Personalities On Virtual Spaces

 

                                               (image: youtube.com)

Hurot na brodkaster..

In an era dominated by social media, the power to express one's thoughts and opinions has never been more accessible. Anyone, regardless of background, can broadcast their ideas—whether insightful or misguided—across digital platforms. In many ways, this represents the true essence of freedom of expression. However, there are times when these spaces become filled with trivial, and even inappropriate content, prompting us to question why such virtual space is often wasted.

While some argue that we should simply mind our own business, pointing out that these are *their* personal timelines, the reality is that these posts often spill into our own news feeds, intruding upon the digital landscape we navigate daily. This creates a tension between the freedom to share and the burden of being constantly bombarded by content that can feel irrelevant or even disruptive.

Social media platforms inherently empower individuals by giving them a platform for expression. However, this empowerment can lead to overreach, where users post irrelevant or harmful content, believing that their views hold intrinsic value simply because they can share them (Andreassen, 2017).

Similar to our actions in real life, individuals often reveal aspects of their personalities through their behavior in the digital scene. By utilizing the online space as an avenue for self-expression, our posts, interactions, and choices of engagement provide meaningful insights into our character and values.

Big Five personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) found that these traits significantly shape how individuals use social media. For instance, extraversion is positively associated with frequent social media use and information sharing, while neuroticism may discourage sharing due to anxiety or insecurity. This aligns with broader trends in understanding digital self-expression as an extension of personality traits.

A meta-analysis revealed that extraversion and openness are positively related to sharing information on social media, as these traits encourage engagement and exploration. Conversely, conscientious individuals share less, likely due to cautiousness in sharing potentially irrelevant or disruptive posts (Zheng et al.,2023).

Sharing ideas or posting visual content online is inherently neutral and often beneficial, provided it is done with consideration for others' feelings and well-being. Equally valid is the choice of individuals to remain silent or limit their participation in online discourse.

However, the issue arises when these behaviors are driven by skewed or negative intentions, such as spreading misinformation, inciting conflict, or undermining others. In such cases, these actions become a clear indicator of problematic dynamics and warrant careful attention.

Engaging in a thoughtful self-assessment of the motivations behind our posts is crucial for fostering meaningful and responsible online interactions. If the reasons for posting are unclear, it’s wise to pause and reflect first before sharing.