Foucault
Foucault believes that social media is used as a medium to
create subjectivation of an identity of who we want outsiders to perceive us
as. Social media platforms are our own personal stages to perform a
sophisticated, thought out, act that displays our very best selves. It is our
aesthetic and our comfort zone (depending on which medium is being used). What
we share is the primary system to show the world what our intended identity is.
Though I say ‘intended’, I mean that we pick and choose pieces of our
personality that fit what we believe the audience wants to receive. “Effective use of social media implies selecting and framing
content with a view to pleasing and/or impressing a certain crowd” (Rayner,
2012). At what point is it too much for our psyches to remember who we really
are? How can one have a genuine personality on social media when there is time
to edit out the parts that may seem less desirable? Foucault mentions the
Panopticon, “comprised of a ring of cells
surrounding a central guard tower” (Rayner, 2012), that makes everyone feel
like they are being watched at all times. Related to social media, the metaphor
is quite similar. The Internet is always alive while anyone is able to stalk
all of someone’s posts with the touch of a button. That makes people more
cautious of what they are willing to post for the potential world to see.
I would post this to my Facebook
account to display my interest in feminism, quality, and human rights. I post a
lot about Ilana Glazer because she is an important role model to me and she
stars in my favorite show, Broad City. She is a Jewish, comedian, activist that
is working towards liberating women, LGBTQ, BLM, DACA, etc. She supports
everything I want my followers to think I support because I actually do.
I would be less likely to post more
personal aspects of my life and interests on social media. I really enjoy
movies, like the really, really stupid ones. Everyone always makes fun of me
when I tell him or her I watch Twilight around ten times a year, but it is just
so bad that I love it. I love reading more about the story even when it is
over.
The idea of Foucault’s subjectivation definitely applies to
the process in which I share content on my personal social media accounts. I
want my followers to think that I am open, adventurous, and ‘cool’, so I exclusively
make sure my photos fit those criteria when I post. People have this idea of me
that is probably embellished, but it is still me because I am doing the things
in the photos. It just looks more appealing with some cropping and some upped
contrast.
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