the impact of digital communication on identity and postmodernism

Question 1

postmodern approach to digital communication

Answer 1

1. fluidity/fragmentation
2. choice

Question 2

fluidity/fragmentation

Answer 2

• our identities are not fixed
• our identities are made up of a range of aspects, not simply social class, gender, ethnicity

e.g. identities are not fixed we can change the are influenced by things we follow online.
influence from popular youtube/instagram personality
- our identities can be broken down into alot of things

Question 3

choice

Answer 3

• the internet gives us more choice over lifestyle
• e.g. more choice surrounding online shopping and entertaining

Question 4

ellison

Answer 4

• individuals can adoot mutliple online personalities, and online activities often leave visible traces which can be captured, tracked, packaged and shared
• these choices can tell us alot about individuals and attitudes in wider society
• these online identities can also impact on peoples offline lives in both negative and positive ways
• shows digital media positively impacts identities by allowing individuals to explore and express different aspects of themselves online, which can also enrich their offline lives through self-expression and connection.
• show digital media can negatively impact identities by exposing individuals to privacy risks, judgment, and pressure to conform, which may lead to misrepresentation or harm their self-esteem offline.

Question 5

positive impact on identities

Answer 5

• bjorklund
• hart

Question 6

bjorkland

Answer 6

• individuals define themselves through ongoing self-presentation, especially on platforms like Twitter and Facebook
• these platforms act as real-time autobiographies where individuals curate and display their lives continuously.
• in this context, the boundaries between public and private selves are blurred, and people engage in self-presentation not just for personal reflection, but for constant social interaction.
• this shift highlights how identity is increasingly constructed and negotiated in the digital world, where individuals can manage and present their lives as they unfold, fostering a sense of empowerment and agency in shaping their identities in ways that might not have been possible in traditional formats.

Question 7

hart

Answer 7

• social media platforms enable individuals to continually write and rewrite their lives by sharing and presenting values that are important to both themselves and the society they belong to.
• allows people to develop both online and offline identities
• people actively craft their identities, drawing on both their personal values and the social expectations they encounter, thus integrating their digital presence with their offline lives in meaningful ways.
• shows digital media positively impacts identities by giving individuals a platform to shape and express their values and experiences. It allows people to create authentic identities, engaging with their communities meaningfully and presenting themselves in ways true to their lived experiences.

Question 8

negative impacts on identity

Answer 8

• case
• baudrillard

Question 9

case

Answer 9

• people posting their lives online can create a challenge, especially to adolescents who in effect have two adolescent periods of life; one online and one offline.
• it can be hard to remove mistakes that can remain documented.
• e.g. it is difficult to know what private data is stored online even when it is “deleted” by the owner.
• Therefore, this shows digital media can negatively impact identities as it highlights how online posts can permanently document mistakes, creating lasting consequences that are difficult to undo. This can lead to privacy issues and conflicts, particularly for adolescents, who may struggle with managing the distinction between their online and offline selves.

Question 10

baudrullard

Answer 10

• media saturation made it incredibly difficult for people to distinguish between what is reality and what is fiction.
• that people are so ‘engulfed’ by communication and this has led to a state of ‘hyper-reality’
• Our physical reality has become blended with our virtual realities in which we are bombarded with ‘simulacra’
• ome people are more involved with the ‘hyperreal’ world and it is literally not possible to deduce what is ‘real’ anymore
• people not so much live their lives, rather they perform their lives, to then be posted and edited online.
• It is becoming very difficult to establish both what is real in other people’s lives, but perhaps difficult to even establish our own sense of self or meaning.
• This argument shows digital media has a negative impact on identity by causing confusion between real and virtual selves, making it harder for individuals to understand or maintain an authentic sense of who they are. The blending of reality with virtual representations can lead to a fragmented or distorted identity, as people become more engaged in a constructed, hyperreal world.