Blog 5: Media Identity

February 23, 2009 cindymendes
Tags: anonymity, identity, lies, media, social pressure, technology

Who we are and who we become are two critical issues teenagers must deal with on a daily basis. The pressure to fit in, to be included, to be unique and still be similar to our peer group are all concerns that today’s younger generation must deal with. Identity is an ever changing feature that is constantly modified through an individual’s interaction with the world and digital media. Youth identities are currently being redefined as adolescents engage with technology. Watching the television or listening to the radio all affect an individual as they are exposed to subliminal messages on a daily basis affecting their self perception and identity. Technology can be used for entertainment value and educational purposes just as it can equally be used for civic and social objectives. How individuals use this media creates and develops their individual and social identities.

The media creates a sense of confidence and anonymity which provide many individuals with the ability to freely express themselves. It can be used to interact with their peers as well as other unknown and potentially dangerous audiences which is why it is so crucial that adolescents become aware of the risks and consequences of the internet as well as know the proper safety measures that must be made. The internet can also provide an outlet for individuals to share their ideas and creative productions, just as it can allow them to participate in social networks that can be large or small, local or global, anonymous or intimate. Various social networking sites like myspace, facebook and eblog all allow individuals to communicate and express themselves.

To what extent do the media help young adults interact and communicate with each other? Do individuals really have access to genuine interaction and communication with each other? Or does this create a false sense of intimacy which allows individuals to create their own identities that do not accurately reflect themselves? Many individuals use the media to hide who they really are, and create an ideal of themselves that is often portrayed through fake information, pictures and lifestyles. This dual identity often conflicts the individual in real life and rather than dealing with it they use the media as an outlet.

There are several obstacles that must be overcome even when the media is used in a constructive and honest manner. Full participation in the media can create several issues that individuals must deal with. First, is the media really a harmless and innocent tool used to express oneself? There are several cases of stolen identity, material reproduction and backlash from previous posts that individuals must deal with. Second, does representing ourselves in an ideal manner really have such negative consequences? Many individuals are unable to express themselves in person, and this medium creates a sense of security that allows them to speak their mind. It also fosters higher levels of confidence that can later be imparted in real life.

Media such as the internet, radio and television all have strong effects on an individual’s development of identity. It is crucial that individuals remain aware of the messages they perceive and make a conscious effort to accurately represent themselves through whatever medium they choose.

Entry Filed under: Technology Benefits and Dangers

4 Comments Add your own

• 1. roxanna  |  February 23, 2009 at 3:53 pm

  i totally agree with you on this!

• 2. Katie  |  February 23, 2009 at 4:36 pm

  I agree with your comments about individuals being able to use the medium to express themselves. However one must ask whether this expression is any more valid than the one given in person or is it merely a projection of a desired identity?

• 3. Els  |  February 23, 2009 at 4:46 pm

  i also completely agree with you here

• 4. Melissa  |  March 1, 2009 at 7:54 pm

  I completely agree!

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