Abstract:
The study investigated how females represent their identities in a networked culture, specifically the Friendster. It explored (1) the meaning, history
and latest features of Friendster, (2) the factors that made the website appealing to
its male users and (3) how females project their identities in the digital world. The
researcher draw on the data gathered from 150 females that are Friendster users,
aged 18-24, who answered the online questionnaire, to analyze the role of profiles
in self-presentation. The results of the questionnaire were analyzed using the
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and the frequency and
percentage of each choice for every question was given importance. The Focus
Group Discussion (FGD) with three female participants further gave light to the
results of the questionnaire. The results of the study proved that females reinvent
their identities in their Friendster profiles with the attempt to look more
interesting to other users, so as to attract more friends or potential lovers. They
prefer to impress the viewers of their profiles by highlighting desirable aspects of
themselves. They build up their identity online because they are conscious of how
other users might perceive them. Moreover, the study also revealed that Friendster
is appealing to its users because of its unique features that facilitate selfpresentation
and its ability to connect and reconnect with people.
