How have social media fostered the phenomenon of sexting? Discuss inappropriate self-disclosure using the Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

- Self-disclosure, or revealing information about yourself to another person, is one of the most powerful communication practices we have for strengthening a relationship. But social media can accelerate the rate and depth at which we engage in self-disclosure. The convenience, reach, and mobility of social media have fostered inappropriate self-disclosures, especially for those in romantic relationships. It urges people to share too much, too soon, as in the case of sexting.
- Sexting refers to the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photographs, primarily between smartphones via text messaging.
- The SIDE Model describes the extent to which individuals identify and behave in accordance with social rather than personal identities. Their behaviors are often influenced by the characteristics of the social media device, including anonymity. The SIDE Model explains that the anonymous nature of certain new technologies enable users to behave in ways that are more closely aligned with social identities-behaviors common through the technology-rather than personal identities-how the person behaves in other contexts.