Online impressions are shaped by various factors in the digital world. Self-presentation strategies, stereotypes, and biases play crucial roles in how we perceive others online. These elements can lead to both accurate and skewed impressions.
Social norms and platform design also significantly impact online impression formation. The unwritten rules of online behavior and the structure of digital platforms influence how we interpret and judge others' online presence. Understanding these factors is key to navigating online interactions effectively.
Self-Presentation Strategies Online
Types of Self-Presentation Strategies
- Ingratiation is a self-presentation strategy where individuals seek to be viewed favorably by others by expressing positive emotions, agreeing with others' opinions, or giving compliments
- Self-promotion is a self-presentation strategy where individuals highlight their accomplishments, skills, or positive qualities to be viewed as competent or successful
- Exemplification is a self-presentation strategy where individuals aim to be perceived as morally superior or virtuous by showcasing their good deeds, principles, or values
- Supplication is a self-presentation strategy where individuals emphasize their weaknesses, limitations, or need for help to elicit sympathy or support from others
- Intimidation is a self-presentation strategy where individuals seek to be viewed as powerful, threatening, or dangerous through aggressive or forceful communication
Impact of Self-Presentation Strategies on Online Impressions
- Self-presentation strategies are the ways individuals control how they are perceived by others online through the information they share, the images they post, and the interactions they have
- The choice of self-presentation strategy can significantly influence the impressions others form of an individual online
- For example, using ingratiation may lead to positive impressions of friendliness and likability, while self-promotion may foster impressions of competence and success
- Overuse or inconsistent use of self-presentation strategies can backfire and lead to negative impressions
- For instance, excessive self-promotion may come across as arrogant or insecure, while drastic shifts between strategies may appear inauthentic or manipulative
- The effectiveness of self-presentation strategies may vary depending on the online platform, audience, and cultural context
Stereotypes and Biases Online
Types of Stereotypes and Biases
- Stereotypes are oversimplified, generalized beliefs about the characteristics or behaviors of a particular group of people that can lead to biased impressions of individuals based on their perceived group membership
- The halo effect is a cognitive bias where positive impressions of an individual in one area positively influence opinions in other areas, leading to an overly favorable overall impression
- The horn effect is a cognitive bias where negative impressions of an individual in one area negatively influence opinions in other areas, leading to an overly unfavorable overall impression
- Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, or recall information in a way that confirms pre-existing beliefs or stereotypes about an individual or group
- The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize internal, dispositional factors and underestimate external, situational factors when forming impressions of others' behavior
- Implicit biases are unconscious, automatic attitudes or stereotypes that can influence online impression formation without an individual's awareness
Impact of Stereotypes and Biases on Online Impression Formation
- Stereotypes and biases can lead to inaccurate or unfair impressions of individuals based on limited information available online
- For example, stereotypes about gender, race, or age may cause people to make assumptions about an individual's abilities, interests, or personality traits
- The halo and horn effects can cause overall impressions to be skewed by a single positive or negative attribute, overlooking a more balanced assessment
- For instance, an attractive profile picture may lead to unwarranted positive impressions of an individual's intelligence or kindness
- Confirmation bias can reinforce existing stereotypes by causing people to selectively attend to information that aligns with their preconceptions while disregarding contradictory evidence
- The fundamental attribution error can cause people to attribute online behavior to stable personality traits rather than considering the influence of situational factors
- For example, attributing a delayed response to rudeness rather than considering technical difficulties or time zone differences
- Implicit biases can unconsciously shape impressions and judgments of others online, even when individuals consciously reject stereotypes or prejudice
Social Norms in Online Impressions
Types of Social Norms
- Social norms are the unwritten rules or expectations that guide behavior in a particular social context, including online environments
- Descriptive norms refer to perceptions of how most people actually behave in a given situation, which can influence individuals' online self-presentation and impression formation of others
- Injunctive norms refer to perceptions of what behaviors are approved or disapproved of by others, which can shape the online impressions individuals seek to create and their judgments of others
Impact of Social Norms on Online Impression Formation
- Violation of social norms in online interactions can lead to negative impressions, such as perceiving an individual as rude, inappropriate, or socially inept
- For example, using all caps or excessive emojis may violate norms of professional communication and create negative impressions in a work context
- Adherence to social norms in online interactions can foster positive impressions, such as perceiving an individual as friendly, respectful, or socially skilled
- For instance, following norms of reciprocity by liking or commenting on others' posts may lead to positive impressions of engagement and sociability
- The impact of social norms on online impression formation may vary across different online platforms, communities, or cultures with distinct expectations for behavior
- For example, norms for self-disclosure and privacy may differ between a professional networking site (LinkedIn) and a more personal social media platform (Facebook)
- Misalignment between descriptive and injunctive norms can create ambiguity or conflict in online impression formation
- For instance, if most people share highly curated, positive content (descriptive norm) but there is an expectation of authenticity (injunctive norm), individuals may struggle to form accurate impressions
Platform Design and Impression Formation
Elements of Online Platform Design
- The design of online platforms, such as social media sites or dating apps, can influence the type and depth of information available for forming impressions of others
- User profiles on online platforms typically include self-reported information, such as demographics, interests, or personal descriptions, which can shape initial impressions
- Online platforms' algorithms may curate or filter the content and interactions users are exposed to, potentially reinforcing or challenging existing impressions
- The presence or absence of visual cues, such as profile pictures or videos, can impact the richness of information available for impression formation
- Online platforms' feedback mechanisms, such as likes, comments, or ratings, can contribute to impressions of an individual's popularity, influence, or reputation
Impact of Platform Design on Impression Formation
- The ease or difficulty of interacting with others on a platform, such as through direct messaging or public posts, may affect the depth and quality of impressions formed
- For example, platforms that encourage brief, public interactions (Twitter) may lead to more superficial impressions compared to platforms that facilitate longer, private conversations (WhatsApp)
- The emphasis on certain types of information or interactions in a platform's design can shape the aspects of identity that are most salient in impression formation
- For instance, a platform that highlights professional accomplishments (LinkedIn) may lead to impressions based more on competence, while a platform that focuses on visual content (Instagram) may prioritize impressions of attractiveness or creativity
- The algorithms used by online platforms to select and order content can create "filter bubbles" or "echo chambers" that limit exposure to diverse perspectives and reinforce existing impressions
- The availability of feedback and social validation on a platform can amplify the impact of self-presentation strategies and social norms on impression formation
- For example, receiving many likes or positive comments on a post may enhance positive impressions formed by others
- Differences in platform design across sites or apps can lead to inconsistencies or contradictions in the impressions formed of the same individual in different online contexts