How are we expected to behave online? Long gone are the early days of the internet where geeks claimed how the internet was freedom, peace and love. We all very well know that there are as many social expectations online as there are offline even if we aren’t confined to a single identity.
Within the blogging clique I sit inside of I’d say a few people would expect me to have a sensible design with somewhat original content - despite the fact that I am a blogging vegetable. Were I to use 8PT text and post about how Chad looked at me in the mall then I’d fall into a completely different circle.
This would lead to suggest that should any one individual sit inside more than one social circle online then they will behave very differently in each one. This can be the same in real life, but to what extent? I admit to behaving differently within different social groups, however I don’t think I vary from person to person as dramatically as one can online.
The same person can be part of a sweet community such as the q*bee and at the same time be a compulsive bingo gambler. Or maybe they’re taking the piss out of someone and emailing their grandparents a friendly e-card. With tabbed navigation these things can take place simultaneously, with said individual switching their personality at the click of a button.
On a broader scale, these social circles can be almost like gangs as they exhibit some behaviours associated with the culture. Most social groups I’ve seen have a ring leader of some sort whom everyone respects or at least fears to some extent. This is often gained through intimidation and threats.
How differently do you behave within different circles on the internet? What are the expectations for acceptable behaviour within these circles? What would happen if you acted outside these norms? Would it concern your friends or would it cause you to be outcast and accepted by a different group?
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