For this interview, I decided to interview my 23-year-old sister, Fiona Chen.
What social media platforms and apps have you used now and in the past?
Well, the very first social media platform out there was back in the early 2000s. I think it was called Xanga. It was the simplest form of social media – its a blog to write how you felt and post status updates, with a large picture of your favorite thing in the background to show off how cool you were. I also remember using AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) haha. Those were the good old days. Nowadays, people use Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. I’ve recently deactivated all of my accounts because i thought they were a little to time-consuming.
Do you use their real name(s)? Have you ever used aliases or created fake accounts?
On Facebook my name was Fiona Blank. I did this because I didn’t want future employers and family members to know what I was up to. It’s weird, you know? So I just changed my last name.
What different personas do you construct in each of these platforms and how do you relate to aspects of your experiences in life?
I don’t think I created different personas, but I did have different groups of friends in different platforms. What I do on WhatsApp is very different from what I do on Snapchat. I use WhatsApp to keep in touch with our aunts and uncles, but I use SnapChat to send funny pictures to you and Cassidy (our sister). And then in college, I used LinkedIn to network with professionals and find internships. Each platform presented a different side, so in a way I did have different personas.
Do the digital personas you construct help them cope with the problems you face or does it create new problems? In what ways?
Social media has a highlight reel. You always put the best of the best, and it’s an unrealistic image of yourself. I’m aware of this, but a lot of people need the validation of being at the coolest spot or doing the coolest things. I have never faced this problem, but it could be troublesome to children/teens who are developing social skills.
I always love the opportunity to pick my sister’s brain. Her comments on this interview showed a side of social media platforms that I did not even know! I never realized how detrimental social media could be, especially for developing teens. Anthique says it best in the textbook when it says, “Whilst this public narcissism is certainly redolent of the generic celebrity culture of the mainstream American media, the intimacy and informality associated with peer friendships also make Facebook performances highly distinctive in nature.” (104) Apparently, we have become programmed to have the attention drawn to you through several different social media platforms. It certainly does not help when you get bombarded with different forms of beauty images and other societal norms. And that got me thinking: To label myself as what Anthique describes as “narcisstic” is a stretch. I’ve never felt pressured to carry myself in different personas, but perhaps I have subconsciously created problems of my own by being on Facebook and Instagram everyday. Constantly being exposed to social media may cause problems to young adults who have low self-esteem. They may find it as a way to escape. As Turkle writes, “From my earliest effort to construct an online persona, it occurred to me that being a virtual man might be more comfortable than being a virtual woman.” I’ve never heard of a case as severe as this one, but like my sister mentioned, people do need to feel validated sometimes and social media does not help at all.
QUESTIONS:
- Do you ever feel the need to be validated on your social media platforms? If so, to what extent?
- Like my sister, would you consider removing yourself away from social media?
“Apparently, we have become programmed to have the attention drawn to you through several different social media platforms. It certainly does not help when you get bombarded with different forms of beauty images and other societal norms.” – that’s an interesting point. I feel like people in our modern society became very sensitive. They are struggling to get an attention from others, and if they don’t get it – they get very upset.
When I travel to other countries, I am not using my phone – only for taking pictures. I feel it helps me to connect with real me, atmosphere and my travel companions.
I would love to use social media platforms less often.