MSN and Identity
Written March 4, 2003

The internet has quickly become an extremely influential force in the very framework of society, introducing new methods of communication and new forms of sociability into mainstream culture. One of the most striking changes to interpersonal exchange and identity representation in young North Americans comes in the form of instant messaging (IM). Popular instant messaging programs such as MSN provide users with a unique opportunity to play with an abstract representation of their personal identity, offering a brand new outlet for conveying their interests, social activities, personality and emotional states to a select group. Instant messaging has quickly become a standard means of maintaining social presence and furthering established relationships amongst middle-class youth and young adults, particularly those currently in high school or post secondary education. In fact, a recent preliminary study on instant messaging usage cited a majority of interviewed teenagers as identifying instant messaging as their primary tool for social congregation (Grinter 24). As instant messaging continues to embed itself into basic practices of everyday life in youth culture, it is increasingly evident that understanding the functions and nuances of these virtual networks will become an essential part of comprehending technology’s widespread influence on popular culture. Interestingly enough, instant messaging is primarily used to expand and enhance ‘real life’ based identities and relationships, as opposed to the majority of previously studied virtual communities where identity becomes a fluid and uncertain construct, essentially disconnected from the constraints of the physical world. Instant messaging is a unique example of a virtual community’s effect on identity construction and performativity because of the medium’s reliance on real life social structures and conventions for mobilization, challenging previous theoretical assumptions and generalizations about virtuality and identity. Naming or ‘handle’ selection in IM provides the context for an entirely new form of personal identity representation, transcending the limitations of physical expression while deeply rooted identity constructions such as gender performativity are still manifested in this new medium.

My interest in this topic stems from personal observation of how instant messaging has slowly become a communications tool of great importance, both in my own life and amongst my friends, peers, family and coworkers. The magnitude with which programs such as MSN were co-opting traditional forms of communication, such as the telephone, combined with a glaring absence of existing research on the topic led me to more deeply consider this new medium which was redefining commonplace sociability right before our eyes. A relative lack of related studies or existing theory on instant messaging has forced me to base many of my assumptions on personal experiences or phenomena related to me by other users – however, emails forwarded through hundreds of people reach my inbox on a regular basis and are filled with cynical observations and criticisms decrying trends and cultural mores amongst the instant messaging world that confirm and frequently mirror my own observations. I am convinced that I am not alone in my interest in these virtual communities, despite a distinct lack of existing academic research. While instant messaging is rarely mentioned specifically, the importance of the internet to interpersonal communications has been documented by others: one survey claims that “Respondents tell us that the Internet allows people to stay in touch with both family and friends and, in many cases, extend their social network” (Howard 71). The same survey also suggests that “online tools are more likely to extend social contact, rather than detract from it” (Howard 68). It appears that the internet is gaining reputable strength as a medium of communication and instant messaging is certainly part of this movement. MSN is my instant messaging application of choice and will serve as an exemplary IM prototype for the purposes of this paper, although competing virtual networks such as Mirabilis’ ICQ and AOL’s AIM contain much of the same functionality.

My primary interest in MSN lies in the ability of users to dynamically select a ‘handle,’ which serves as a virtual representation of the user to their selected list of contacts, associates and friends. These handles are primarily text based, although small graphical icons can also be included. Although they were originally intended to simply facilitate the selection of a name or nickname for identification purposes, MSN users have expanded their handles to encompass a wide variety of additional information: advertisements for extracurricular activities or events, particularly meaningful segments of poetry or musical lyrics, rants about life and any number of other choices. While the significance of these selections is explored in more detail later in my paper, the importance that they hold becomes apparent when you consider their very real connection to the lives of users. For example, several years ago an acquaintance on my MSN list of contacts began selecting increasingly morose and despairing quotes as his online representation. Finally, he disappeared indefinitely from my list and I later found out that he had tragically killed himself one night. According to his friends and family, he had apparently displayed no physical symptoms or outward indication of his depression – MSN was the only outlet for his unhappiness. From this example alone, it is evident that instant messaging can be an important virtual space for the projection of identity and emotion where physical representation fails in its limitations.

