"Hogan argues that Goffman’s dramaturgical theory can be applied to social media. She specifically focuses on the presentation of the self and argues that self-presentation can be split into performances, (which take place in situations) and artifacts (which take place in exhibitions). She argues that performance spaces include the place where actors interact with each other, for example, chat rooms. As Hogan argues, Goffman’s dramaturgical approach is a metaphorical technique used to explain how an individual presents an “idealized” rather than authentic version of him/herself. For example, the choice of artwork and photos displayed in one’s house is a form of impression management. Generally most people choose to display happy photos of themselves because they want to portray a certain image of themselves. As Hogan argues, in the front stage, we are trying to present an idealized version of the self according to a specific role. In the backstage, we do much of the real work necessary to keep up appearances. For example, the sales assistant at a retail store may appear friendly and happy to help a customer but when the customer leaves, she may go at the back of the store and complain about the difficult customer. Hogan argues that Facebook cannot be considered as a back stage because the fact that Facebook allows only friends or “friends of friends” to see specific content does not suggest that the content signifies a backstage to other possible content that is available for anyone to see. However, I argue that Facebook would be considered a front stage because, as Goffman stated, impressions are usually given and online, you have some control over how you present yourself and what information you want to disclose, thus the individual intentionally presents themself in a certain way."
Goffman's Dramaturgy theory is a useful mechanism when analysing virtual interactions such as those that occur on the Facebook social networking website Facebook. Facebook is fundamentally a micro environment in which we exchange social interactions with those of which we have given permission to view our Facebook profile.
I agree with both Brook and Cindy that the image we create of ourselves on Facebook is more of a front stage interaction. We as Facebook users are essentially actors and the Facebook social networking website is our stage or setting. Our audience is all our Facebook friends. Generally speaking, Facebook is used as a stage to promote oneself. We as users tend to fabricate an idealised image of ourselves that aims to attract or please the majority of our audience (Facebook friends).
Our front stage performance is portrayed through our status updates, photos and social interactions with our friends (audience). Whilst there is no definitive script, Facebook enables us to shape or construct our persona by allowing us to contemplate, adjust and reconsider our image and social interactions from behind a computer screen, before actually publishing it for our audience to view. Once posted we are still able to delete and edit our posts to further manipulate and enhance our performance of our idealised self. Often we refrain ourselves from posting thoughts, comments or photos that will be ill received or illustrate an undesirable self-deprecating image to our audience.
However I personally believe that Facebook also comprises of a setting that allows for backstage performances. Back stage performances, that is a true depiction of ourselves, is much easier to portray through the use of private inbox messages, which can be sent to individual or selected users only. This gives users the opportunity to portray a more realistic image of oneself, as it is not seen by all Facebook friends, and the need to form a self-promoting image to cater to a larger audience is removed.
Conclusively, I personally agree that for the greater part our Facebook persona is a front stage performance as it does not depict a completely accurate image of our true self.
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