In continuation of my last article on friendship I will explore another aspect of relationship. I will seek to explore the value of ‘Facebook Friends’ or any connections that we have online, with a view to understanding the role of such connections and how to gain the most from their cultivation.
I must profess my relative ignorance in this field. Until my most recent foray into social media, of which this blog is a part, I have largely rejected the use of social media. My reluctance to use social media was always primarily due to a matter of personal taste. I tend toward simplicity in all things, and I have always preferred to conduct my social affairs in person.
However, this has often led to being outside the pail in this huge social change. I have largely had an outside perspective upon this development. Yet I see that at the root of this technological change human wants and needs remain consistent. The needs for attention, validation, support, and love remain essential to human well-being. Now a new and powerful form of technology plays a role in meeting those needs to varying degrees of success.
The Pleasure of Performance
In my view one thing social media offers us is something highly seductive, an audience. I am not ignorant of the irony of that statement as I type these words. I am aware that I am seeking my own audience, hopeful of some reception. I believe that my motive is good, offering utility for a wider audience. Sharing my knowledge and experience in the field of psychology. Becoming a ‘content creator’.
However, I suspect the interaction between a content creator and their audience is not without risks. The two have a relationship in which both are influenced. The creator is influencing their audience with their opinions, expressions and performances. While the audience is influencing the creator with their reception. On social media platforms this is expressed in subscriptions and followings, likes and comments, guiding the creator to what is desired and preferred by the audience.
In ancient Greece one expression of this interplay between creator and audience was developed in the art form of theatre. A part of that art form was a mask that was called the ‘Persona’. This mask was worn by the actor to influence the audience upon how to receive their character. With heroes the mask was of noble form, with villains the mask appeared monstrous.
This development of the persona in theatre was used in Psychology to describe an aspect of ourselves outside the theatrical. Carl Jung, the eminent Psychotherapist outlined a wide psychological theory, and used the concept of the persona to describe this aspect of the psyche thus:
‘The persona is that which in reality one is not, but which oneself as well as others think one is.’
In my role as a counsellor, I come with a degree of persona in the form of my role. That role is an aspect of who I am but not the entirety. It is my profession. Yet when social media is used to share our personal lives, we are likely to encounter our persona. As we curate our persona, amplified by the technology of social media, we are at risk of identifying with our creations. Evaluating our personal worth in relation to their reception, the likes and comments of our audience. This could severely limit our ability to develop a genuine sense of ourselves if the opinions of this audience are overly estimated. We could believe ourselves to be that ‘which oneself as well as others think one is’, carrying a distorted self-concept as a result.
The antidote to such a risk is relatively simple in theory, that of respecting the evaluations of those who truly know and care for us above our reception on social media. Yet we are all social beings and our ability to be immune to the influence of online judgements may be limited. Studies have linked excessive social media use to lower measures of self-esteem and I suspect this to be related to taking on the whims and opinions of a superficial audience.
Yet this risk does not negate the democratisation of performance and content creation. Throughout the world more and more people have the power to create media that can span the globe. Engaging in a mass conversation, sharing in who we are, who we think we are, and recording our lives in a giant theatre where tickets to our performances are virtually free.
Community
I must also acknowledge that social media is not only used for production and consumption of content. It can also be a source of community creation and engagement. Recently the pandemic catapulted the use of technology as the medium in which community was maintained. For most of us this was a lesson in how effectively communities could function online. In my experience this was a surprisingly effective development. Although I keenly felt the isolation of the restrictions, I also was able to partake in many rewarding social groups that comforted me with many of my social needs during that time.
However, I did also feel the limitations imposed by the technology during these events. The primary one simply being the loss of touch. Handshakes and hugs, warm unmediated smiles are sorely missed when in short supply. My experience of online community remains a mixed picture of appreciation and frustration. Appreciation for the wonders of being able to share realties experiences with people from all over the world, with frustration at the distance that cannot be overcome through a screen.
Living in the Matrix
In this article I have suggested that the value in connections online are many. The technology provides a miraculous ability to access a global audience for our utility and pleasure. However, I believe that to gain the most from these connections we must recognise the limitations and defend ourselves against the dangers.
Yet if we are able to successfully navigate this medium we open ourselves to a world of creative potential. We can look to the great artistry of the past for inspiration or just have fun with memes and idle posts. With care we may be able to adopt an exemplary use of the technology bestowed upon us to create and consume content of real value. With the best intention we may just be able to create a performance worthy of our audience.
Finally, we may also be able to cultivate and enjoy access to a community that geography would otherwise prevent us from experiencing. As long as we don’t neglect our communities that geography does limit, we can be blessed with partaking in the family of humanity as never before in history.
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