In today’s society, our identity is how we are perceived by others, whether it is on social media or face to face. Social media can falsify people’s identity through photoshop tools, catfishing, and peer pressure. As Myria Georgiou states in the reading, “identity has particular resonance to media and communications”(94), media is known to have an impact on people’s identity whether it be beneficial or harmful. For example, on Instagram there are users with ‘perfect’ bodies or hair or lifestyles; however, for the most part, their life isn’t exactly like their profile shows. Social media glorifies people’s identity, only showing the positive sides causing others to change their identity too to adopt that identity of being ‘perfect’ or a certain image/personality. Everyone’s identity is supposed to be different, that is what makes everyone unique and different, yet media can alter people’s perceptions of themselves and their identity. A real-world example is when influencer posts an image with a new fashion trend, people change their style and individuality to follow the new fashion trend. This follower mentality can eventually lead to lacking a personal identity causing conforming with the help of social media.
2 thoughts on “Gwen Savidge: Identity”
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I also found it interesting how the reading mentions the ways in which this “follower mentality” that you explain can be weaponized and galvanized for political and social campaigns. The reading specifically mentions Hitler, however, there are many more examples of how identifying blindly with a group or nationality has become harmful to the individual self and society as a whole. For better or for worse, the media has always been a huge contributor to this phenomenon. While the media can bring together people for positive social change, it can also gather hateful groups and allow them to globalize and justify their cause.
You used an interesting phrase: “lack of personal identity.” Is this opposed to a “collective” identity as illustrated and perpetuated by an influencer? Or do you see identity loss occurring upon following an influencer’s recommendations and looks?