INTRODUCTION:

The indefinable power of Internet to connect, influence and to mobilize the present population is simply as expected and not shocking anymore. The evolution of Internet based social media made it possible for a single person to communicate with thousands of other people and helped to develop relationships with all contacts. This Internet based social media is also exponentially growing based on the needs of the users. The highest percentage of social media is now referred as Net generation or Netizens. The main aspect contributing to the high usage of social media is that it can connect people with no barriers on geographical location. Social media is more a customizable template kind according to users preference where users can personalize their pages and profile.

The major usability of social media is to maintain relationships. The converged culture made it possible to access social media from laptops and even on mobile devices facilitating for everyday and anytime and anywhere usage. Among many social media sites. Facebook, Instagram and twitter is most commonly used. In particular facebook wide and interactive features made it more popular and accessed by high population. India is one among the top five countries in the world where it has large number of facebook users. The simple interface of facebook attracts its users to use on its daily basis. Users majorly use facebook to share and connect with their friends especially to express their ideas and opinions and emotions to their peers. And to mention specifically Out of the total population its Youth who use the medium actively. To its highly demand to study how and in what ways Youth social media to express their feelings, emotions, opinions and ideas in Fcaebook. This paper will further investigate how women consume, participate or produce content in facebook and how they express themselves in facebook as extrovert or introvert.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Social media is recognized as development of web 2.0 which can be simply defined as interactive and user-driven web. And social media is an umbrella term for various internet applications that lets users to design content and interact with other users. This interaction can be done in many forms that include: sharing videos, photos and posts, links of interesting contents created by other users. Even Updates on profile which includes current activities and relationship status. Commenting on other users profile s and updates can also be done to enact more interactivity. In our study we take particular application called facebook as it has more interactivity and features to engage more in the application.

FACEBOOK:

Facebook is a famous and free social networking wesite where anyone can register and create account. The registered users can create profiles where they can even upload photos and videos, can send instant messages and create online contact with friends, family and colleagues and add new friends and maintain relationships. Mark Zukerberg is the founder of facebook

Interface and features of facebook:

To connect with nativity facebook can be accessed with 37 different languages which also includes features such as:

Groups:

Facebook allows users of common interests to the create and join in groups and interact with each others through posts and discussions.

Events:

Members in facebook can publicize a event and invite guests, it also facilitates to track who plans to attend the event.

Pages:

A registered member can create and promote a page and make it public on a specific topic.

Market place:

facebook acts a good place to market products where users or members can read post and respond to classified ads.

DEFINING SELF:

Self can be defined as a dynamic cultural creation where individual’s selfviews, motivations and emotions take form and shape within the framework added by cultural values, structures, ideals and practices. Self can be defined in many other ways where...

Self Construal:

Self defined with interdependently with others or independently perceived with cultural differences in the self.

Self-disclosure:

When a person reveals information about himself to another which can be descriptive or evaluative including thoughts, feelings, likes and dislikes etc.,

Self Efficacy:

This is the confidence of One’s ability to achieve what he/she wish to be or intended to be.

Self Image:

It’s a mental picture what a individual think about himself and the thoughts he have about himself where the individual resist to change. Self image can also be a result of how others see the individual.

Human is considered to be an emotional animal. Emotion has no particular definition it’s all about subjective experience as one person’s emotion on one situation is completely different from the reaction and emotion of other person on the same situation. And Expression of emotion of same person will also be different on different situations. As humans react and express all their emotion in happiness, anger, sadness etc., they don’t miss to express their emotions in social media too. Many Users of facebook feel it’s their own platform to express any sought of emotions in their wall. It is necessary to investigate why people use social media platforms such as facebook, twitter and instagram to express their emotions. Our research makes it clear with the selected sample for what purpose they express their emotions.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:

