In Tales of Facebook, author Daniel Miller claims that one of the unique characteristics of Facebook is that it plays an important role in transforming one’s self and self-consciousness. He mentions the example of when others post comments on photographs of a person online one must create a new self-consciousness about one’s looks. Miller further believes that Facebook is crucial in giving us an understanding and sense of who we and who we ought to be.
Daniel Miller’s work relates to a recent article that I came across on CNN’s website titled: Facebook Helps Your Self-Esteem. The article presents a new study that suggests, “spending time with the ‘online you’ – the one with hundreds of friends, witty status updates, and all the unflattering photos untagged – might help your self-esteem.” Since we get to pick and choose how we present ourselves to others, Facebook can show us a positive version of ourselves and therefore boost our self-esteem. Both of the readings examine how our ‘self’—whether it is our consciousness or esteem – is positively impacted by Facebook’s ability to present to other’s a favorable image of ourselves. I would be interested to hear further from those that disagree with this claim.
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