CSMT--"Infiltrated" Blog #3

I am not a fan of putting too much of my preferences of books, music, or activities on Facebook for the following reasons: my interests changes frequently and moves to different stages; in addition, I don’t think these listings necessarily elicit others’ interest to want to communicate with me more or less. On the Chinese version Renren, sharing of content is more a norm, and my taste and personality is more so determined by the topics I choose to share with my friends so they can define me through the things I am interested in. On Facebook, such sharing culture exists in a lesser extent and a person’s status, in my opinion, seems to be more about the messages on the walls and the events attended.

Social network provides a platform to showcase one’s life on a daily, even instant, basis which has become the reason to impress others with the photos of glamor and excitement. I think the idea of a friend circle plays into this share creation of friendship and intimacy—with tagging and commenting (which often is reserved for people who are present together)—there is a heightened sense of closeness exhibited for people outside of the circle to observe.

Relationship status is also a thorny issue that can become the area of contention for many couples. There is the discrepancy between the accepted social stigma for updating relationship status and personal privacy concerns. Very likely a big chunk of the friends on Facebook are “acquaintance,” “third or fourth degree relations,” yet for them to have the chance peek-a-boo into one’s personal sphere seems awkward and unnecessary yet so prevalent in today’s SNS saturated culture.

Social network presence has become a necessary existence and without it one is hardly complete. However, the deep infiltration and the constant struggle to balance the sense of self and the perceived image can be troubling as we adapt to a new system of communication via SNS and new values to be internalized.

Ivy Yang