Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: : This study is focused on blogging from the perspective of the individual. We\ninvestigate why one uses the weblog format, functions on the blog that are seen to work as\ndriving forces, attitudes towards self-disclosure and anonymity on the weblog and how the\nrelation between an online- and offline-identity is interpreted by the bloggers themselves, for\nexample to what extent it is possible to get to know the blogger by reading the weblog.\nFinally, we investigate the weblog-readers meaning to the blogger, as well as their possible\nimpact on both his or her personal blog-content and the everyday-life.\nThe empirical material consists of half-structured interviews via MSN Messenger\nwith nine informants, being bloggers found on the Swedish website bloggportalen.se. The\ntheoretical framework behind the interview guide focuses on the identity concept, containing\nidentity theories in psychological and sociological perspectives, symbolic interactionism\nconcerning the concept of roles, as well as Bauman’s liquid theory on postmodern society\ntendencies. This material is further included in related previous research articles, derived from\nboth international and Swedish databases. The analysis was as a final point approached with\nthis theoretical background.\nThe results of the study show that the weblog has different functions in mediating\npersonal everyday-experiences, amusement, therapy and archiving information, which also\nare to be seen as motivating continuity on the weblog. The bloggers relation to self-disclosure\nis central to what he or her can imagine to publish about themselves. By greater selfdisclosure\none tends to relate to a subjective view – what I like to publish – whereas\ninformants with less self-disclosure relates to an objective view – what others would dislike\nme to publish. Concerning thoughts of anonymity, the informants show an excitement in\nimagine stepping out of the limitations of self-representation, or ones social role. Anticipating\nanonymity is hereby defined as the wish to share a specific subject, without taking the risk of\nsocial sanctions. When it comes to the question about if one can get to know the “real”\nblogger by reading his or her weblog, informants with less self-disclosure show a greater\nhesitation. The informants show further concerning their weblog-readers both positive and\nnegative aspects. The former are the encouragement in readers’ different comments and\nopinions of the blog-content, as the latter rather is the pressure of having to maintain the\nreaders’ enthusiasm. Consequences were at last mostly thoughts of the possibility of being\nbiased and put in a negative light – as the readers might miss important nuances – leading to\nfuture difficulties being hired, or at worst – being stalked.
Authors: Jonathan Dahlgren, Caroline Engström
Language: Swedish
Subfield: Communication
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1512730401