Our presentation talks about two communication theories: Social Identity model of Deindividuation Effects and Coordinated Management of Meaning. Proposed by Lea and Spears (1991), the SIDE model argues that the anonymity created by computer-mediated communication helps individuals to identity, affirm and strengthen their individual as well as group identities. On social media, individuals are able to try out different identities, and explore alternative identities. Coordinated management of meaning is an interpersonal communication theory. It argues that people create and manage social reality through communication. Meaning is created through multiple sources, including content, speech act, episode, relationship, self-concept, and cultural pattern. CMM scholars also point out that there are 3 ways processed in communication: coordination, coherence, and mystery. Coordinated management of meaning theory can also be applied to social media. On social media, people also create meaning of the social world through interactions and negotiations. Examples are popular hashtags such as #TravelTuesday and #FollowFriday.
I definitely think we can try out identities. For example, I follow Women Who Code on Twitter but I personally do not code as a hobby or a profession. I enjoy engaging with the community because they are very empowering and I like supporting women in STEM.
That’s quite insightful. Of course no theory can fully encompass all that is happening except for some of the grand theories, but I do see your point and agree with it. But again, without social media access perhaps following the activity of the women in STEM would have been difficult if not impossible. Makes you think!
I thought that this was a very interesting presentation! I know that it is becoming more common, especially in the realm of public relations ,to have different personalities. While you are one person in reality you often have to write on behalf of companies and organizations, therefore taking on a new, more professional identity online.
I think that our varying identities can be positive, such as Rebecca’s example of experimenting with coding, but they also can take on a negative form. Unfortunately, people feel much bolder behind a computer and use it as a tool to cyber-bully. I think it is fine to have different identities, as long as a cyber identity is not an excuse to do the things you cannot do in real life because they are simply wrong. I think we have to find a balance and make sure we use the media responsibly by forming identities that positively contribute to society,