Social Identity in Facebook Community Life

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Author(s): Shaoke Zhang (Pennsylvania State University, USA), Hao Jiang (Pennsylvania State University, USA)and John M. Carroll (Pennsylvania State University, USA)
Copyright: 2012
Pages: 14
Source title: Technical, Social, and Legal Issues in Virtual Communities: Emerging Environments
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Subhasish Dasgupta (George Washington University, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-1553-3.ch007

Keywords: Information Science Reference / Media & Communications / Social Computing / Social Networking

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Abstract

Social identity is a key construct to understand online community life. While existing online identity studies present a relatively static conception of identity, grounded in user profiles and other personal information, in this paper the authors investigate more dynamic aspects of identity, grounded in patterns of social interaction in Facebook community life, drawing on social science research on identity theory and social identity theory. The authors examine the tensions experienced by people between assimilation and differentiation with respect to group identities and role identities. The study provides a framework for understanding how users construct self-presentations in different online social interactions, actively managing identity, rather than merely declaring it in a relatively static profile. The authors speculate on how social computing environments could more effectively support identity presentation.

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Social Identity in Facebook Community Life

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