In the current scenario with the advent of smartphone in everyone’s hand, social networks play a very important role in everyone’s life. The daily conversation has become “Lets Chat tomorrow”, “Whatapp me”, “Status update”, “dp”. And it is considered to be necessary for many activities in day to day life to have a social network account for working professionals and students and in many other scenario. But those who all have social network account are not active all the day and those who actively login in social media does not post or participate in it actively, so social media have a list of both active and passive users. Many factors determine the active participation in social media. One such factor to be considered as an important variable is Gender. Many studies discuss about the role of gender in active participation. Women who is introvert in real life tends to be extrovert in social media and viceversa. Some Men are active participants in social media but they don’t reveal more personal. But some women who are less active and passive in social media reveal more personal information an active with their peers in the medium. So in this scenario it is important to research and study who is active in social media. So my research will be more specifically on how women utilize social network. Especially how they express themselves in social networks. The social media I have chosen for the study is facebook.

OBJECTIVE:

The main objective of the study is to explore how active facebook women users create content or share content in facebook. What kind of restrictions or limitation is being faced by these active users in facebook. Main focus will be on their self expression in both social and personal issues. Basically how a woman is in facebook is all about this paper.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK:

To Study the Self Expression of Women in facebook let us see the theories which support Our Study.

Uses and gratifications theory:

When most of theories state what media effects people experience. Uses and Gratification is a theory which explains how media is used by people and how they gratify from media. This can be simply explained as what people do with media. Here in this theory People are active. As stated what people do with media, our study is mainly on facebook which is a user generated media. Where the users are life blood for the medium. People use facebook in many ways.

Reception Theory:

Reception theory states that producers or the person who create content encode media text and whoever is reading which means the audience decode it in different ways and not only ion the way the producer intend the message to be understood. The text can be perceived in dominant reading where the content is understood in the way the producer expect it to be understood. And Sometimes audience compromise with the message of the producers but they have different opinions and ideas. In Oppositional reading the audience completely rejects the messages and ideas of the producer. In our study this theory can be taken in either way from the direction of producer or production of content or in participation how our samples or audience react or accept the messages in facebook.

HYPOTHESIS:

In the pilot study conducted and from literature review certain hypothesis were developed.

Hypothesis 1:

Women post more personal contents in facebook According to pilot study the samples post more personal contents in facebook and they hesitate to post on social issues.

Hypothesis 2:

In facebook women are selective participants and more active in closed groups. Women are more feminist in thoughts and they try to participate in discussions and debates on women related issues and women have some fear to be active in open space on the social media and more active in closed groups in facebook. This study finds the factors that make women to be a passive participant in facebook.

RESEARCH QUESTION:

What is the timeline of a women in facebook?:

Generally the timeline of a user in facebook differ from the period they join and the frequency they use changes from time to time some may be very active in the initial stage of signing the facebook some may be active in the later part after knowing the features and utilities of facebook. This study will see the timeline of women how they use facebook and frequency of logging in the initial stage and the content they post and participate and how it differs over a period of time.

Do personality traits of women play a major role in participating in facebook?:

Some women may be introvert and others may be extrovert and some women may be Neurotic in nature our study will examine whether the personality trait of a women reflect in facebook or oppositly she react to her original nature.

What are the restrictions and limitations a woman face in Facebook?:

According to previous research and pilot study women are more passive and introvert in nature. Our study reveals what restrictions and limitation a woman face in facebook so she is not expressing her true self.

Why women are active consumers and participants in facebook and not active producers?:

Initially when a person joins facebook or any other social media he/she will be more either more active participant initially and tend to become passive over a period of time or vice versa. According to our pilot study women are more active participant initially and later become participant and then consumers. So our study examines why women change themselves from active producer from passive participant.

METHODOLOGY:

To study the self expression of women in facebook qualitative methodology was adopted. In which samples were interviewed with unstructured questionnaire. Analysis and interpretation is done with the answers given by the samples. Totally 20 samples were interviewed. The samples were chosen on their participation in facebook. All the samples are women and active facebook users. The age group of the sample is between 20years to 30 years. The reason to chose the sample at this age group is that, this is the period were the women undergo or face major situation in life like completing the graduation, new job role, getting married like that.

DISCUSSION:

Shao (2008) said Individuals in user generated media deal it in three ways. And they are Consuming, Participating and Producing. Let us relate our study with these methods and analyse the initial stage on how the women in our study deals with facebook like what they consume, How they participate and how and what content they produce.

