SELF-SELECTED IDENTITY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL IN SOCIAL NETWORK SITES

Authors

Rozan O. Maghrabi, University of North Carolina at GreensboroFollow
Richelle L. Oakley, University of North Carolina at GreensboroFollow
Hamid Nemati PhD, University of North Carolina at GreensboroFollow

Track

Virtual Communities and Collaborations

Abstract

Social network sites can provide a person with the freedom to represent themselves in various ways, thus exhibiting multiplevariations of their identity. Research states that an individual’s identity is self-monitored depending on the contextualsituation that they are in. This ability is affected by their use of technology. We argue that social network sites are aparticularly unique environment that can affect an individual’s representation of their identity, thus increasing the likelihoodof producing perverse social capital. Current research has addressed how productive social capital can be gained in socialnetwork sites; however, limited research has addressed the issue of perverse social capital, especially in social network sites.We examine how technology affects an individual’s selected self-identity, as measured through their self-monitoring ability,and how this altered behavior leads to productive or perverse social capital in social network sites.

Recommended Citation

Maghrabi, Rozan O.; Oakley, Richelle L.; and Nemati, Hamid PhD, "SELF-SELECTED IDENTITY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL IN SOCIAL NETWORK SITES" (2011). AMCIS 2011 Proceedings - All Submissions. 429.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2011_submissions/429