real representation of themselves?
I am currently reading a book called Linking Technology, Identity, and Culture by Andrew F. Wood and Matthew J. Smith. In chapter 3 and 4 online communication is brought up and they speak of how people represent themselves online. One subject they bring up is the idea that the internet “allows us to determine how much of an identity we wish to front in online presentations”(pg. 66). I believe there are many ways we can choose to leave out information or share information in these sites, but there are others instances where we do not have control. I just got done reading about how with the creation of technology we gain something and take something away. In many cases it ends up being privacy.
One problem I have with these sites is that anyone may put a picture of you online for display. Anyone can go online and find photos of me that are out of my control! I have been mad about quite a few photos that my friends have chosen t put online and I now constantly have to think about whether or not I am willing to possibly have a picture put in public display before I go take a picture with my friends at parties or other social events. I do not like that AT ALL. Many people (especially women) have decided to make MySpace (and other sites) a main place to put photos of everything they (and their friends) do online. Employers, family and other people I do not know can judge me by these photos and my profile.
I definitely make sure that I am representing myself in a good light online unless there is a level of anonymity. If I’m blogging or in a discussion forum and my real name is not being exposed I feel more open to share other strange or strong opinions, but I feel that face book and MySpace is too public. I have made these pages of mine private to public viewers and I can only hope the images my friends decide to post do not represent me negatively.
AN example of where this had a great impact was when a friend of mine almost got fired from her RA position at Oregon State because there was a picture of her online at a party with a girl that was under 21 that lived in her dormitory. I remember her avoiding cameras all night because of face book and she would announce it to each of her friends when they were trying to take pictures, but she got put on face book anyways!
5 comments:
Oh yes, the moment I log on to my computer every morning, I'm very anxious to check my email and hope that there is some correspondence on MySpace for me. I also sometimes put the fun of corresponding with my friends before the things I "have to" do on my computer.
Your point about pictures online made me think of the growing trend of employers checking to see if potential employees have a MySpace or Facebook page. It's a whole other type of interview. They want to see how you portray yourself online. Your online personality may send a completely different message than your professional resume, but both may be checked. Have you ever Googled yourself? That's always interesting.
You definitely have a firm grasp on what is important and what isn't in regards to what is presented about you online. That is a very unfortunate situation your friend was in regarding the dorms. I can't imagine being in that position because you have to be the responsible one yet you want to have a good time as well. There is definitely quite the thin line when it comes to presenting yourself on these types of websites.
~Laura
I think one of the most concerning people that your myspace and facebook information is accessable to is employers. There are many companies that I have heard are using myspace and facebook as a primary tool in finding out what people are like before they are hired. If you think about it, those sites disclose an incredible amount of information and really may possibly be a valuable tool for employers. On the other side however, many people's free time, which is usually what myspace and facebook displays information about, does not affect their work. Due to this many think it's ridiculous for employers to use this. I thought your comment about others being able to publish pictures of you, and the lack of sole control over what is posted about you, is a true fear. I am not active in those sites so I am not familiar with all of the concerns when you are involved. How incredibly frustrating that you have to keep an eye out of who is taking pictures and what you are doing in those pictures for fear they may be posted by another person and it may conclude in the wrong person ending up with that image.
I enjoy checking my e-mail as soon as I sign in each morning, and if I had a lot of friends on MySpace or Facebook, I'd check those more often. Usually, I just do a quick check of my sons' pages, to see if they updated anything overnight.
It's a little scary to read my oldest son's girlfriend's MySpace page and find out that she and my son went shopping for baby things the other day! Fortunately for me, they were shopping for her friends' babies, not for her own--I'm not ready to be a grandma yet!
I agree with your desire to keep your pictures private. It's sad that your friends aren't respecting your wishes regarding pictures taken of you, especially if they are putting your real name in the captions/descriptions. I hope that your friends will grow up soon, since that sort of thing can cause a lot of problems for you down the road.
Great post!
Great blog! I love the cartoon you found to complement this week's assignment!
I know just what you mean about the photos, that was a big topic I covered in my blog too this week. I just find that most people don't stop to think that anyone can find their photos online, like you mentioned. I google myself, just to check what's out there sometimes!
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