4 Crise etd
owing. (Hy Pre ely s,s Bont
Set Je He sof Ras Pano Rag 38 7
ore, (909) Sol SS London: Rowe
“oe, W (999 Bo, Ft Malo: Ste 2
3 Identity
Mi Love
“The smpenons of dial media forthe formation and presentation of identi
have been signfeat isve since the begining of sere ico soca ant
ctrl impliaton of new med (Kitchin 1998). Region fas been con
‘ered + core dimenion of tnd and colecie Went through the
‘rnsminion of rows meme, eacang of rt and Fain of ial
Ile nd practice sce pucmodernwcietie (Durkhein 195) The sock and
cskural process shiping modem society, including the increasing mediation
‘oF slestsentation and socal interaction, challenge the wana tle of
tehgon in se fom of nena. Ths, che queion of how Menaty
hs Boe conceal nd sided In tesesrch on Telgon aod the Inemee
ges rca sues or undesaling how ne mei techaogy ears
‘gon in conenyporay sce
his caper ded with he queion of how posite and sfoencer for
social nerscton ab Sele pesenaton in tntereased cosmanoion tape
the fomaton and presentation of Went. We begin wth an overview of
nn tend and erin eof the Inter ats efor explora
representing wer, flowed by 2 review of how hee quewson have ben
Siresed im sabes of Kenny and Tego of the Interet during the pst
india hve the every Ie and the ways i oehich they ewe itl
nen. Ths contesting espressonsof eo eyo the Temes
tithinbroaler proces of soc ané call ramformstion inate moder
Sovey Thus ths shaper cue the falling hey quetone ow the
‘condos for fring and preening dentin gel med ier fom fce-
tonic ming? How do indivi handle hs station given thee wins
toch and ual cones and reomee?” Flow do exprenions of religous
‘Meni online sete fo talons of regious sen inthe pl
socal ro
‘Understanding identity inthe age of the Internet
Shery Tere: (195) book, fo he Ser, higlghted mportan spect of
how dal mea sbiper people cxpremons of ent. On one level, he2s Lvtcin
computer canbe sen + ol fr ning penoal Me, wok ad com
rs ha er we nd a i
one our comment well pi new nos of ocean
heaping ee og te of pel se, noes, sound a Tak
“Toa used how computes pone up 2 new seca wor or peopl
‘Tao. te aque the Tne tcl and eclogite
te fst for onpniting exposing and elec on fe bu ao for Ting
HE Tey, wth te towverpece ofthe nteret,tle phone and tle
Crcnclogy and peso of gel mea ths expense 8 een
‘Son cabce
“Tule wav highs some inporant spec of identity, Ona gene
lee‘ he proces by which nl develops heey
‘Spey ihe meanng of sasons everday Mean hei own potion i
‘Sivonen (wit 200, 79). thi proce, the inva ome =
fron iemy or The et rls tothe idols experience of
ena as'sepate, que peso nd ec ple fain a aon
“The enpeence ofl abs suse in peso ontexs of seal inerction
(Gain 195), Thee ow cond daneson of ety, concerning she
Iocaon of the inal in eon vo seins, prices and postons dat
ganze soe i, Exch ston of ca interac prea ean pos
fits for maida to announce ovat poson they mend o mse inorder
{oct the san Hall 196). Whethe ot not he india an ect
{hs ime cannon’ by the pone of oer People, which contin
[Srgureion he nvidols tne pon
Digi communication, anonymity ad dsembodiment
Ine cece mec ot ot md ti rae
tac by wich we reps nd a eno and psn
Suton "The Fecfa (ene) ely on in order to rete co others and
ere th ato ey ome of omer ened conmancaon
{Ch enc ws pomasyfoe-bed) wscen eto ded COM
Sane kecane tbe pny mare manag ding pesos of
Tach ow and ersten ent hb evs ou Hey os
Sieh er once by, for ene, ae et ige el
mpage ban sory of previ os one Dont 199). aly pena
tome psa rete te make Hees igh ef, cone
ogo! ee pt sed (ander 198, Ths ngage or Ses
Soke made Oy Inmet wen eked pst tbe ney
‘pete an oc nwo ole
‘rnd ym Gb she em, mad on
she pecsed ony cmos ea eon lend enous
conten of Hensy. Th fede ponte for een and
fling th cosmo ac os od wet fies Kolock
wey han 1990 9 Ridan 1998 988)" won war pray theo
iy 8
wing om concepts of up’ Ra! seni mpd by dssion of
