‘Who am I?’: Online dating self-presentations

Profile as promise: A framework for conceptualizing veracity in online dating self-presentations

From New Media & Society

Philosophers have long struggled with the existential inquiry, ‘Who am I?’, but this fundamental question is now routinely posed to internet users each time they construct an online representation of self, or profile. This study considers how discrepancies between one’s online profile and offline presentation are constructed, assessed, and justified. A qualitative approach influenced by grounded theory was taken In order to better understand user percep­tions and understandings. From this analysis the authors propose the online dating profile as promise framework as an ana­lytic lens that captures user understandings about profile representation through a qualitative analysis of their retrospective reflections. This study reveals that when it came to creating their own online representation, online dating participants gave themselves – and others – permission to employ a flexible sense of identity that drew upon past, present, and future selves. It recognizes online daters must manage the tension between comprehensively honest and selectively positive self-presentation in a context in which deception is technically effort­less but potentially damaging to relational goals and self-views. . The profile as promise framework enables us to better understand these dynamics and to consider when a misrepresentation is a lie and when it is merely a promise that may soon be fulfilled.

Overconfidence pays when the audience knows the least

Complex Social Consequences of Self-Knowledge

From Social Psychological and Personality Science

Job applicants are taught to project confidence in interviews, but can overconfidence trip them up and put off employers? For this research participants read application materials to join a competitive swim team in one study, and apply for employment in another. Both studies featured two applicants, one overconfident, and the other more modest. Other participants were introduced to make the hiring decision at two points once immediately after reading the applicants’ self-descriptions, and again after information that revealed over-confidence or over-modesty on the part of the applicants. Other participants introduced to make the hiring decision were asked to make a choice at two points, once immediately after reading the applicants’ self-descriptions, and again after information that revealed over-confidence or over-modesty on the part of the applicants. When they had little information but the self-description of the applicants, they overwhelmingly preferred the confident candidate. But then raters obtained new information that revealed the exaggerations of the overconfident applicant, and the rather gentle modesty of the other applicant. In both experiments, there was a significant shift away from the overconfident toward the modest applicant. Whilst the authors recognize that sometimes overconfidence is helpful—positive illusions about one’s self can contribute to mental and physical health and success at school and finding work. But when overly positive beliefs about one’s abilities meet up with reality, one can lose the respect of others. Positive illusions might be good only when others also believe that the illusions are true.

To see and be seen: Celebrity practice on Twitter

From Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies

This article examines the use of Twitter by famous people to conceptualize celebrity as a practice. Networked Media is changing celebrity culture, the ways that people relate to celebrity images, how celebrities are produced, and how celebrity is practiced. Social media technologies let people connect by creating and sharing content.

Through analysis of tweets from 237 highly followed Twitter users, this study finds that celebrity practice involves presenting a seemingly authentic, intimate image of self while meeting fan expectations and maintaining important relationships. This research uses 3 case studies – pop star Mariah Carey, teen queen Miley Cyrus and gossip columnist Perez Hilton these individuals, demonstrate how celebrity is successfully practiced when it provides the illusion of ‘backstage’, giving the impression of uncensored glimpses into the lives of the very famous. Fans may believe that twitter acts as an equalizer or democratizing discourse. As celebrity practitioners must harness the ability to maintain ongoing affiliations and connections with their fans, rather than seem uncaring or unavailable, Twitter creates a new expectation of intimacy.