For this assignment I decided to make an analysis of my friend's facebook profile to determine the accuracy of the different sections through an interview and observation. I was wondering how the self-presentation and a lack of face-to-face confrontations might affect the amount of deception that occurs on facebook. He, of course, has himself listed as a Cornell student studying as an English major. Both of which are true, but are also fields which I would expect most people to answer truthfully. Deception can only go so far on facebook, and it is usually limited to things that others would have to try to disprove. His facebook status was rather comical but possibly truthful. It was more of a sarcastic over exaggeration than a fact. The rest of his basic info was also rather accurate. Birthday, relationship status, interested in, sex, political views, hometown, and religious views are some of the fields that are more rarely lied about on facebook since the user is usually aware that others would know if he/she lied about them.
When we got down into the actual information section of the facebook profile I was worried that the ratings on the scale 1 to 5 would start to drop. It seems like this section is the one most prone for people to use in order to deceive and present themselves how they wish to be seen by those who would view their facebook profiles. However, in this case they did not; most of the fields were extremely accurate as well. Under the favorite TV shows section he listed 11 TV shows, all of which I know he has watched and enjoyed thoroughly. His favorite movies are listed as a top 101 favorite movies in order. I know that he spent a large deal of time creating this list and making sure that it was accurate. He rated the majority of these fields as 5 and I’m inclined to agree completely with him.
Considering facebook is a lean medium of communication, and, what seems to be, an easy area for deception I chose the Social Distance Theory. The theory says that the more lean the medium, there is increased chance of identity based deception. I find that what I was predicting would be that identity based deception, really only was selective self-presentation. The actual content was not there to deceive, only to make you perceive a single side of my friend. The side does exist, it just does not characterize him completely. He used facebook to create a profile for himself without using deception, just not telling everything that one would need to know about him to know him well on a face-to-face basis.
2 comments:
Looking at your experience from Donath's perspective, the basic info (birthday, relationship status, interested in, etc.) can be considered assessment signals. They can be readily confirmed. The actual information section you are describing can be considered conventional signals. Although he doesn't seem to lie, he is exercising selective self-presentation. Indeed, due to the low cost of conventional signals, this is especially easily done in a lean medium. It is probably more cost-effective to just deceive by withholding information than by insisting on a lie.
First, Wow! A list of 101 favorite movies is quite impressive for a facebook profile. It is obvious he spent a lot of time compiling it would probably be a waste if he lied in it. Second, I liked your idea that the conventional signals on facebook are not there to deceive but to offer a truthful, but not comprehensive, side of the person. Also, it seemed that although you said he was practicing selective self presentation, it would seem to the viewer of his profile that he is not trying to withhold much information becuase of the abundance you describe. That in turn may cause viewers to believe that he is using less deception than say another individual; he seems like an open book. Finally, I would like to know how accurate he would rate his facebook status since you said it would possibly be true and quite funny.
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