The document summarizes research on the emerging sociabilities and social behaviors on social network sites. Three key studies are discussed. Study 1 found that social network sites allow for a flexible form of sociability through social multitasking and a reflexive understanding of privacy. Study 2 examined the visual rhetoric of Facebook photo galleries and found they demonstrate awareness of the camera and are used to reinforce close group membership. Study 3 explored how the architecture of social networks balances public and private self-presentation through spaces that are publicly private and privately public. The implications are that online sociabilities are networked, remixed and fluid as boundaries between public and private become more complex.

1. Social Media,Social People: Emerging Sociabilities on Social Network Site s Zizi Papacharissi, PhD Professor and Head, Communication University of Illinois-Chicago

2. The ultimate social impact of cyberspace will not flow from its exotic capabilities, but rather from the fact that people are putting it to ordinary, even mundane, social uses. Parks and Floyd, 1996, Making Friends in Cyberspace . . . The internet as social space

3. The exotic and the mundane: Chatroulette

5. How is this relevant? Phenomenon spreads virally, through networks Spreads through converged, social media Youtube, facebook, news, social networks People doing: Ordinary things, the mundane Ordinary things they cannot do as easily in their everyday life It looks strange now, but it looks not too different from early versions of YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, etc

6. Online Social Networks, Social Network Sites, Social Media Social networks have always been a part of everyday life and communication Facebook etc technically not “networks” Platforms Social network sites are Web sites that Allow members to construct a public or semi-public profile To connect with others And view and traverse connections between themselves and others

8. Research on Social Network Sites (SNSs) Multi-mediated self presentation Public display of social connections Electronically mediated social circles and status Privacy and publicity of comm/multiple audiences Social connections, local and remote Strong and weak ties; social capital The social become more social; less social have functional alternative

9. The premise More or less social people? A networked self More or less social media? All media are social More or less social places? Social affordances of online spaces

10. Research Findings 3 studies Facebook use and social capital (Papacharissi & Mendelson, 2009, Media Perspectives for 21 st Century, Papathanassopoulos-Ed . ) Look at us study – Visual Rhetoric of Facebook photo galleries (Mendelson & Papacharissi, 2009, Networked Self, Papacharissi- Ed.) Architecture of online places and affordances of online social networks (Papacharissi, 2009, New Media & Society)

11. Study 1: Uses of Facebook and Social Capital A different kind of sociability The social couch potato Active? No. Passive? No. Flexibility, mobility, and convergence of social behaviors (social multitasking) Public Privacy of social ties Recognition of privacy risk; inability to react Reflexive understanding of privacy

12. Study 2 - Look at Us: Visual Rhetoric of Facebook photo galleries Elements examined (Chalfen – kodak culture) Participants/Topics/Setting/Form/Code (aesthetics) Participants/Topics/Setting Friends, physically close, mostly same sex groups, even at parties, more women Popular events: Parties. Trips w/ Friends. Dances and proms. School year holidays. Sporting events. Graduation (culture of documented/able festivity) Mundane – hanging out Self portraits, numerous versions of (exhibitionism, overt narcissism, celebrity culture)

19. Results – Behavior Overt and exhibitionist articulations of play and affection Awareness of, interaction w/ camera Smiling Play: extreme expressiveness; broad gestures, open-mouths, tongue out; overt drinking Embarrassing shots remain up Physical contact: hugging, arm-in-arm, heads together, cheek kissing

29. Results – Aesthetics Focus on the self, self @ center (narcissism) Centered, straight on Medium to close distance, limited background Self-shot Posed Bad composition ok

32. What’s not there? Family (Parents) Small children Landscapes Animals Older People Sites/travel (w/out friends) Overt sexual behavior

33. Results – Organization Mostly chronological – no structured narrative Albums are collective – based on tags (Facebook architecture) Deviations Based on posts by numerous people, can be out of time order “ Nostalgic” images – members of group in high school or even younger

34. Results – Comments Reinforces closeness & in-group membership Nicknames, inside jokes, statements of affection, compliments, changing looks References to what happened: “ OMG THIS IS SO SWEET! i remember this! We were interviewedddddd!” References to longing “ aww I miss this” or “I miss you guys” References to group inclusion “ can someone please explain why no one tagged me in this!!!!” “… .it still means ur a.. needs to get the hellzz down there woman” Comments tied to pictures & those tags, not to individuals

35. Conclusions Visual self-presentation Photography integral to identity formation Demonstration of group cohesiveness and independence from family Events and relationships made real through use of camera Majority of images demonstrate Awareness of camera Behaviors produced specifically for the camera Photos used as conversational pieces, contextual elements of photos de-emphasized Images directed for closed group, reinforce group membership and cohesion

36. Study 3: Architecture of SNSs The architecture of online networks Balance of public and private

41. Study 3: Architecture of SNSs The architecture of online networks Balance of public and private Self-presentation in spaces publicly private and privately public

45. Study 3: Architecture of SNSs The architecture of online networks Balance of public and private Self-presentation in spaces publicly private and privately public Intricate performances of taste and class Tight and loose structures

49. Implications for the Future Changes in Public/private binary Subjectivity, flexibility of boundaries, reflexive adjustment The affordances of Internet architecture/spaces The meaning of sociability Liquid relationships of converged context, blending political, social, economic, and cultural sensibilities

50. Emerging Sociabilities (and implications for future work) Affordances of online spaces: Expression and connection (x- identity, x-community) Networked persons maintain individuality of personal sphere as they traverse to sociality Microcelebrity, narcissism, individualism Sociabilities networked, remixed, and redactional Converged architectures private/public binary, multiplied space, the social Subjectivity of boundaries, reflexive adjustment Sense of place reflexive to sense of self The affordances of Internet architecture/spaces The meaning of sociability Liquid relationships of converged context, blending political, social, economic, and cultural sensibilities

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