Media and collective identity websites

http://www.facebook.com/

This was something of an obvious choice when it comes to users being able to represent their own identity. Facebook like most websites which allow user generated media is a web 2.0 site; it is also one of the most popular social networking sites at the moment. However this isn’t necessary because of the ability for users to edit and create there own pages because your options are much more limited on Facebook then for example Bebo.

The main reason that Facebook has become such a great success is the way the site is laid out and run. It is aimed at the best possible age group. In comparison Friends Reunited was one of the first social networking sites, but in comparison Friends Reunited was a failure. Perhaps one of the largest elements to this failure is the fact that friends reunited aimed at a much older age group then Facebook. Whereas Facebook aimed at a generation which grew up using computers and the internet.

Facebook users have the opportunity to create their own page. This in turn is them creating their own identity. However this is limited to the materials provided by Facebook. It is possible to draw parallels here with the idea of how people create there identities from magazines, you pick and choice from the list provided what you want to be. This is an example of compulsory individuality. Although people can create their own groups which get posted onto their page and in turns says to everyone something about them. Facebook also has the ability for people to post comments which also in turn allow them to create there online identity. This also ties in with the 'hierarchy of needs.' People want to be accepted so they online post things which they believe will be acceptable within there social group. This may also be why you have the option to remove comments you have previously posted, in case they have not been accepted or in this case 'liked.'

http://www.blogger.com/

This only started to become clear to me though my time using with my coursework. To better understand the site I start reading though other peoples blogs. Blogger allows anyone with internet access to share for free any ideas or opinions that they have and allows other people to post comments and therefore express their own opinion about what was originally posted.

The website is completely free and requires no credit card information to use and therefore is open for anyone to use however I believe it is aimed at a slightly older audience. The general set out looks plain and professional; you would expect it to look brighter and more childish if aiming at a young audience. Also it is very easy to use so you do not necessary have to have a great understanding of computers to use it.

Blogger is similar in nature to social networking site such as facebook and there for people will still mediate what they post on their blog as it is viewed round the world. This is an example of who people try to reinforce their position or social standing within that particular social group.


http://www.systemofadown.com/

This is a fan website for the band system of a down. Naturally it is aimed at fans of the band this is shown though many ways first of all the heading of the site is SOAD which is the abbreviation used by fans of the band. Secondly on the main page is a picture of fans rather than the band which shows that this site was made for them. There is also automatic streaming music from the band on the opening page and clinking on the link to the message board open that page in a new window so it does not stop the music.

This sites only audience is fans of the band. There isn’t much to indicate a certain age or gender, although most fans of system of a down are older than fifteen. There is some indication of this site trying to attract people of various age groups. Evidence of this can be found on the links page of the website. This contains links to sites such as their Facebook and Myspace pages which as i mentioned early attract a much younger audience however there are also links to pages for people who want to do something about the themes they play about, such as war.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/LIVE/

This site has a much more obvious audience, Xbox users to be precise. This site was set up for people with an Xbox live account to manage their account view which of their friends is online and what they are doing. Therefore in order to access the features of this site you must first have an account and therefore become part of that collective identity. However it has limited resources to allow people to participate on the collective identity.

There is a forum or message board as many put it which allow people to have discussions related to the Xbox community and you can message other members directly but apart from that there a very few features which allow people to contribute to the collective identity.

http://www.youtube.com/

You could argue that YouTube is a representation of almost all collective identities. As it is mostly user generated content is gives people the opportunity to create their own identities and with the ability to favourite other peoples videos so they can contribute to a collective identity. YouTube helps to reinforce this idea by giving you suggestions of what else you might want to watch taken into account what you have already seen.

Although Youtube dose comes with a large social representation of Youtube users it also comes with many subclasses each with their own 'cultural capital.' For example in a group of people who all like similar the person who’s seen the latest music video from that group becomes the most important member of that group. Youtube allows people to gain cultural capital in there group.