Identity Representation Through Online Images

Identity Representation Through Online Images

Cyberspace images can play a major role on how people identify you as a person. Online identity has numerous effects on one’s life that are uncontrollable. Many people judge or make stereotypes about other people due to their online image. Most of the time, images online can have a negative effect on one’s life and can have one punished for innocent behavior.

Online images are easy to post without the consent of the person in the photo. Also images can be posted without one’s permission and that person will not know who posted the image of them online. Along with not knowing who posted the picture online, it will be difficult to remove the picture due to the lack of sources. The internet makes it hard to control one’s identity because they do not have control over what images to put up and what images not to put up. Due to the fact that it is hard to control what images are put on the internet, one must always monitor their actions.

Michael Phelps is a famous Olympic swimmer and is known all over the world for his accomplishments in swimming. Recently, Michael Phelps was caught in a picture with him smoking marijuana out of pipe. This online image almost cost Michael Phelps his career and all his endorsements. However, he did lose one major endorsement that was with Kellogg. This online image brought down his image and now he will not only be known just for swimming, but also for making a huge mistake by smoking marijuana. “His big mistake –gold medal naiveté, if you will—was not realizing that somebody might take a photo of him giving the impression of taking a huge whiff or something or other”(Vecsey, 2009). Michael Phelps was looked up to as a role model and now his leadership has been taken away from him because of someone putting an image up online of him smoking marijuana. A role model is a person who sets a positive image for the world and younger people.

One probably would have never thought that having a Facebook or Myspace account could cost someone a job. “What they find on these sites presents a dilemma for the recruiters” (Roberts & Roach, 2009). Most businesses are now looking up recruits on Facebook and Myspace to do background checks on before they recruit them. Regardless if a person’s resume is or not acceptable, if an admission officer sees that they have online images with them partaking in any sexual drug action in a photo they will not hire that person. Most admission officers go through photos on Facebook and Myspace first to see if there are any images of unprofessional behavior. After they look at the photos they look at the about me or beliefs section. Many people have lost a chance to a good career due to the fact that they have posted images that admission officers do not want in applicants. One example of this was when,

“An owner of a valet company began using Myspace to network with potential drivers. She found this was an easy way to communicate with potential employees at little expense to her. She could also do a background check on these potential employees by checking their SNW’s to see if they displayed reckless behavior, such as expressions of drug usage” (Roberts & Roach, 2009).

Online images speak about one’s behavior or one’s personality without having to ask someone about themselves. Online images are said to be a form of communication with the viewer explaining how one act in the general public and within professional atmospheres. Online images also make up a personal identity that explains people’s work ethic, beliefs, and relationship with other people. Images are also a social interaction that forms gender identity and stereotypes. Some of the stereotypes that online images can form include someone being seen as a party girl/boy, an alcoholic, a drug user, or even as an inconspicuous person.

In Self presentation and gender on Myspace the author said that, “relationships are performed publicly on Myspace through the comment wall” (Manago, 2008). When commenting on somebody’s photo it is a way of introducing one’s self and giving them a nice comment about themselves. This could let the person know that one are interested in them and are trying to form a relationship with the individual. Also commenting on the person publicly shows that one’s are willing to let people know who they are interested in.

Some limitations with online images are that one cannot control ones atmosphere to prevent negative images from being posted. Also, by associating oneself with good people that is another way to prevent oneself from receiving negative exposure. Being at a party or recreational event is good, but if there is activity that is not professional, to prevent oneself from being looked at as negative one should leave the event or stay away from the surroundings in which people are partaking in unprofessional behavior.

Through online images virtual space can limit the ways in which individuals express themselves. Online images allow for stereotypes that can negatively affect a person’s image. These images are a form of communication, but they can reflect badly on a person in professional atmospheres. Due to online images a person must control how they behave in their interactions with other people.