AQA GCSE Media Studies Student Book

65 On social media, people represent not a fictional character but their real selves. Or do they? Just like other media producers, they select content and images that construct the particular identity they want to share with others. Whether they select flattering photos or scruffy snapshots, they’re still mediating their online image. Clearly, not only are we all different from each other but we also have several (or fragmented) options for presenting ourselves. An example of an online celebrity will now be looked at to develop some specific ideas about how an online identity can be formed. Zoella (Zoe Sugg) is a British fashion and beauty vlogger . Since starting her YouTube channel in February 2009, Zoella has gained 12 million subscribers (as of 2018), along with 11.2 million Instagram followers. Her vlogs have been viewed over 900 million times. CASE STUDY: Zoella (2019 CSP) How is your online identity formed? Look at how you represent yourself online, for example on your Instagram, Facebook or Twitter profile, or on YouTube. Also look at what you add to your newsfeed and how you respond to other people’s posts, content and comments. Think about not only the words you use online but also photos, images, what you choose to share, and what you like and comment on. It can be hard to distance yourself from your own representations of yourself but imagine someone you don’t know is viewing your online presence and forming opinions about you. You could also ask a friend to honestly tell you whether your online identity reflects your real-life identity. For example, do you seem: • glamorous • fun • thoughtful • intelligent • funny • adventurous • religious • opinionated • rude • grumpy • self-obsessed? How does your online identity give this impression? Now think about why you decided to use that content or those images. How were you influenced by: • representations of celebrities • your friends’ online identities • dominant values and beliefs • your own views, interests and opinions • your background and culture • your mood when you posted the content • the available options on the page • the target audience? What do you choose not to include in your online profile? Why? If you have more than one online presence, do you represent yourself the same way in each one? Activity 2.20 What you choose to put online might not be the same as reality. Vlogger A person who makes video blogs, for example via their own YouTube channel. Key term 2 Media Representations