SELF GLORIFICATION AND EXHIBITIONISM IN FACEBOOK Anusuah.R Research scholar, Department of Communication, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli Dr. Balasubramaniya Raja Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli.

Social networking sites  Social networking sites allow individuals to meet strangers, find friends, establish a relationship through mediated communication.  The social networking activity started out as a hobby for some computer literate people and now it has become a social norm and a way of life for people from all over the world (Boyd, 2007).

Facebook  One of the most famous online social networking service  It allow the users to articulate their social network via links between their profile page and other profiles.  According Facebook user statistics, 1.15 billion active users were registered at the end of march 2013  It supports various features that enhance communications, allows individual to share personal information, photographs and videos, send messages to friends, join groups of friends/causes

Components  Newsfeed  Notifications  Like  Comments  Profile picture  Cover photo  Friends  Followers

Self glorification and exhibitionism in Facebook  When an individual appears before others, he/she knowingly and unwittingly projects a definition of the situation, of which a conception of himself is an important part (Erving Goffman).  Charles Lasègue described exhibitionism with sexual gratification such as exposing body parts in public.  According to Freud exhibitionism is the desire to be an actor or actress i.e the famous personality.

Contd..  it was also described as the act of deliberately behaving to seek attention.  Shane Hipps relates Exhibitionism in Facebook users, who constantly update their daily activities in spite of seeking attention among their friends.  The most active users were found to be young, single females. They spend more time than other users updating their status, and use the photos they post to shape the impressions that they want others to have of them (Susan, 2013).

Method and sample  Using the qualitative method - indepth interview the data were collected.  After a periodical monitoring for four weeks, the samples (N=20) were carefully scrutinized and selected on the basis of frequent usage (every day access) of Facebook, updating more than one status update per day, receiving 200 likes average, recurrent change of profile picture (more than two photos in a month).  They were asked questions on their content of their updates, photos, likes, comments and shares.

Results

Usage  All the respondents (N=20) were heavy users of Facebook.  The average of hours spent on facebook by the respondents is 4 hours.  They update 2-5 status updates in a day.  The average number of likes received is 250.

Popularity  to be a popular personality on Facebook one must have at least 1000 friends and so many followers.  the number of friends in list increases, status updates can reach many.

Photos  actual pictures, pictures with their friends, family, spouse/partner, their own edited/Photoshop pictures and pictures like pets, birds etc.  “I use edited pictures because I do concern my privacy and also I must inform my friends that it’s me”. – one of the female respondents.  Frequent change of profile picture and photo updates makes them feel more connected and updated.

Glorification  “I don’t have a car or even a two wheeler but I pose photos standing near a car or sports bike and upload to my Facebook. I admire myself in a car. I don’t think it's wrong to say I own a car which I doesn’t own in reality”. – a 23 years old respondent.

Self portrayal  “I show interest on social issues and I got very welcoming when I post positive updates supporting social issues like Koodangulam, Sri Lankan Tamils and Tamil Fishermen problems. I like to be called as an activist rather a student” – a 20 years old student.  Facebook played a major role in the students hunger strike, protests against alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. The respondents agreed that the users who actively participated and posted updates on protests got so much attention, which made them to show interest in the protest.

How to get more likes?  “Always online”  Initially add each and every one.  Like every ones’ post, photos, comments even if they are your enemies.  Tag all your friends until they block you.  like each and every comment posted on your update.  Always like and comment on a popular personality’s updates.  Try to show yourself as a social activist, political critic, multi talented person.  Make friends with journalists, criticize them as much as you can.

Conclusion  Facebook was started to establish a relationship and find new friends. But it became a platform to exhibit their day to day happenings.  The temperament of exhibitionism is growing enormously through Facebook. The users must be aware of what to share and with whom, as the addiction to Facebook can kill our valuable time and the things we exhibit may bring privacy issues.

Contd  Active users tend to spend more time than other users updating their status, and drawing attention to the photos they post to shape the impressions in order to look more popular, cool, and attractive.  When they get more likes they feel as they get more appreciated, and they try to establish the ideal self hiding their real self. The individual gets a peer pressure to stabilize the status among their friends

Contd..  Users must be aware of what to share and with whom, as the addiction to Facebook can kill our valuable time and the things we exhibit may bring privacy issues.  it is vitally important to discover the potentially negative communication one might find on Facebook and the kinds of people likely to engage in them.

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