New Media and Identity Construction

“Your online identity in the future is unlikely to be a simple Facebook page; instead it will be a constellation of profiles, from every online activity.” ------ Eric Schmidt, Google chairman.

      Internet and new media has significantly impact our daily lives including how we interact with one another and the world around us. Today, news media and social media sites has become a trend. Even for the people who are not actively using social media sites also cannot avoid noticing its everyday presence. The social media site has been rapidly adopted by people and it worldwide use as a new communication tools and a new way of socializing.

       Through using social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram, we can express our feeling, sharing our interest and also follow the person or page which like. However, did you realise that these online behaviour are giving great impact to the concept of identity? Or did you know that your social media online news feed does not quite measure up your friends’ real identity through his or her status updates? 

The social media identity vs. the reality. 

      Whether we realize it or not, the concept of identity which we are developing with the use of social media sites does not really reflect the reality of “us”. How we know what ways we should construct our identity in social media? We should construct an identity that is either completely true to ourselves, or is in fact a different identity that we want to project to the outside world? 

      What we need to do is to begin to understand that identity construction in social media sites is not a bad thing. Therefore, we should be wise while sharing emotion, posting information and uploading photos or video in social media sites. That would affect others’ perception towards you and it also have the implication on your identity constructions.

      So, when we post or share something in social media sites, we need to ask ourselves three questions which How, How and What.

1.                  Why I post or share this status?

2.                  How others perceive toward me while saw this post or share?

3.                  What the implication of this post or share on my identity construction?

      Lastly, have a look at this short video which explain how people construct their identity in new media. Have fun!

SMS language

      What was the message written? Have this ever become a problem to you? For example, my friends always like to send me “LMAO” when we are chatting, but I do not what does it mean until I google it and get to know that LMAO= laughing my ass off. This is known as SMS language. It was so amazing that SMS language help us save a lot of time typing a long message faster. However, at the same time SMS language have changed the way we write, destroying conventional punctuations and replacing properly spelled words with acronyms, initials and ‘emoticon’ smiley symbols. 

SMS language

      Although the uses of SMS language becoming more common as some of the advertisement have been influence by SMS language, for example Korea’s McDonald has an online commercial video that ended with “r u ready?” .Companies believe that shorter message will be more easily to get reader attention. However, there are still a lot of people who are struggling in reading SMS language. For example, older people seem not understand what we are talking about although they try their best to know what we are talking about. Besides this, SMS language also tended to bring negative effect in school. Student will unconsciously used SMS language and there have been some reports in the media of children using SMS language for essays in school. Everything has pros and cons, so the users have the responsibility to anything that happens to them whether in a good or bad way. 

Lastly, let’s watch a short video to know more about the SMS language. Enjoy! 

Citizen Journalism

    With the growth of society, journalism is no longer involves the only professional reporter or journalist, which need training and rich with profession knowledge. Otherwise, general public are allowed to collect, disseminate and analyze the news and information in society today, especially through the means of the internet. Such phenomenon, termed as citizen journalism has gradually becomes common due to the modern technology. For instance, blogger considered as the most famous platform for the production of citizen journalist in internet environment. 

    How the citizen journalism differ with traditional or professional journalism? The central difference between both of these journalism is profession verification regarding to specific knowledge. Besides, the professional journalism is generally working with media industry that provided with financial source, and so its objectivity is focus on its own interests. Professional journalism is especially essential with the existence of financial and economic support.

     Nonetheless, citizen journalism and traditional journalism are similar in the presences of bias element. Regarding to the financial support, professional journalism usually publish or post something after the filtration to protect their own benefit. Also, citizen journalism is contains the stereotype and prejudice because everyone allowed to express themselves with their view of point in social networking site, where the information is always partial and difficult to verify.

