Self Expression
Writers associated with the social shaping of technology approach as well as political economists have extensively debated to the extent to which the trajectory of technological developments is shaped by social forces. (Flew: 2002: pp: 3) With the sheer number of new media technologies that are available for society to adopt these days it is not surprising that individuals have taken to using the technologies with an inevitable twist, incorporating their own individual flair.
The mobile phone provides the owner or user with a set of unique functions and characteristics that aren’t offered by the traditional fixed telephone. (Gordon: 2002: pp: 15) But no longer is the mobile just an emergency communication tool. It has been adopted as a public form of self-expression, a statement of both identity and social class. The use of not only ring tones, message tones, phone covers and screensavers is not only a handy way to distinguish it from the hundreds of other similar mobile phones on the market, but such individual personalisation allows people (in particular the youth of our society – who are by far the fastest adopters of this growing trend) to announce to the world who they are, what they like, and how they perceive themselves.
It is an object by which people choose to be identified, not only by those who are contacted by it, but by those who see us with it and therefore it has developed a cultural meaning far beyond its initially imagined use. Displayed outwardly as a proud and continuous fashion accessory amidst whatever other scenario's are taking place, there is a definite sense of self and a sense of community that is established from this mechanical, mobile extension of ourselves. (Moores: pg: 7)
Similar can be said by our personal computers. Screensavers, carefully positioned icons, software, favourite links and games, along with organised files and folders (or otherwise!) reveals a lot about who we are to other users, family members, peers or work colleagues. (See Family Structure for more)
Not only has it become easier for people to think about, put down, edit and publish their ideas, thoughts and feelings and transmit them to a wide audience in an intensely concentrated form - it has become the essence of who we are, and how we are identified and received by others.
References:
Gordon, J. (2002) “The Mobile Phone: An Artefact of Popular Culture and a Tool of the Public Sphere� in Convergence, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp: 15 - 25.
Flew, T. (2002) New Media: An Introduction, Oxford University Press, Australia.
Moores, S. (2000) Media and Everyday Life in Modern Society, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.
Oksman, V. and Turtiainen, J. (2004) Mobile communication as a social stage: meanings of mobile communication in everyday life among teenagers in Finland, in New Media and Society, Volume 6, Issue 3, London.
Related Topics
Identity
Health
Social Protocol
English Lanugage
Financial Implications
Text Messaging
Chat Rooms
Email
MSN Messenger
Industry Convergence
Education
Oligopolies
Mobile Phones
Advertising
Homepage
Family Structure
Youth Access to Information
Reduction of Boundaries
Peer Interaction
Frances Curro 21:42, 9 Sep 2004 (EST)
Frances Curro 19:36, 28 Oct 2004 (EST)
Frances Curro 08:05, 29 Oct 2004 (EST)
