The Identity Crisis: The Story of a Social Media Disaster
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crisis a social media disaster. Image: Christina Zhu By Jennifer Dong
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Living in the new world of social media and technology, society has developed an identity crisis. We have become obsessed with creating an appearance of happiness, success, and perfection. Our obsession with self-presentation is deceiving and dangerous. We have lost the ability to see reality by fostering a false sense of identity developed through our social networks. From “selfie addictions” to low self-esteem, we have already been warned of the dangerous implications. However, what is most terrifying is our utter ignorance to our “loss of self.” In the words of Stephen Marche, “The more you try to be happy, the less happy you are.” By continuing down this path of addiction, obsession, and instability, how can we ever achieve a state of true happiness? Most importantly, how can we find ourselves amidst a world of technological madness?
Transcript of The Identity Crisis: The Story of a Social Media Disaster
crisis
a social media disaster.
Image: Christina Zhu�
By Jennifer Dong
How do you define yourself?
Who are you?
Image: Jitter Buffer via Flickr �
We like to believe that our sense of self comes from within.
Image: RelaxingMusic via Flickr �
This is no longer true
in today’s world of social media.
Image: Jason Howie via Flickr �
90 % of U.S. Internet users visit a social media site each month. Source: Comscore It’s a Social World (2011)
Image: dawolf via Flickr �
photos and updates We post
Image: David Goehring via Flickr �
24
days a week.
7 Image: Rob & Stephanie via Flickr �
Image: Moyan Brenn via Flickr �
“ Like painters constantly retouching their work, we alter, update, and tweak our
online self-portrait.” - Christine Rossen
Senior Editor of The New Atlantis
We attempt to create an illusion of
happiness perfection.
and
Image: Thephotographmuse via Flickr �
By sharing our “best” selfies
Image: Susanne Nilsson via Flickr �
and our most exciting updates. Image: Daniel Go via Flickr �
Our online identities have been stripped from the real attributes that make us
human and unique.
Image: Jan via Flickr �
We have adapted the
"looking-glass self.”
Image: Johanna H via Flickr �
“It is much less about identity through ourselves, and more about the self through others.”
Image: Katia Sosnowiez via Flickr �
- Lauren Fisher Founder of Simply Zesty
Society has become
obsessed with self-image.
Image: Christoph Aigner via Flickr �
This is the dark side of social media
Image: Patrik Jones via Flickr �
An era of addiction and
mental instability
Image: alphadesigner via Flickr �
“ Selfie addict took TWO HUNDRED a day - and tried to kill himself when he couldn't take perfect photo. ”
Source: Mirror UK (2014)
Image: Svein Halvor Halvorsen via Flickr �
.
More facebook
lower self-esteem =
Source: Sweden's Largest Facebook Study 2012
” It’s almost as if people are living in a world that’s not a real world, but a world where what counts is what people think of you. ”
-‐
Image: German Garibaldi via Flickr �
- Baroness Greenfield Professor of Pharmacology
We have lost touch with our
identities
Image: allison via Flickr �
We must remember to reflect on our
values
Image: Annais Ferreira via Flickr �
and escape the business of self-presentation.
Image: Frederick Dennstedt via Flickr �
Only then can we find ourselves amidst the
digital world.
Image: Moyan Brenn via Flickr �
“The Social Media Effect: Are You Really Who You Portray Online?” HuffingtonPost.com “Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism” TheNewAtlan6c.com “The Social Psychology of the Selfie” Mashable.com “Why social media is leading to a new era of idenJty” SimplyZesty.com “It’s a Social World: Top 10 Need-‐to-‐Knows About Social Networking and Where It’s Headed “ Comscore.com “Selfie addict took TWO HUNDRED a day -‐ and tried to kill himself when he couldn't take perfect photo” Mirror.co.uk “Sweden’s Largest Facebook Study 2012” Gupea.ub.gu.se *All images are posted on Flickr under CreaJve Commons licensing.
