In chapter 2 of The Breakup 2.0, Ilana Gershon discusses how media ideologies affect the ways in which individuals find it appropriate to initiate a breakup, as well as how learning to use a medium is heavily weighted in social expectations. The beginning of the chapters resonates with Jones and Schieffelin’s article in reference to generational gaps. The man Gershon interviewed, Herb, began texting because of a love interest; the way in which he texts forms with the development of his relationship. Closing the generational gap, he also uses text messages to stay in contact in a more fluid way.
When using social media (such as Facebook) creators have an implied user in mind, which may or may not match those individuals actually creating profiles and using them to virtually network with others. Gershon concentrates on how Facebook affects relationships and the mitigation of relationship statuses. Facebook creators implied that users would create a profile with information for public access and many different types of relationships (friends, romantic, professional, etc).
“When analyzing how the structures of Facebook affect romantic relationships, I have to discuss the social interactions and expectations that people bring to Facebook. Facebook might refract these expectations, encouraging people to focus on one aspect of the information that their lovers are presenting to different audiences (which includes them, but typically is not exclusively aimed toward them)”(90).
However, in her interviews it appears as though Facebook complicates romantic relationships. One of Gershon’s interviewees even began feeling as if she was not the implied user, which in turn created usability issues with the social media platform. The other significant impact relationship status had on people is how to navigate a breakup. Often, there was tension between having one’s status displayed and transitioning from “in a relationship” to “single”. The controversy between those in a relationship developed out of different media ideologies; whether it was really necessary to solidify a relationship on Facebook. Whether one was trying to avoid confrontation with others or proactively inform people with a “barrage of questions” (as Gershon states) was unavoidable. The circulation of information is much more publicly accessible, and does not require the active exchange of information.
The YouTube clip I provided represents the way our generation’s media ideologies about Facebook affect relationships. As Gershon states, based on tagged pictures and posts there is a tremendous amount of assumptions made with minimal insight and contextual knowledge of the situation. These assumptions often lead to confrontation that may, or may not occur without the existence of Facebook. In summary, innovative media platforms are changing and shaping how information is accessed, interpreted, and displayed.
Facebook Breakup:
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