| car shit om modem wo pesenodemiy (Bauman 1986) Th ross
serted that experiments and ply wih Kenny enabled fn elie sero
‘were inte of ocd cul ifn the conarucon of Men
“Aas and empl ses fom is pero fen fra on online repre
seomaons of ienthy. Mos attention wat gen to ie of MUD (er
domain or dinensor) anne gamer or sol wos the deny play
thse thee enabled trovgh the choice of diren chuncten or pers
(Turkle 1998) or experiments wi one gene swaping (Re 199) Whe
tome mercen dered the lent ew spat or wt labora fo
‘xpeneenting wth the consrtons and reonsationy of that c=
Scenzeposmoders hie’ Turkle 1995179), ot dt the ks of dart
dd aggre or ky bebueor online (Donith 199) Rel 195),
'Ar te sae Hee, ai of eatin deny showed tat ew pope acy
‘engige in the exotic hind of denny experiments dsr by ny CMC
‘as, while ena and ean menagng wee mote cmon sd tne
tes ofthe Internet (ark nd Raber 1098). Research expr nets:
Innes pops cr eal le found tat sen egos a gee
‘Were not end by CBAC, bu rhe the into of pics onl ih
‘ven enhance the asunen of reorient ote ("Be 1
Darker 199}. On a Ser not, te sade showed how the anos
‘of onlite communication alowed people co be more ones and open bout
Chemsles that oie tinge (MeKenns spd Bagh 2000; Henge a
Gikling 2009,
[AS Teme we Becme more widespread ding the ite 1958 eer ci
to facon common wes of the Inte developing» cal saya pron
{oward he cans of ely studs Nancy Bays work on eves const
‘nin fn goups demonseaed te sgpuicane of nana and vases devlopd
mong prin fo sabi appropriate serpents and bee
‘Arenion was abo given to difinne vaneter of one Wenity an hw
these were contexte 9 OMe socal contents (Markhaon 19882 5)
“These suis ull on esearch showing hat in mos oan of CMC. "peop se
orresponing wth people they abo how offic and balding om er one
soci nerwooks (ayn 200643; ler and Ser 200
‘Jae: Sev’ 00) nd Sons Linngstone' (202) work indica of ce
“empateand theoreti nf of thi eno. vin cao ow oe re co,
‘enhance inv ably to bande the ambiguous expenence of ered
mount of infomation, platy of ble choses and beitened s0ate=
ze of eonsageney sn ancerainy i te moder oct, Tp cone
‘Fare of eculton” (20 8), Slevin gue that sch ne sould be
Spproached a soily setued content in which tdi ve every
ein waye which require esurer sch contr al a aces 000
177-3) Lovingtone dives young peoples ew me we i conve
sth changer inthe content ta ena cuca for fing peo a i
‘leneey~ mi ie and enone Here sve of compe aces the natreo6 Mia Livin
Alomesic poetics smunding new media we andthe iesinsional comet,
Srahin whith sooety repute ad promoter meds ae ong youth a
Trough wo te Re fLrmptone 200824). Thi work shows how research
Shed fom 1 fscinaton with “henibodie” expenences an expesion: of
Slvr oni, to ow he Intec embedded everyday if ao shows
how Tocavon shin te ts conte of oslogy and med ses enced
‘tides of tena elie
Sei nenorhs,potpation and convergence
“The development of new mobile devices and sod sofware during the
second para the 2000 mean nee oppress o become
prodacen ther thn spy wer of content produced for thm by sce
Pt sal clu ns and connec companies Brus 2008 13-13)
“Ths development fuer enkanced rough the incensed convergence of
Gigi mesa, whic nike conten more easly and ply share recomiied
Bhai, The development of pero gil mes’ (Lede 2007 or
Iredated intention enbaner the ubigly of egal medi in everyhy He,
bring the bouni of on- ae olin context and racoces (Leow and
pane 202)
Hoe sevcal hens emerge st fr ter eee on ety formation
cnlne, The fie concer slbeeprsentions in Boge and amateur teos
Dreenied and shared through web eaters and on sees sch a» YouTube,
“Tee web apleatons pone new gee in which nal ele peomnce
is combned wit inert though Inks and comments (Mile ac
Shepherd 204), A reed theme te widespread uw of soa networking
Sits sch ay Fresbook fore resentation and Soc nection. im Boys
