FACETED ID/ENTITY: Managing Representation in a Digital World
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FACETED ID/ENTITY: Managing representation in a digital world by danah boyd A.B. Computer Science Brown University 2001 Submitted to the Program in Media Arts and Sciences School of Architecture and Planning in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology September 2002 © Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2002 All Rights Reserved Author Program in Media Arts and Sciences August 9, 2002 Certified by Professor Judith Donath Thesis Advisor Program in Media Arts and Sciences Certified by Dr. Andrew Lippman Chair, Departmental Committee on Graduate Students Program in Media Arts and Sciences FACETED ID/ENTITY: Managing representation in a digital world by danah boyd Submitted to the Program in Media Arts and Sciences School of Architecture and Planning on August 9, 2002 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Media Arts and Sciences Abstract In this thesis, i articulate a theory of how and why individuals use context to convey only a facet of their identity in social interactions. Through this lens, i discuss current issues in digital identity management. In this discussion, i focus on the role of design in affecting an individual’s ability to maintain control of personal representation and identity information. I argue that the architecture of current digital environments has altered our notions of context, motivating users to develop new mechanisms for managing their presentation. I take the stance that users should have the ability to control their digital identity for the same reasons that they seek to control their physical identity, most notably to present themselves in an appropriate manner in relation to the current situation. From this perspective, i argue for a design approach that will aid sociable designers in developing human-centered technologies that allow for individual control over personal identity. First, i argue the need for mechanisms of self-awareness and discuss what forms of awareness users should have. In doing so, i analyze current approaches to awareness and critique my own work on Social Network Fragments, a visualization tool for revealing the structure of one’s digital social network. Alongside self-awareness, i present the need for identity management and critique my work on SecureId, a prototype intended to give users control over their digital presentation by offering security through identity-based knowledge. This thesis argues for empowering users through awareness and control, so that they may provide the level of regulation that is desirable. In doing so, i offer a novel approach to context and identity management in digital social interaction. Thesis Advisor: Professor Judith Donath Program Media Arts and Sciences FACETED ID/ENTITY: Managing representation in a digital world Thesis Committee Thesis Reader Dr. Henry Jenkins Professor of Literature and Comparative Media Studies MIT Comparative Media Studies Thesis Reader Dr. Genevieve Bell Anthropologist Intel Corporate Technology Group for every lie i unlearn i learn something new i sing sometimes for the war that i fight 'cause every tool is a weapon if you hold it right (Ani DiFranco, My I.Q.) Faceted Id/entity :: Mantra 4 THESIS READERS Judith Donath is an Assistant Professor at the MIT Media Lab, where she directs the Sociable Media research group. Her work focuses on the social side of computing, synthesizing knowledge from fields such as graphic design, urban studies and cognitive science to build innovative interfaces for the online communities, virtual identities and computer-mediated collaborations that have emerged with the convergence of computing and communication. Henry Jenkins is the Ann Feder Friedlaender Professor of Humanities and the Chair of the Comparative Media Studies Program at MIT. His research spans across the full range of contemporary and historical popular culture, but focuses primarily on the ways that everyday citizens draw on media to make sense of their lives, express their identities, and form communities. His column, "Digital Renaissance," runs monthly in Technology Review. Genevieve Bell is a senior researcher within Intel's Corporate Technology Group. She is a member of Peoples and Practices Research, an interdisciplinary team of social scientists, designers and developers responsible for finding new users, new uses, and new user paradigms for technology. Her works focuses on the intersections of emerging technologies and social practice as they occur within domestic and public spaces. Bell also conducts ethnographic research in domestic spaces around the world. She holds a PhD in cultural anthropology from Stanford University. Faceted Id/entity :: Thesis Readers 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ideas only come as the product of interaction. I thrive on interacting with people, with communities and with society as a whole. By observing social behavior, i am motivated to think and analyze. The inspiration for this work comes from the most peculiar environments and unknowing people, not limited to my activities as a student. While i cannot even begin to thank all of those who have unknowingly served as my muse throughout the years, i would like to begin by acknowledging those who have actively provided support and sanity, and sometimes engaging drama. Without these people, the ideas contained in this thesis would never have come to light. In particular, i would like to thank: Judith Donath, my advisor, for being my supporter over the last couple of years, for giving me the ability to investigate a wide variety of topics within the field of sociable media; Henry Jenkins, for always challenging me to integrate my ideas in new fashions, for giving me the guidance to pursue this direction from a critical perspective; Genevieve Bell, for showing me the value of social science, for encouraging me to follow my heart; Colleen Capodilupo, Kelly Dobson, Andrew Fiore, Karrie Karahalios, Raffi Krikorian, Hyun- Yeul Lee, Matt Lee, Lisa Lieberson, Dana Spiegel, Derek Tang, Fernanda Viegas, my Sociable colleagues, for being other instigators of sociable ideas, for working with me to pursue these ideas from varied directions, for silly conversations and even sillier all-nighters; Ronen Barzel, Ming-en Cho, Nelson Lai, Jeff Potter, Dan Ramage, for working with me over the last two years to implement some crazy ideas in meaningful ways; Faceted Id/entity :: Acknowledgements 6 Danyel Fisher, Dan Gould, Becky Hurwitz, Carlos Jensen, Scott Lederer, Mike Lewis, David Nguyen, Jeff Potter, for reading the large quantities of my written thoughts, listening to my babbles, providing feedback and being critical of my ideas; Kathryn Boyd, Ryan Boyd, Rita Boyd, Richard Boyd, my family, for always being there to love me, for always reminding me that i am valuable, and for providing immeasurable support throughout my lifetime; Andy van Dam, for continuing to be my father figure and my academic supporter in more ways that i can enumerate; Ronen Barzel, Anindita Basu, Sascha Becker, Vered Birmaher, Gabriel Bos, Brian Bramlett, Tim Brennan, Tim Brooke, Ming-en Cho, Cassidy Curtis, Spot Draves, Ilana Frankel, Dan Gould, Becky Hurwitz, Wendy Ju, Steph Kawachi, Jess Lopez, Catie Lowder, Jon Moter, Vaughn Nuest, Karen Obel, Jeff Potter, Hannah Rohde, Andrew Shalit, Rose Shuman, Aaron Sorber, Jenn Steinfeld, Glenn Strauss, Ky Yokojima, Mike Zyda, my dear eclectic friends, for inspiring me during the last few years, for creating adventures and chaos, for supporting me when times were rough and entertaining me just cause it’s fun; Jess Collins, Sarah Davitt, Courtney Mallen, Emmet Quinn, my roommates, for putting up with all of the chaos and absurdity that a ridiculous grad student can provide; Anitya/Changmian, and all of those in the psytrance/goa, cooperative living, queer/S/M, feminist, and activist scenes, for showing me the value of life, dance, spirit, and passion while providing me with an outlet for my energy and a home for my curiosity; Intel, MIT Media Lab & Sponsors , for economic and structural support during these projects; To all who have crossed my path during my lifetime, given me spiritual or intellectual guidance, appealed to my senses or my energy or my desire for adventures, or have otherwise challenged me to think in new ways, i thank you. “guess there's something wrong with me / guess i don't fit in / no one wants to touch it / no one knows where to begin / i've got more than one membership / to more than one club / and i owe my life / to the people that i love” -- Ani DiFranco, In or Out Faceted Id/entity :: Acknowledgements 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract.....................................................................................................................2 Thesis Readers...........................................................................................................5 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................6 Table of Contents ......................................................................................................8 Chapter 1: Introduction............................................................................................11 Assessing my perspective..............................................................................................................13 Goal and purpose..............................................................................................................................14