Front and Back Stage Online

When looking at micro-sociology, it's pretty hard to ignore Erving Goffman.  Not only does he look at interesting ideas about the self, but this clever sociologist also borrowed ideas from dramaturgy to talk about the way our self is presented front or back stage  (Goffman 1971).  In the blogpost Dramaturgy and social networking, Alexandra applies Goffman's concept of dramaturgy to social networking sites.  This is a really interesting example to consider in relation to frontstage and backstage interactions and presentations of self.  Alexandra explains that people use Facebook to present idealised images of themselves, but this one image is presented to anyone who views their profiles.  So while there would normally be different front stage projections for employers, parents, friends and strangers, social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr create a single image for all audiences.  

Alexandra also raises a very important idea about how social networking sites could be categorised as front stage or back stage in our social interactions.  One one level, these sites are definitely front stage and are characterised by structured manners and scripted conversation.  The blurring between front and back stage on these sites occurs because in a realm where we feel like we are communicating with friends online, we might slip into back stage mode.  Back stage is when we let our guard down, this is how we might act around close friends and family.  While Alexandra asserts that she uses Facebook as a front stage presentation of self, other people might be letting certain groups into their back stage when they probably don't really want to.  I try to treat Facebook as a front stage only area, but sometimes it is easy to forget that my photos or status are broadcasting to the world.  Even with Faebook's privacy settings, any content we post online could end up anywhere with the simple action of a screenshot.

I would argue that forgetting about the curtain between front and back stage can create a situation where many things can be affected, but might particular impact on intimate relationships.  If anyone, even strangers know as much about you as your closest friends, family and partner, then what makes these relationships different?  This xkcd comic illustrates what I'm worried about.

 If our front stage and back stage interactions blur together on social networking platforms, then huge issues about privacy and intimacy arise.  If we everyone is on a level playing field with the information they know about us, then do strangers become as close as friends, or friends as distant as strangers?

Reference List:

Goffman, E. 1971, 'Performances', in The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Harmondsworth, Penguin, pp28-82, accessed 29/08/2012, http://ereadings.uow.edu.au.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/goffmane1.pdf