Honest Self or Double Identity?
I am not an extrovert. I am not outspoken either. I do not have to go out every weekend. I do not mind cozying up in bed alone and watching Netflix on weekends. I am not active on social media and don't understand people sharing every details of their lives publicly. I have been considering deleting Instagram from my phone lately, because I spend way too much time just looking at other people's photos. I've always thought that social media influencers are completely different from who I am. They must be super outgoing, thrive in networking scenes and always well put together.
However, after reading Gonzales's "Text-based communication influences self-esteem more than face-to-face or cellphone communication," I started to think that maybe I could be wrong. Those social media influencers, no matter how outgoing they seem to be, might actually be extremely shy and introverted, just like I am. Her mention about people who are not active in real world can become more active in virtual space sounded convincing. After all, the lack of face-to-face communication can definitely boost one's confidence and help become more vocal than they usually do.
Is it then everyone has some sort of desire to 'speak up' but the social norms and the community surrounding us suppressing us from revealing who we really are? No matter how introverted or shy one might be, is it the case that he or she might have an extroverted side that does not come out so often? Then, does social media act as a platform where these people can become more honest selves without having to worry about social conventions? Maybe I should not maintain such a negative attitude toward social media.
However, after reading Gonzales's "Text-based communication influences self-esteem more than face-to-face or cellphone communication," I started to think that maybe I could be wrong. Those social media influencers, no matter how outgoing they seem to be, might actually be extremely shy and introverted, just like I am. Her mention about people who are not active in real world can become more active in virtual space sounded convincing. After all, the lack of face-to-face communication can definitely boost one's confidence and help become more vocal than they usually do.
Is it then everyone has some sort of desire to 'speak up' but the social norms and the community surrounding us suppressing us from revealing who we really are? No matter how introverted or shy one might be, is it the case that he or she might have an extroverted side that does not come out so often? Then, does social media act as a platform where these people can become more honest selves without having to worry about social conventions? Maybe I should not maintain such a negative attitude toward social media.
Hey Joanna!
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your situation. Guess what, I define myself as an introvert, even though my friends are always laugh at me: "You are introvert??? NO WAY!" We have two classes together, what do you think of me? introvert or extrovert lol?
I do not go out for party often, only if my closest friends' birthday party that I have to attend. I do not like inefficient networking. Over socializing make me feel "drunk": very dizzy, and really want to fall in sleep as soon as possible, and want to vomit. I'm not joking. Being in my room alone is the way I "charge" myself, to accumulate enough energy in order to have "power" to social with people later. But my roommate Hannah is totally different! She needs to work from 3pm to 11pm, and still have energy to play basketball with her friends till midnight. If then someone ask her to go to party, she'll definitely go and will come back to the apt in the morning. I cannot understand where did she got all the energy lol, but later I kind of understand that she is a typical extrovert, going out and get socializing with people make her feel relax and this is the way she "charge" herself. If let her stay at home for whole day, she'll feel very uncomfortable and must call someone to chat with her.
In addition, I'm kind of influencer on Instagram and Weibo (micro blog) for posting my cosplay photos and sharing coordination tips. I'm an introvert but can still be an influencer. But I do not reply comments often, just use these platform for sharing. What I want to say is, I am an introvert, but in the bottom of my heart, I want to communicate, not being margined by the society and want to share my thought. Thanks internet and ICT, it gave me a chance to do so in a more comfortable way.