Consuming Facebook:

Consuming the User generated Media, as we specifically define Facebook is nothing but individual users who just watch, read or view the user generated media and never try to participate. Correa, Hinsley and Zuniga (2009) said women are most frequent users in social media. Though they frequently login facebook they are not active in producing contents and share opinions. Many studies reveal that women are very passive in social media and just lurk on others profile and content on what they have updated. Just to kill their loneliness they just lurk on others profiles. Another set of users are there as suggested by Brandtzægand Heim (2009) said many facebook users are sporadic which means they visit the media or community often but not on an regular basis. They visit facebook from time to time. These kind of people tend to seek more information and tend to be in low level participation. They just check status and see if anyone have tried to contact them. Consuming in facebook refers to the individuals who just read, watch or view but never participate or produce any content on their own.

Deepa of age 28 years said as she s a homemaker facebook and other social media helps her to overcome her loneliness . Rekha of Age 29 years said as she is away from her family facebook helps her to get connected with her friends and Family. Subhameena of age 27 years said facebook helps her to be updated on her friends and family’s personal information. From the unstructured interview which was u they participate or produce content. All the samples actively lurk or consume contents in facebook. Madumitha and Puneetha of age 28 years said they are members in various facebook groups and consume or observe other members discussions and chats. Samples also said they are members in various groups like shopping groups, cooking and likeminded women groups on parenting and gardening. It gives them information on various subjects they joined in and Products listed in shopping group makes them more interested and creates desire to purchase the products. Samples actively sek information on health tips, kitchen tips, and more interested in reading facebook stories. So as discussed by McQuail Out of the four motivational needs such as information, entertainment, social interaction, and personal indentity. Consuming facebook gratifies two needs such as Information seeking and entertainment is attained.

Participating in Facebook:

According to Shao (2008) Participating in facebook is the interaction between users such as posting comments, likes and sharing. Shao clearly states that participation does not include one’s actual production of content. Let us now see how the samples in our study do Active participation.

Active in Closed Groups:

Women are members in many facebook groups based on their interest such as closed women group, shopping groups and groups related to their career. As the samples choose the groups on their need and interest they participate actively. Deepa of age 28 years said she is interested in handicrafts and jewellery making and she actively participates in groups related to that. She also said as she is a member of Indian handmade jewellery and she learns making jewellery by seeing the videos uploaded in the group. Shubameena of age 27 years is active in government exams group in facebook and said its very helpful in getting notification on exams and many scholars who are also members in the group help others regarding the exams. Madhumitha, Puneetha said they are active members in women’s groups such as Ask the village and Wondermoms. When asked whether they are actively producing contents for discussion they said they actively participate in others discussion and when the opinions of the members going different the discussion also ends in debate.

The other samples of the study, Deepa, Abirami and Preethi said the groups always revolve around women based issues like parenting, health care and fashion and family. So it’s very interested to lurk as well participate by commenting certain suggestions to other members.Punnetha and Yasmeen of age 28 years said they joined a new group recently called Opos which means one pot one shot where less time is required for cooking. So they invited many likeminded friends in the group and try the new cooking method. Members of the group post their queries and suggestion on it as its helpful for them. Therefore samples clearly stated that they join the group based on their interest so they like to participate and the content posted by others are very informative and entertaining as well.

Sharing Memes and Trolls:

Now a day’s Memes and trolls are very trending in facebook and many amateur students create memes and trolls on daily news and social issues. It is believed that these memes and trolls are shared instantly and reach many people than text messages. Memes and trolls are created on variety of Subjects including cinema, politics, education and also on all genres. These memes and trolls are sometimes very informative, comic, and sometimes sarcastic with hidden meanings.

