Part A. Google Search Results Analysis
Whitepage.com provided 12 results for the name John Love living in different city-states and relative to several people. Beenverified, on the other hand, provided 101 results of persons with the name John Love but different middle names and ages living in various cities. It was surprising to find people I share with almost the same identity such that only age and city could be the distinguishing factor. This online presence can affect personal and professional opportunities in imaginable ways especially in cases where an employer considers a Google search of one’s name before they meet in person and discuss anything. A search can reveal negative information that can discredit my application for the job particularly if the employer does a wrong search. It will be difficult to convince him otherwise since the first impression will affect his judgment as postulated by the Implicit Personality Theory “certain traits and behaviors go together” (Sanderson, 2009, pg. 159). The employer may have a fixed impression that the name and the personality are inseparable and apply the same observations to me. Goffman’s postulations on the subject of impression management and performance that defines people as actors impressing their audience through intentional and non-intentional cues further elaborates this position. The online search is the unintentional impression while my presence and conversation with the employer is the intentional impression. The unintentional impression may have a detrimental impact that cannot be undone by intentional impression and performances (Jacobsen & Kristiansen, 2014; Witt, 2016).
Part B: Social Networks
Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Whatsup and other sites have turned the global world into a small society (Witt, 2016). Personal image while on social sites is very important. The social sites come close to Goffman’s description of performance and roles in life stage more strikingly than any other aspect of human life. Many participants in social sites care about their public image and can post any false image to impress others (Witt, 2016). The social media has become the front stage where people come to interact while they retire to the backstage they reveal more of their true state and become their real selves. Through positive imaging, I can publicize myself and win the favor of potential employers and the public at large. The social sites are perfect places for self-advertisement given their pull on people.
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References
Jacobsen, M. H., & Kristiansen, S. (2014). The social thought of Erving Goffman . New York, NY: Sage Publications.
Sanderson, C. A. (2009). Social Psychology . New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Witt, J. (2016). SOC 2016 (4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
