Teismeliste tüdrukute virtuaalse identiteedi konstrueerimine ja eneseväljendus blogides
Date
2009
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tartu Ülikool
Abstract
Description
The aim of this BA thesis was to study adolescent girls’ self-presentation and virtual identity
construction in weblogs. More precisely it focused on devices which are used in desinging
weblogs and constructing one’s virtual identity, as well as devices which are used to create
entries of a weblog. The thesis also focused on the subjects, tonalities and emotions in an
entry of a weblog. 150 blogs and 150 blog entries were researched by using content analyse
method. Authors of these blogs were adolescent girls in the ages between 13 and 17. The 12
categories created in the content analyse were: age of the blog’s author; information disclosed
in profile; devices used in blog design; colors used in blog design; textual devices used in an
entry; language devices used in an entry; visual devices used in an entry; themes of an entry;
tonalities of an entry; emotions of an entry and tonalities of a self-written descriptive text.
The theoretical framework included findings from several different authors, mostly about
constructing virtual identity, adolescent cyberpsychology, Internet role in adolescents’
everyday life and adolescents’ self-expression on the Internet.
The results of this study showed that adolescent girls are rather modest in constructing their
virtual identity. They like to keep their blogs plain and simple: blogs are mostly
monochromatic and they don’t contain many devices. The main devices which are used in
blog desing are archive, photos and followers (link to blog author who follows this exact
blog). The modesty continues in blog profiles: adolescent girls do not disclose personal
information such as last name, phone number or address which could be used (if disclosed) to
find out their offline identity. They only mention their age, first name, the town they live in
and sometimes links to their friends’ blogs, lists of their favorite musicians and movies and
other irrelevant information.
Nevertheless, adolescent girls are not so modest in creating an entry. They use slang,
expressions from foreing languages and last but least: they swear. The most popular textual
device in creating an entry is author’s self-written text. Sometimes quotations of song lyrics
and poetry are also used. Emoticons let us to express our emotions in a much easier way –
that’s why they are the most used visual device in adolescent girls’ weblogs. Photos are also
common device in creating an entry.
Common themes in adolescent girls’ weblog entries are their own everyday life, school,
hobbies and relationships with friends and family. Mostly the tonalities and emotions in
weblogs are positive and optimistic. Far-spread emotions are gratification, joy, boredom,
anger and sorrow.
In conclusion, adolescent girls are modest in constructing their virtual identity and they do not
use the desing devices offered by the site very much. When creating an entry, girls are more
venturesome and they use different textual devices as well as new slang, foreing languages
and even swearing. Emoticons and photos are the common parts of an entry. Adolescent girls
write about their own everyday lives – school, friends, family and hobbies and mainly they
are doing it in an optimistic tone.
Keywords
H Social Sciences (General), bakalaureusetööd