The internet has created a new realm of identity, in the same way that one would limit how much they share in a social setting, an online presence now enables individuals to regulate how much they share or even what they share. In addition, social networking sites with the ability to create a profile page, select profile photos and share interests, mark their visits to physical locations, share their thoughts through 'status updates' etc. all contribute to this constructed version of self. But what role do those photos have?
Anna, i love that quote: "We don't trust words because they're words, but we trust pictures because they're pictures. That's crazy," because it's totally true. I file through Twitter and Facebook reading status updates or even see the attendance marked on events, i don't trust it. The human word can be broken. Nothing says "Sally Mitchem is now in a relationship with David Carlton" more than a photo of them lip locked at a recent party. Similarly nothing says, "Jennifer Pennington is now engaged to Jeremy Ponsonby" more than a photo of Jen's engagement ring. We trust photos, it gives tangibility to a scene or a situation.
For example, a quick scroll through my Facebook page can tell the audience a few things:
- I'm organising a Christian conference.
- I went to a Hen's Party last weekend.
The reason why i think this is interesting is because a profile page creates an identity - it's a record of who i am, what i do and what i think. Without photos, is any of that legitimate?
I could post a status saying i'm at the front of a moshpit starring right into the eyes of my favourite artist OR i could post a photo taken on my phone showing that i'm actually right there. Which one would you trust more? Me? The photo, for sure.
Photos have this sense of authenticitity to them.