When asked the samples about whether they like memes and trolls and whether like to share such contents, 90% of the samples said they like these memes and trolls very much and they prefer to share memes and trolls which relate to them. When asked what kind of memes and trolls are being shared. Preethi of age 26years said she like to memes and trolls which is related to women like “The three words a women like the most is No cooking today” and recently the meme of kids, women and legends troll. And Prathiba and Abirami said they like relationship trolls on siblings, husband wife jokes. Yasmeen, Mithra and Archana said they like memes and trolls related cinema and reality shows like Bigg boss. From the samples it is clear that they all like memes and trolls but specified to their age group and gender they select and share these memes and trolls.

Producing:

Producing the content is the actual meaning of user generated content which is under study. Yes it well defined that Social media is a user generated and facebook relies heavily on this system. Producing content in facebook encompasses creating and publishing one’s own personal contents which includes text, audio, video and images.

Posting personal Contents:

Generally producing or posting content in facebook can be beyond personal like expressing views and opinions on social issues and politics and even on other general issues like cinema, fashion, cooking, etc., As mentioned the participants of our study are active facebook users. They consume a lot of information and others profile from facebook as well as they also participate in facebook by making social interaction with their peers and post comments in friend’s posts and even active in closed facebook groups. But when asked about their content creation. Deepa, Prathiba, Archana, Yasmeen, Rekha said they post contents only on their personal information like posting photos and video of their family and get together and Check in status if they go outing. While Madhumitha, Puneetha, Preethi said they also share messages and post of feminist related issues and certain kind social issues by adding their view points. When asked whether they create content same answer was received from all the samples that they don’t create or produce post on politicical issues but share posts which is related to them or which they feel it will personally their life like post on Demonetization, GST and women safety. The participants are more emotional in nature so they don’t fail to share RIP messages which are on news. Samples were also enquired what makes them to post only personal information and why not on social issues. Madhumitha and Puneetha said post on political issues is not a big deal but all the friends who have connected in facebook will have different opinions and it will end in argument with difference of opinion. So they generally avoid posting content on politics. Rekha, Deepa and Yasmeen said they are not interested in politics though they are aware of what’s happening around they wish to post personal information in facebook.

When asked whether the samples also disclose their personal conflict, failures everyone said they don’t disclose too personal information. When asked for the reason everyone stated different that its just a social medium and why to share my problems over there was the answer from puneetha and Madhumitha, Whike archana and Preethi said they want to share happiness and make it light. They feel happy when spreading positive vibration to others. So they don’t wish to share their personal problems with others. While Rekha, Yasmeen and Deepa said that when they post personal problems chances are there for their friends and family to think bad of them. Not to make them in an embarrassed situation they hide the personal things on facebook.

Managing and Pages:

Many women also manage their own pages and group as a part of their entrepreneurial activity. But the samples under study are either housewives or working. Only one sample Nadhiya of age 29 years said she have two pages in her account to promote her business. As she s doing Bakery and Mehandi business she created a page on it and upload photos of her work. And she gave a positive response that her page have a targeted reach among her friends and peers which helps in her business.

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION:

Based on the unstructured interview conducted among the 15 samples certain statements from them were analyzed. Based on the analysis how women gets gratified from facebook and how women expresses herself in facebook has been interpreted.

Perceived Benefits:

Though Facebook is a social networking site which created connectivity among peers with extended users are getting benefitted in two ways. Extrinsic benefit were the women use facebook to seek information and uses facebook gain knowledge. Samples in the study use facebook to get news updates as well. Many information regarding business, lifestyle, health, fashion is also being shared among peers whih is more useful for women. Through Intrinsic benefits Women sue the platform to enjoy and overcome loneliness and chat with peers, family and friends to create social interaction which the key for healthy community build.

Self Expression:

Narcissism:

Campbell (2008) defined Narcissism as a personality trait which reflects self concept which is specifically associated with self views on power, physical, and intelligence with attractiveness on one’s self. To explain in simple words its sense of uniqueness of one’s self. Narcissism is generally associated with low level of agreeableness and high degree of extraversion.

To relate narcissism to our study Today’s self presentation and Interaction on the facebook is a norm. Maintaining a high profile update and web presence now become most of the women’s daily part of life. So women behave in a narcissist way they behave in real life with certain degree of high participation in facebook. Active participation in self presentation is common in today’s women. As the circle for a women in facebook is small they want to highlight and exhibit their daily life in facebook through status updates. They even post posts photos and videos of their daily activity like shopping, cooking and taking care of their dear ones.

