Self-monitoring

This post relates to number 11 on our question sheet.

11. How do people decide which self, or which aspect of themselves, to depict on such media as Facebook, Second Life, or games? What considerations do they make? How does that differ from face-to-face, physical portrayals?

Toward the beginning of the semester, we spent a little bit of time discussing this kind of question in my management class in relation to how people portray themselves to different people in the workplace and how online depictions can affect "real people's" perceptions of an individual. The ability to portray yourself in different ways to different people is called self-monitoring, and people who are especially good at depicting very different sides of themselves in different situations would be referred to as high self-monitors (as opposed to always showing the same personality traits no matter the situation).

For example, a student might act and speak one way around friends on a weekend, but then use a different style of language and demeanor in an advising meeting with a professor because different people have different expectations for an individual. Situation and context have a lot to do with varying expressions of self as well (eg, being with a group of old friends vs. being on a first date).

This same concept can be applied to online media portrayals of self. Someone might decide to create two online profiles. One could be a professional profile that includes a serious photo, work experience, and information strictly pertaining to one aspect of the person's life (probably work). The other could be something like a Facebook page, which would include more personal information and which the person would share with friends and family but probably not with boss and coworkers (although this isn't always the case).

An interesting point was raised during the self-monitor discussion that day: is it unethical to have two different Facebook accounts that depict yourself in totally different ways? Would a person be lying if he or she only allowed boss/coworkers access to the more polished, professional page that excludes other aspects of his/her personality?