To understand the importance of MSN on identity construction, we must first place identity within an appropriate theoretical framework. Stuart Hall accomplishes this handily in suggesting that we should think of identity “as a ‘production’, which is never complete, always in process, and always constituted within, not outside, representation” (Hall 222). Hall’s concept of identity production is primarily intended for explaining racial discourse – however, it is important to note that he suggests that identity is something which is constantly building upon itself through the individual’s experiences and interactions with the cultures and separate individuals around them. If we pull this premise into the realm of a virtual community, we can understand the textual interactions within instant messaging as simultaneously representative and constitutive of the interacting individual’s identity. Hall’s concept of the production of identity is effectively carried into a virtual space where many of the social borderlines of the physical world are altered or negated, but the important function of defining and presenting one’s identity to others is still a key aspect of sociability. This idea is especially grounded by the fact that instant messaging typically occurs between those who have solidified relationships and responsibilities in real life (Grinter 24), strengthening the connection between identity portrayed on the virtual network and identity deployed in physical situations. One author suggests in his research on virtual community that “we are on the way to sloughing off our situated bodies and becoming ubiquitous, and, ultimately, immortal” (Dreyfus 50). While this predicted disembodiment of identity may apply to virtual communities where physical anonymity is a prominent feature, instant messaging requires users to maintain a cohesive connection between their virtual IM representation and real life identity. This relationship forces instant messaging handle selection and text conversation to serve as an extension of users’ physical identity production rather than a separate alternative.

An examination of online culture suggests that “the use of language is of immense importance in cyberspace, for it is through the use of language that people construct their identities” (Wood 55), and this is certainly correct: in the absence of the nuances of physical interaction and vocal paralinguistics, the only tool at IM users’ disposal for producing identity is the textuality of interpersonal conversation and the selection of their virtual handle. If we can accept Hall’s definition of identity as a constant production and make the unique connection between the virtual communities of instant messaging and real life representation, the restriction of online identity production to language alone indicates that MSN handle selection is an extremely important aspect of one’s representation to others. As an extensively utilized virtual community, IM identity construction can approach the level of importance of real life representation when individuals use the system as a primary form of communication and sociability. Selection of the language that comprises an online handle replaces physical characteristics as a passive form of identity representation to others on the network, effectively producing an ongoing refinement of virtual identity that others merge with their knowledge of the individual’s real life identity to create a representational hybrid. While most IM users fail to realize that their online representations are of great significance, Hall’s theoretical work in the area of identity clearly suggests that virtual representation has a strong part to play in the ongoing production of personal identity. Seldom have the selection of so few words been such an important choice than in the construction of an MSN handle.

If language is a limitation on identity construction when compared to the multi-faceted nuances of physical interaction, it can also simultaneously offer significant advantages. Language has the ability to stretch far beyond physical confines – for example, individuals who lack physical appeal or interpersonal social skills but have an affinity for manipulating language can greatly expand the boundaries of their projected identities via the textuality of MSN. The language of MSN handles is also boundless when compared to the human body, which is the passive identity representation equivalent to the handle in real life interaction. For example, an instant messaging handle which reads: “3 papers due tomorrow, I’m totally screwed” is a much more concise and effective communicator of the individual’s current state to their friends than their physical appearance, which would likely feature furrowed brows and an air of agitation, characteristics which could potentially indicate any number of problems. MSN handles can also highlight key information that reflects upon an individual’s personal activities, and consequentially their identity. A handle begging “Everyone PLEASE come to my birthday tomorrow @ the bar!” not only broadcasts the location and date of the individual’s birthday, but also offers insight into their personality – for example, begging others to attend one’s birthday might also broadcast a vulnerable social status or level of insecurity. Even the choice to simply use one’s name as a handle (i.e. “Kate” or “Bob”) contributes to identity production as it could be seen as a sign of instant messaging inexperience or an unimaginative nature, subtly affecting their social status in a negative manner. However, it is important to note that inferences made about choices of MSN handles are largely reliant on preconceptions of the individual’s real life identity rather than signifiers that can be objectively read. Just as identity production is a fluid activity, such is the interpretation that others take on various virtual representations. For example, a girl on my list fell into the habit of appending various statements to her name which indicated relationship troubles (“Jill – true love doesn’t always have a happy ending” etc). To an unknowing observer, her handle might have revealed an indication of the importance that she placed on the relationship or simply seen as a sign of pessimistic nature. I, however, happened to know that she was perfectly fine emotionally, didn’t even have a boyfriend and was attempting to ‘fish’ for interest from random boys on her contact list using sympathy as a hook. MSN handles can also range from intensely personal choices to widespread conformity. When 9 year old Cecelia Zhang’s body was finally found in a ravine in the Toronto area, a wave of public support for her parents spilled onto the virtual networks of surrounding universities. For several days, many MSN users in Ontario prefixed the letter “C” to their names in a spontaneous memorial, voluntarily joining their virtual identity to others in a show of respect and sadness of loss. All of these examples display a level of active identity production for the benefit of others which is well beyond the simple passivity of physical representation in real life. The selection of MSN handles adds a degree of freedom to identity production which is unfettered by everything except the broad constrains of language and accountability to the social relationships and performed identity which comprise a person’s real life experience. IM handles enable an individual to extend their projection of self into a new arena where their options for representation are exponentially increased.