Mass Self Communication as termed by Manuel Castells (2009) is now highly suitable for social media users, which refers to networked interaction in global level. For many women their page is presented as personal archive to share their memories and life history to the large and also a place to see and to be seen.

Self expression and Personality Traits:

Based on the interview with samples and how they behave to the facebook with the parameters of consumption, participation and production general classification has been done with Personality traits.

Openness to experience - People with this personality trait always tend to be active and curious on visiting others profiles and want to be updated on what their peers are doing. Persons with high in openness experience to appreciate others work, art and imagination and welcome new things.

Conscientiousness –People with this trait are more organized and planned in their duty. To match this trait with our study, Conscientious people hesitate to post or comment in facebook. They express themselves during events. People who are low in conscientious are more spontaneous in posting personal contents in facebook and replying in others post as well.

Extraversion- People with this personality trairt are more energetic, social, and more with positive emotions and generally attention seekers. These kind of people are more active and content producers and more participative in groups. Also extraverted people with high in Openness participate on friends post and comment or like their post. They are more active and engaged in facebook.

Agreeableness – People with this personality trait are more compassionate and co-operative. They are generally more mute and non argumentative in the group and when they try to post a content they think twice whether the content they post might create any argument among the group. If they think so they will avoid posting such contents.

Neuroticism - People with this personality trait tend to experience unpleasant emotions like depression, anger and anxiety easily. These types of people are kind of active but the phases they use tell they are neurotic. Like I feel irritated, stressed, worried etc,

CONCLUSION:

Facebook have attracted an extraordinary user and changed the landscape of traditional media and other social networking sites. This article presented a theoretical framework on explaining the appeal of facebook in uses and gratification perspective among women. It argues how women make use of facebook in different ways with different purposes. First women consume contents of facebook in search of information, views, opinions and profile updates of peers. Through the consumption of Entertaining messages in facebook it helps alter their prevailing mood states.

Secondly women interact with facebook contents and other users. This participating activity makes them to engage in more social connections and create virtual communities. Our study reveals that women participate more in closed facebook groups and raise their voice for feminist thought and female related issues including health, hygiene, safety and security. And they are more extrovert in posting comments and suggestions to others posts. Through participation women can fulfill their social needs by interacting with others through online chats too. Through virtual community women try to share interests, identity, and a sense of communion.

Third, Women try to produce their own content through status updates, uploading photos, videos etc., By producing or updates their own content self actualization and self expression is done through which women create their own identity. Women cross three phases after entering into facebook. Initially they are more active when they open an account where they produce content and express more about themselves and their family and peer thwn when they feel they are expressing emotions which is also being judged by others and the fear of being wrongly judged they stop to express negative emotions and their opinions and views. Here is the place where womens self expression is being dumped by maintaining self image. In the second level they start to participate by only posting likes and comments in others profiles and sometimes active on closed group discussion and debates in this women always have a second thought and review what they post as comment. In the third level they just consume the message, information and updates of others profiles they act passive in participating. Women become dump. The reasons for a women from active user to passive consumer is to maintain their self image and the fear of being wrongly judged. Therefore this study clearly proves that Self expression of women in facebook is lesser and women are passive consumers in facebook.

SUGGESTIONS:

Our Study examines on how women expresses herself in facebook. And many studies reveal on facebook addiction and Uses and gratification of facebook. Research can also be done on what are the restrictions a women face in accessing facebook and expressing herself in it.

The framework studied here in this article is not only integrating the existing findings from production, participation and consumption but can also start researching on systematic and empirical study on self expression can also be done with its effects .Studies can also focus on mood management and motivation to use facebook. Individual qualitative analysis and content analysis can be done on videos, comment, homepage, profile maintenance of women and herself expression.

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Received on 24.10.2017 Modified on 26.11.2017

Res. J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2018; 9(1): 68-74.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5828.2018.00012.8