Undeniably, citizen journalism provides an opportunity for everyone to have freedom of expression, and it provides a few good outcomes in reality. The best example can be shown from Asian tsunami flood disaster that occurred on 26th December 2004. The real situation of disaster was reported by an ordinary people with phone video before the presence and action of professionals. As citizen journalist is those who actually capture the happening current events and then share it to the rest of the world, the news or information is significantly important. 

On the other hand, the major problem of citizen journalism is lack of regulation. Since individual could make declaration without any control and forces, the statement or post made might predisposition to own belief. Individual could alter the meaning of story based on their perception and view of site. This indicates that the statements posted are usually self-proclaiming. 

For instance, Wee Meng Chee, who also known as Namewee had becomes popular after the releasing of controversial song attached with national anthem of Malaysia, Negaraku. Does he really doing right or provides good contribution to this society from his work? In the late of October 2009, Namewee made a video clip that highlighted about the blackout night in his hometown exclude local TNB (Tenaga Nasional Berhad) remains lit. The video storied about the process that he went to TNB to look for answer, but escorted out from facilities by security. The scene included the happened quarrel and scold. For standing on neutral position, the action of Namewee considered as aggressive and means to attack TNB, even though his motivation may be kindly want to seek for truth. The video can refers as below:

      Citizen journalism is good and bad at the same time. It is good to inform the world about the happening event, but we do not know whether their motivation is derived from good or bad thinking. Or else, they just want to gain popularity? To create crisis? Citizen journalism is good as it allows the freedom of voice for everyone. However, the responsibility is needed among the writer and reader, where the writer should realize their power that could unintentionally influence the opinion of others, while reader responsible to identify the credibility of source, whether the writers are truly knowledgeable or simply post for fun. 

Is The Internet Killing The Printed Newspaper?

Journalism nowadays is changing due to the shift of culture. People no longer depend on newspaper solely but alternative sources of news endangered printed newspaper (Huff, 2012). The advance of technologies especially internet is the main reason whereby the circulation of newspaper fall. The internet had provided the readers alternative sources of news such as online news (e.g. Malaysiakini) and blog news (e.g. Malaysia Unplug).

The online news provides the readers instant news where they could receive the news anytime and anywhere. Unlike printed newspaper, it only distributed once or twice a day. The online news is more updated and efficiency than the printed newspaper. Fedor (2014) had figured out Why A Mobile Newspaper Trumps An Online Marketing Plan: 

1. Top of mind, all the time.

2. Reach your readers faster

3. Reach a wider geographical area

Social network site like Facebook is a good example. The Facebook users often obtain news from Facebook. The news spreads fast in social network sites and the credibility of the sources does not matter. This is because it is human nature to pay more attention to an issue rather than the sources of the issue.

Some might think that it is impossible for the extinction of newspaper. The situation in Malaysia might not as serious as Western but it is happening. Printed newspaper is no longer the first choice of the people.

When it comes to the next generation, how many newspapers still survive?
Is the internet killing the printed newspaper?

Online News

1) What constitutes good and bad practice in online news?

       Online news can be presented in more interesting way such as multimedia displays and video; it could increase the attractive and understanding of readers. Online news is also available for instant updates; it provides a platform to the readers to give comments based on their opinions. For example, in news blog Where Is Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, Tiara stated that she dislike people simply posted unverified news regarding MH370 to social media and this news blog also allow public to comments whether you agree or disagree with her statement.

       Besides that, information can be transmitted more fast and wider through internet. Readers are able to access the news at wherever and whenever they want by using smartphone or tablet computer. For instance, they can immediately get most up-to-date emergencies, breaking news, wonderful stories or event. In addition, online news also can save money for paper, ink and cost for traditional newsroom and delivery. Readers can access to news without any charge.

       However, a study conducted by Pew Research Center showed that online news site only received 21 percent of credibility rating, which is a big drop from 29 percent in 1998. This is mainly because online news is without editorial stuff; there is no more ability to delve deep into investigative issue. Compare with online news, printed newspaper is more detailed and has in-depth information. In addition, some of the rural areas might not have internet connection and old generation does not have IT knowledge to read news via internet.