However, the connection to real life which makes instant messaging identity construction so potent also ensures that deeply rooted aspects of identity which are tied to the physical nature of the real world remain. As suggested by an author cited earlier in the paper, many theorists believe that the internet offers the capacity for ubiquitous existence, somehow able to strip the real world confines of gender, race, sexual preference and materialist status from our virtual cultures and communities through its anonymity. But is it truly possibly to separate these markers from one’s identity? Feminist theorist Judith Butler suggests that we should view gender as “a corporeal style, an ‘act,’ as it were, which is both intentional and performative, where ‘performative’ suggests a dramatic and contingent construction of meaning” (Butler 2499-2500). Butler ’s concept of performativity dictates that our actions, speech and various other forms of external representation form a product which society defines – for example, females take on stereotypical ‘feminine’ traits in order to fit into the gender boundaries of our culture. The application of this concept to the internet, where the physical bodies which comprise the fundamental difference between sexes are rendered inapplicable, is a topic of great interest to many theorists. Although gender is my primary focus here, the theory of performativity can easily be applied to sexuality, race or class as well (In fact, it would be interesting to see an analysis of the relative linguistic abilities and word choices in MSN conversations of children from families of varying social statuses). A cursory examination of gender in cyberspace reveals that this performativity typically extends itself into the virtual realm, whether intended or not. In an examination of virtual MOO and MUD communities, theorist Nancy Kaplan says, “’The practices that suggest that even when personae try to construct genderless avatars, there is no social, communicative space without gendered speakers’” (Spender 244). In the book Nattering on the Net: Women, Power and Cyberspace, studies reveal fundamental differences in communication style between males and females on the internet. Author Dale Spender notes that “We are starting to use virtual clues to make decisions about gender, as – in real life – we use the subtle clues of body posture, terms, tone, eye contact, etc” (Spender 244). Clearly the gender performativity outlined by Judith Butler has found its way into the virtual communities of the internet, fuelled by a driving need within current society for distinctly identifiable genders. Unsurprisingly, this phenomenon is also manifested in the virtual communities of instant messaging. Despite the fact that IM communities are typically comprised of individuals who know each other in real life and are certainly aware of each others’ genders, virtual performativity is still frequently manifested. For example, a cursory inspection of my own MSN contact list of 116 individuals (54 male and 62 female) reveals a staggering inequality in the number of emoticons – icons designed to display various emotions, such as smiley faces – between genders in their handles. The males displayed a total of twelve emoticons while the female handles contained a staggering 112 emoticons in comparison. This difference reinforces and confirms culturally normalized conceptions of women as the more emotive sex – an underlying mythology within our society which has been perpetrated for centuries. The willingness of my female acquaintances to voluntarily perform this assumption, despite the fact that reinforcing their gender is an unnecessary extent on a network comprised of real life friends, is an indication that gender performativity is extended into instant messaging at least as strongly as it appears in anonymous communities. In fact, my 8 year old sister contributed 10 pink heart icons to the count on her own, leading me to question whether gender performativity may be manifested more strongly at impressionable young ages. Regardless, instant messaging appears to work the same way as previously researched virtual communities in terms of gender performativity within identity construction.

While fundamental aspects of identity production in instant messaging appear to mimic the performativity and underlying stigmas of conventional society and its extension into traditional anonymous virtual communities, the selection of MSN handles facilitates entirely new options in personal representation and construction of identity. A functional connection to the social formations and relationships of real life situates instant messaging in a unique cultural context when compared to the anonymity-based social networks populating the rest of the internet. Within this context, identity production takes on a distinct importance and the selection of online handles becomes an exercise in social representation, playing a large role in sociability as the influence of instant messaging becomes steadily more important in youth culture. While the nuances of instant messaging go far deeper than the scope of this paper, the significance of handle selection on the production of identity in a virtual environment clearly demonstrates the theoretical capacity of instant messaging as an important and influential aspect of our culture.

Works Cited

Butler, Judith. “Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity” in The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Pp. 2488-2501. New York : Norton & Company, 2001.

Dreyfus, Hubert. On the Internet. London : Routledge, 2001.

Grinter, Rebecca and Leysia Palen. “Instant Messaging in Teen Life,” Computer Supported Cooperative Work , pp. 21-30. New York : ACM Press, 2002.

Hall , Stuart . “Cultural Identity and Diaspora” in Identity: Community, Culture, Difference . Pp. 222-237. Lawrence and Wishart, 1990.

Howard, Philip, Lee Rainie and Steve Jones. “Days and Nights on the Internet” in The Internet in Everyday Life . pp. 45-73. Malden : Blackwell Publishing, 2002.

Spender, Dale. Nattering on the Net: Women, Power and Cyberspace. Melbourne : Spinifex Press, 1995.

Wood, Andrew and Matthew Smith. Online Communication: Linking Technology,

Identity and Culture . London : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 2001.