Teismeliste tüdrukute virtuaalse identiteedi konstrueerimine ja eneseväljendus blogides

Date

2009

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

Citation