“minblogg.nu” – en kvalitativ studie om bloggande utifrån ett individperspektiv

摘要

Abstract: This study is focused on blogging from the perspective of the individual. Weinvestigate why one uses the weblog format, functions on the blog that are seen to work asdriving forces, attitudes towards self-disclosure and anonymity on the weblog and how therelation between an online- and offline-identity is interpreted by the bloggers themselves, forexample to what extent it is possible to get to know the blogger by reading the weblog.Finally, we investigate the weblog-readers meaning to the blogger, as well as their possibleimpact on both his or her personal blog-content and the everyday-life.The empirical material consists of half-structured interviews via MSN Messengerwith nine informants, being bloggers found on the Swedish website bloggportalen.se. Thetheoretical framework behind the interview guide focuses on the identity concept, containingidentity theories in psychological and sociological perspectives, symbolic interactionismconcerning the concept of roles, as well as Bauman’s liquid theory on postmodern societytendencies. This material is further included in related previous research articles, derived fromboth international and Swedish databases. The analysis was as a final point approached withthis theoretical background.The results of the study show that the weblog has different functions in mediatingpersonal everyday-experiences, amusement, therapy and archiving information, which alsoare to be seen as motivating continuity on the weblog. The bloggers relation to self-disclosureis central to what he or her can imagine to publish about themselves. By greater selfdisclosureone tends to relate to a subjective view – what I like to publish – whereasinformants with less self-disclosure relates to an objective view – what others would dislikeme to publish. Concerning thoughts of anonymity, the informants show an excitement inimagine stepping out of the limitations of self-representation, or ones social role. Anticipatinganonymity is hereby defined as the wish to share a specific subject, without taking the risk ofsocial sanctions. When it comes to the question about if one can get to know the “real”blogger by reading his or her weblog, informants with less self-disclosure show a greaterhesitation. The informants show further concerning their weblog-readers both positive andnegative aspects. The former are the encouragement in readers’ different comments andopinions of the blog-content, as the latter rather is the pressure of having to maintain thereaders’ enthusiasm. Consequences were at last mostly thoughts of the possibility of beingbiased and put in a negative light – as the readers might miss important nuances – leading tofuture difficulties being hired, or at worst – being stalked.