Social networking texts among college students: Identity and imagination online

This research studies the significance of online social networking in the lifeworld of the millennial student. The focus of this research is to come to a new understanding of how the created online profiles influence identity formation and understanding, as well as the capacity to imagine new relationships and different ways of being with others in the real world. Employing a framework of interpretive participatory inquiry (Herda 1999), this research analyzes data presented in research conversations using the critical hermeneutic concepts of text (Gadamer 1975), identity (Ricoeur 1992), and imagination (Kearney 1998).;The social networking paradigm suggests that the online profile is a representative text that is a cursory overview of the author. Though often superficial, these profiles do represent some parts of the identity of the author and also present the viewer with an opportunity to interpret and appropriate a different understanding of the author's identity. This research also explores the notion that social networking profiles, as embellished texts, allow the author to put forth online a manufactured identity different from their authentic self that can influence a different interpretation and understanding by the viewer who encounters this fabricated text. Furthermore, social networking profiles present opportunities for imagining different relationships in the real world. This research explores the relationship between the massive amounts of information and imagery available in the online text and the potential for this technology to influence the collapse of imagination (Kearney 1988) among members of the millennial generation.;Findings from this research related to the three research categories of text, identity, and imagination, and they include the following: (1) online social networking texts are superficial and embellished but also representative of identity, and they influence prejudgments of others online; (2) students manufacture an online identity to connect with others; (3) social networking enhances envisioning real-world encounters but is also a significant and powerful influence on imagining new and different relationships. Suggested research as informed by this study include additional exploration of the manufactured online identity as well as further research on exploiting this technology to fulfill personal needs or to cause malice toward others.