Online identity: Fragmentation or Segmentation.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 by srow
In Helen Kennedy’s article Beyond anonymity she discusses issues of online identity as fragmented rather than integrated and consistent. Perhaps, rather than fragmented, segmented identity might be a better way of considering the fluid nature of online identity.
If we think of online identities in comparison to the identity that may be created through a study of personal television watching and the different levels of viewing that there is we may be able to apply similar understandings of what our online links may mean to us. Simply viewing an individual’s links isn’t helpful in creating an online identity, but a perceived online identity. As it has been discussed at length, everyone has their own prerogatives, whether conscious or not, about the way they manage their online identity.
In television studies scheduling (and looking at segments) has been one of the most significant areas of interest but this has largely been passed over when looking at the internet as it is able to be accessed at any time, however, there are more similarities than in terms of our behaviours than have been considered at length. When an individual logs on to a site may signify more about the level of engagement, or purpose for having it open. This type of investigation is enormously complicated as each person has their individual online schedules. Perhaps online identities are fragmented because they are segmented and rules of personal schedule have a significant effect on how we interact online, and therefore how we create and develop our online identities.
If we think of online identities in comparison to the identity that may be created through a study of personal television watching and the different levels of viewing that there is we may be able to apply similar understandings of what our online links may mean to us. Simply viewing an individual’s links isn’t helpful in creating an online identity, but a perceived online identity. As it has been discussed at length, everyone has their own prerogatives, whether conscious or not, about the way they manage their online identity.
In television studies scheduling (and looking at segments) has been one of the most significant areas of interest but this has largely been passed over when looking at the internet as it is able to be accessed at any time, however, there are more similarities than in terms of our behaviours than have been considered at length. When an individual logs on to a site may signify more about the level of engagement, or purpose for having it open. This type of investigation is enormously complicated as each person has their individual online schedules. Perhaps online identities are fragmented because they are segmented and rules of personal schedule have a significant effect on how we interact online, and therefore how we create and develop our online identities.