Question

For this assignment you will choose 1 or 2 social media platform(s) (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, etc.). Answer the following:

Describe the self-enhancement and self-verification motives for self-esteem.

Evaluate the posts/pages you see through the lens of self-presentation.

Discuss which motive (self-enhancement or self-verification) is most evident in the sites you viewed. Provide examples, but do not include identifying information (names, handles, gender, etc.).

Discuss if you think these online portraits of people are accurate. Explain your position.

Explain if the prevalence of being exposed to social factors on social media influences individual behavior and the development of the social self, include how it does or does not. Use social psychological terminology to explain your answer.

Discuss the positive and negative aspects associated with social media sites.

Answer 1

• Emerging adults use self-presentation strategies when interacting with others on Facebook. It has been suggested that social media can facilitate false self-presentation which, in certain situations, could lead to reduced well-being and pathology. Thus, more understanding of false self-presentation on social sites is needed.False self-presentation on Facebook has been shown to be associated with a fragmented sense of self and low self-esteem.
• Mostly,people on facebook look for validation from others. They post everything,right from vacation pictures to restaurant check-ins. Its like evryone is wanting to boost their self esteem by showing off to others than they have a good and happy life. And other people,who might not go out that often seeing vacation pictures feel unhappy with their lives. This constant race of who got more "likes" on the pictures and posts has increased to a major level. Some profiles that I came across in my list,even put their personal pictures which are not required to be shown to anyone just to draw others attention.
• Deep identities are often presented in an implicit way using cues and signals embedded in their posts and images. People may selectively post images of them being happy dining at a fancy restaurant with good looking friends, in an implicit attempt to enhance their image in the eyes of others in their social network; even though their true selves may be depressed and introvert, and the rest of their week was pretty dull.
• I think these online profiles are just a faccade for people,to be able to hide behind their insecurities or incompleteness in life. But,this does not applies to everyone,some people enjoy attention as well.
• People who present their “true selves” and are authentic on online media, tend to create honest, healthier and longer relationships with their online friends. These relationships, in many cases, are also translated into the offline world.
• Personality characteristics that contribute to the presentation of a false-self, regardless of Facebook, are low self-esteem and unawareness of the true self, which may be manifested through low general authenticity.
• The negative effects of Facebook usage were mainly found in parameters such as reduced offline social life participation, withdrawal from academic studies challenges in relationships, and sense of time wasting and guilt feelings/ It was also found that some Facebook users prefer their social interaction to be online versus offline. These users usually engage in social networking site use as a means to regulate their mood changes. When they have deficient self-regulation abilities, they may engage in excessive and problematic Facebook use, which is sometimes classified as an addiction to the use of such sites
• In theory, the social networking website Facebook could be great for people with low self-esteem. Sharing is important for improving friendships. But in practice, people with low self-esteem seem to behave counterproductively, bombarding their friends with negative tidbits about their lives and making themselves less likeable.