2) To what extent are online news readers allowed to comment on the news?

       News blog such as Where Is Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is considered as private platform to voice up. However, official news site is considered as public platform, which mean everyone can read your comment and opinion. Online news such as Malaysian Insider allow people to click like and also give opinion to other people comments  According to Human Right, people have freedom to voice up, but some comment still might be charge under some law or act. For instance, making comments on internet against the Malay-Muslim can be charged under Sedition Act.

3) Which sites would you recommend to other people and why?

       I would recommend online counterpart of a print newspaper such as The Star. In my opinion, I think get news from online is more convenient especially students like me can easily access to up-to-date information through social media without any charge. I would choose counterpart of a print newspaper rather than an online –only news site because I feel more verified and higher credibility to the information.  Counterparts of a print newspaper will not simply published news because they need to protect their fame and maintain the sales of printed version newspaper.

Digital Behavior Pattern

Gender

Are you a member of social network site?

Which social networks you had registered as member?

How you access your social network site?

Do you accept strangers add you as friend in social network site?

How long you spend on social network site per day?

Do you think you addicted to digital device?

How long you have been using social network site?

Why you use social network?

  Do you agree than social network site is an effective channel in education field?

Do you agree social network can bring negative impact to the user?

Do you think digital device had affected our lifestyle?

Do you think digital device had affected your relationship with your family and peers?

From the statistics of our survey, most of the respondents had registered for Facebook account.

Do you know?

Social Media Today website had mentioned Facebook is the MOST popular social networking sites of the world, in which everyone can register for free to browse and join this network. 

About 8% of our respondents said that they will accept friend request from stranger in Facebook, while 57% will only accept them based on some conditions. 

                                         

Do you know?

According to Daily Mail (2012), millions of users share their data such as birth date, sexual preference, drinking habit and half of Brits will accept a friend request from stranger.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg also mentioned in 2010 that privacy is no more a “social norm”, as nowadays people are not fully understand the impacts. 

Also, 70% of the respondents said that digital device had affected their relationship with family members and peers. 

 

Do you know? 

Accoding to KOED, our digital device are ruining our relationships with others and it is a rampant epidemic spreading all over the world. 

Close the Divide: Digital Consumption and Digital Inequality

The growth of internet and new media has created a new place for people to interact, and communicate with others. New media also serve a lot of purposes such as business, entertainment and information resource. New media and internet have been increasingly affecting our daily life. Today, new media is quite common for people, even for some people, it that become a daily must. In global context, it was reported that internet population has reached a vast population. Based on the statistics, internet population has increased tenfold from 1999 to 2013. In 2014, the number of internet users reached third billion globally.

However, for some people access to internet or new media still is a problem.

This phenomenon is called

Digital divide can be defined as the gap between individuals, societies and different location at different socio-economic background and it affects the opportunities to access new media or information and communication technologies (ICTs). Digital divide would rise up the problem of digital inequality. Digital divide and digital inequality will affect individual’s academic performance, career life even the quality of life.

In the context of Malaysia, Malaysia government has put many efforts to reduce and avoid the digital inequality in the country. Malaysia government carry out several projects, one of the project namely “1 Malaysia free netbook”. In the project, Malaysia government spend out more than 10000 unit netbook to lower income students in rural areas.

This is the free netbook distributed by Malaysia government to lower income students in rural areas.

Of course, having a computer does not mean the children know how to use it. In primary and secondary education, Malaysia government also implement students have learn about computing and use of internet. Teachers and professional trainer will assist and help reinforce students in computing learning.

Do you realize that we actually living in this digital divide society or not? Do you think the implementations by Malaysia government effective? Or do you have other solution for this digital divide and digital inequality issue?   

Lastly, let’s watch a short video to know more about the digital divide. For further information, can refer to the link: digital divide and digital inequality . Enjoy!