{2o07) sty of young peopl ase of socal necwork tes argos that thee
provide pore space fr Kens ouside the contr of parents ad schol
It the sme time, the proper of sees ake tons between thei
Sealand her aden in ways dat ay have onende comsebencs
UR thd theme cones s-epreentson and socal sntencton 1 eae
Computer pames Gane sade hive forse nthe ent postions ofeed
et Swucated wan pamen well the sland lesming developed i
fame py in spe of popu ed's foe om te danges oF online gaming,
{Cinder oak 2008, Among the ate abiste to handle experiences
fof chance, tk and comingency in a sooty where secu 6 wpheld by
SOphisaced yet opaque sen of gel ecology am expe Khowedge
(DeNicols 2008,
"The posse for and pliant sing the leer fo se epreenion,
soca sharing enemainnt sn lay be a aed new es, soc 8 changes
in ondestamdings of sutton New meds genres enable sna
to peset entra nage of ve morse and rectors a pbke sting,
Iwhch enance expectation of openines ad inatacy. AT the sme times hey
ntonce oor aby to monitor sad edt selGrepesentaons. which eves
ety 65
them a prsprion of having greter contol over the repetentaton of ent
“Ts the sath erent ough gal eda bce naan
‘oreo and ore“ tha i cetostce seins (der 207)
"Anos ie concer the coneguence of beng comsatly connected 2
vibe online (Cake 205), Ar dah boyd 2007} fae argued, the
‘nobly ada of ew ors meds enlance eel penne
‘epesbiey and make tral el reprsnttions aval to kaow 2nd
“Give audience tha arch ato tine td ple, Tse ceteris 3
open up unprecedented pontuoe for arene of, for example, elius
‘Rinse ple places (Andre 2007). Oeher scholars ave tha tes
‘ea pe new paces (en 200 for penooa wel pu goons
‘lions value sod mene. The iforaon dag a colbert wore
‘aking pce in enine fn communities, oa YouTube and ia online ines, 1
‘rough dit soryeling(Landby 2008, an ao be eens ute of
‘pomscptry exbure’ Jenks 2006) dt cl fo new penpecives 00 iter
(Eon aed colecive fn of meaning aang
Identity in research on religion and the Internet
Following the expansion ofthe Intret ouside the compere indy and
‘hers in he m9, egos and pa infmaton on the leet
‘ily inened. Wht the development of more weetfendy Terie ech
‘ogy. va em cate Gir Ww wee PENNE the Feo
EASE Avi the sy fg communi, ee waves or peso
‘eset on eligon Mest and digi mea can be lene (6 Hapa
dad Wasburg 205),
it wane lly and experiments
“The fine sudics of CMC and igor en Formation appeared in the mid
1990 Faloeing tend inthe Ber field of Inter stdesthe Bne pane
‘rsh ws thar by » Beaton withthe pombe fo expe
tnening wth resonrcton of adsonal fom of regu seway. Research
inchs pan dig swo ser ets The it chratenaed by de ng
‘vctive explosion of te plrlty of rlgiou aymbob, namie ak
fom of neemcion online, potting» via sprual matetplce’ where
vib mighepickeandms their gious iene, Jef Zab’ (997)
‘veiw of ow major word reli we Intec eclogy serves one
Sich empl However, wa he Bourn of popula uno foms of
‘ego a vel he pote of explora sh exresing eon Het
ties one the contol of onze eo nation that mos cared
choy iter Ar sed by Held (2004 30, 39), he pasty ¥ choose
form and expres one's own relipous tent changed he rle of Fes
femme in the femnaton and contol of eligos Meniy. The second
trend explord how ‘Gsembodied? communsason unline Would nde orefil and slp forms of religious Mem, rel in this quote om
Seep O'Leary ad Bren Boe
‘duction in the imponsnce auigaed to che biologeal conponens of
tea ony in beret carmmunscave acs opens 2 sac Whete 2
‘heeft of crews ety ply ers he Bodily asf ex and ace
‘i or dew fonmaaoms of enti Can be explored
(1996; 250)
“The empirical wounding fr thee chine soot the enorme power of
cybengce nas were, er hn, Met suis were bso onthe resect
‘wn explora fhe intemet CF ener 200) a theo idenies expres
insmal groups of aeapagans ing online conference oF news group (Leny
204}.
