I had intended to analyze a “Wall to Wall” post between two Facebook users, but eventually my research expanded into several other aspects of Facebook, including its design and features. I also discovered how Facebook as a psychological space influences impression formation and Computer Mediated Communication. One easily viewable feature is the “Wall to Wall” link below each wall post. This allows one to view “conversations” between two Facebook users. Conversations that used to take place in real time (“synchronous”) now take days, similar to “telephone tag,” because only a few sentences at a time are exchanged. Facebook has facilitated asynchronous communication through its “Wall” feature. I would argue that this type of asynchronous communication allows for shorter, less detailed conversations, but enables one to “converse” with far more people. This trend away from face-to-face conversations and “instant” message conversations and towards quick, sporadic wall postings does not lead to more depth or a greater impression formation (as SIP would say). Instead, it leads to an easier time managing “acquaintances” and a more difficult time maintaining close friendships or relationships.
Facebook’s public nature also places some constraints on its content and impression formation. Now that Facebook is open to non-college students, it is publicly accessible by one’s employers, athletic coaches, and potential employers. This affects many decisions to post certain photos or mention certain personality traits and interests in one’s Facebook profile. Facebook provides a unique psychological space where impressions form differently than in other CMC or FTF environments. I first analyzed the “Profile” sections of several Facebook “friends.” While the profile section provides an adequate start to understanding a person’s interests and favorite activities, it did not provide a complete or even semi-accurate picture of my friends. The Profile section was often not updated recently. My test subjects’ tastes had often changed before they updated their profile. My experience with Facebook most aligns with the Hyperpersonal theory because the Profile Section encourages selective self-presentation, whereby we only reveal our most favorable personality traits through our Facebook pages. I would argue that SIP does not adequately represent the Facebook psychological space because “Profiles” do not give adequate views of a person. Fortunately, I used the impressions I had formed during FTF communication to guide my analysis of their Facebook pages; FTF remained the most accurate impression formation medium, while Facebook allowed me to “keep in touch” with many of my acquaintances through quick, asynchronous communication every now and then.
2 comments:
Hi Joe. I found it interesting that you decided to analyze Facebook. We have discussed it many times for its different aspects, and yet there are still so many other complex ideas behind the features of Facebook! Isn't it funny how the Wall has become a way to "Instant Message" (with larger time lags)?
You mentioned that writing on Walls allows for shorter and less detailed conversations, but enables one to converse with more people. I am curious as to what you meant by this. I assume that on the one hand, writing brief messages allows you to write on many other peoples' walls, because you do not sit around and expect a response. On the other hand, writing on someone else's Wall allows many other people to view your message. In those cases, people might actually be communicating with that intention of other people seeing it. I see this as a way of selective self-presentation also -- choosing whose Walls to write on so that others may see who your "friends" are.
You also mentioned that your impression of the Facebook Profiles followed the Hyperpersonal Theory, but that the Profiles didn't provide their views. I think that the information on their profiles can definitely give insight to the views of that person, say, from organizations or Facebook groups that they're in or through information such as religious/political views. Taking this into consideration, it still follows your connection to the Hyperpersonal perspective, because viewers would immediately associate this person with a group's views, and possible exaggerate that impression.
Great post! You did a good job of relating everything to theory.
Hi Joe,
Facebook is such a strange phenomenon. I'm not saying I don't indulge in it, but it really nurtures stalker tendencies. haha.
So anyway, You bring up an interesting point about the shortened , IM-type messages left on Walls. I personally get a little antsy if I write something that requests some sort of response, and I don't get it. The asynchronicity of facebook walls adds another dimension to the phenomenon.
I do think it allows people to manage acquaintances better, but I don't think it makes it harder to manage closer friendships. For example, I am updated through pictures of people who are far away from me. It allows me to see how they are and ask them about more specific things when I do see them.
This was an interesting, thorough post.
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