As adults, we define our authenticity through our families, our jobs, and our real life relationships - authenticated over decades. The tapestry and rawness of our lives define us, and we tend to use media tools to augment (vs. create) our interactions. They help us stay connected to people who have shared experiences with us, even if we might not have much time to spend with them in person.
Media helps us “network”, or it can help us find support or new introductions we might need or want. This is more popular with my generation, because we usually begin our relationships in the real world with media as a supplement.
Today’s teenager or college student searches for themselves in a world saturated with the values of a hyper-mediated society. This can be a good thing, because amidst the noise they can construct their identities, uniqueness, and sense of deepened self. They can develop their authenticity, as media “mediates” conversations.
The anonymity one has on the internet gives them the courage to say what they feel without worrying about what people think, and the feedback they get, also anonymously, ultimately gives them more confidence in their ideas and opinions as they are formed. They “fight anonymity by using it” – they can form their real world authenticity by being anonymous online and broadening the complexity and scope of their interests. Anonymous conversations become canaries in coal mines, real world authenticity is the result.
Overall, they have much more confidence in the self they have developed and feel they know themselves better.
2 comments:
My teen daughter seems to think it's about role playing. She can be any form of herself that feels fun to her for the day.
I think the net is great for self expression as long as we all realize what's put out there is always out there. There is no cosmic delete button that gets rid of it all.
My rule of thumb is.. don't put something on the net you wouldn't want everyone and I mean everyone to read about some day.
It's also very important that with all the role playing and out there honesty we still practice sitting down and talking face to face.
Love yoursef well.. always..
Donna
Fascinating isn't it?
I really come face to face with it when I am hanging out with "real world" friends and discover , sometimes, I don't have a relationship that's as close as some I've made with people via the internets.
I agree - face to face is important. My struggle? Being as open and honest face to face as I am in "here". I'm working on it!
Thanks - great post! :)
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