Second woes tl empl rir
aeons 290 review of research on religion im opbenpace masked ea
toward ssecond pane etch on ery region and he Intemet. i ese
‘eaminnton, demwing on broader fivngs within Teresi, conchae
thar he uence of aersve inary formations on the practice of gion
‘hina and speslive a presen QUDD- 37). Sal be pus he posits
SSeraduced by dil oumunestion elge the way egos sents have
‘rato be ond. TH sees in pit the le of he lol come
‘muni comelsiion and inepation of rou dentin Devon ens is
{view aug hi sais of egous leny eine need oe shore i
{roar ooo! tae mised by the Interse and in eons of ong
Trnfouion of igus expenence and pace. Ths ll fr moe empine
‘eid nf theo ring proved he core es ripe of se
"The tof the millenium st te emergence of more empl is of
regs sent on he Ine, cha he ew Item a8 Americ Le
Drees survey of how Arenas parce religion online (sen 2008) This
suey showed the no poplar elie ett, such ssfomaton seeing oF
‘chang payer ques and ade erough a, were ida eee
Foren, the id) Menatied ants of oie gious idee based 00
‘ellos deveson,Ravory and aflaton, anh aged that the majority of
"Telus sue’ ere ao see nine religous eigen he Tenet
co enuoce commionen och bees ad communis Rls Ouse,
cae, me the Intret 1 ad ohes shag smi reigns interes oF
‘xpeiene of istniaaton ‘The ids of th dy showing how people
fend to ites online win akeady enabled fine Sci networks her
than with angen, or explore ew ites ove, have Beeb confined
Inter rere lover «a 2004 Liven 201).
“Aer 200, sds of ego identi run fect on the experiences of
indie for whom ssc of Menay fomaton appeaeparicully eri
ewig 7
such a1 young people and members of Ween egos minory groups
[erga Ezy interes wat young Austalan sl Amenian witches 2
Cowan 2003) show the, for idee netted to religions sack 22
apni and chor —chaacenzed by imovaton elec pd nial
rchiany pacice — the lneret provides ample pss for explosng
tenes cwn Yeon of eliion. For relgious minority group, te social is of
acting egin plc fhe othe iis ofthe terme
$a arera fo expe lows erste. Sir pate were noted in des
‘of young Mistin men and sxoen who tere n tanto or dispors
‘online sligoe coments (cunide 2009, Here the Internet hep tet
‘a contections wih Believe acom diferent context, and a hep in
Toning ensons within daspone stuns. Online, young Misi cn fd
‘sources fr exploring religous ident ehrough pereed shen aces
‘of im, her ta pracics ap nome Formed by parse bel ad ene
ures Websites and dicusion groups ak become sites for xpesng
how thee denstir can be combined wih the wakes of seal, Weve
youth cl
"Cowan (205: 76) doce thee vrei fone perrmance of Weis.
While fr some indie online relpourslencty mma” orprfonnance
‘at primal pretend onlin, other ae te web tore a an adskona
‘enue fod ego ety sl yet elie elements tar it
‘SentisesSeill oder she he Inert o pec theses st ual exper
‘res for ther in tir way chiming an sutontaave onon. The et
hat thse enline mans exper may byes tional atone ot om
Ineraine Knewlsdge receuted fom dhe wider rou community fica
(Genes tenon withthe tadiona proces of ealetve sety Fommaton
(6m 2008.
Ths dhcunion maka an impor conmbusion to research focising on
invidoal wses andexpesion of celgows wenity elie. By pacing online
recur ct tector fom srl sent fomaton to extra trcsonal
[Btninyrescuttim, Cowan shows how the penance of rious Hey
‘online 3 proces of neposaon ad o-consructon (2008. 155-91. Ths,
the indie chancer of online ebgoxs dente ould not be over
‘enphaized (Cowan 2005: 35; Aupers and Houtman 2010), The lernet
aks vibe sd provides a dscie and socal nature = hat eed
toes shared tof ides sd frum for dsesin, situa and esessan —
‘whch tae well fr thee eligi ecie.
‘Asecond end dung th pase cncers bow esewches end in iba