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The construction of self in social medias, such as Facebook

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Abstract

Social medias have changed and challenge the way we interact with each other. Social medias, such as Facebook, open up new possibilities for presentation of self and of managing the self you present to others. Is this process different for those that have grown up with social medias (The Net Generation) [Tapscott (Growing up digital: the rise of the net generation. Mcgraw-Hill, NY, 1998)] from how an older group of social media users would do it? What is their primary use of Facebook and how does this differ between generations? Such questions are discussed through engaging a group of Facebook users, with clear ideas of why and how they use Facebook, in joint reflections. The participants represent two generations of internet users; Those who was introduced to internet and social medias, such as Facebook, as adults (i.e. 40 years and older) and those who have grown up with the technology (i.e. under 25 years old, also called “The Net Generation”). The discussion indicate that there are differences in how these two groups relate to social medias, such as Facebook and for what they use Facebook. Further research is necessary to pursue those differences.

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Notes

  1. The discussion was in Norwegian, so all quotes are translations made by the authors and thus not original quotes.

  2. Underskog (Underbrush) is a Norwegian SNS for independent culture activities.

  3. A Norwegian SNS where members can create their own “Origo zones”, i.e. blogs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fafo Institute for Labour and Social Research, P.O. Box 2947, Tøyen, 0608, Oslo, Norway

    Anne Inga Hilsen

  2. Norsk Tjenestemannslag, Møllergata 10, 0179, Oslo, Norway

    Tove Helvik

Authors
  1. Anne Inga Hilsen
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  2. Tove Helvik
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Correspondence to Anne Inga Hilsen.

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Hilsen, A.I., Helvik, T. The construction of self in social medias, such as Facebook. AI & Soc 29, 3–10 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-012-0426-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-012-0426-y

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