It is primarily through our identification with social groups that we define ourselves.
Social identity is used frequently nowadays in Western media as divisions between social groups have
become more controversial and profound. Social identification have always been a central part of our own
self-identity, but the advent of social media and identity politics have further emphasized our identification
with social groups for their own commercial and political benefits. These social identities are not so inherent
and are socially made constructs enforced upon us, making it hard to distinguish our self from our affiliation
with a certain group.
To begin with, social media has utilized these social identification as these divisions often are financially
beneficial and enable more users to engage in their platform fervently. The us versus them mentality is
almost psychologically inherent and has been long observed throughout history. However, these social
cleavages have been deliberately exploited by tech companies who have seen a great opportunity to
capitalize off of these conflicts. These techniques were revealed with the 2016 US presidential elections
through targeted ads and trolling, which proliferated fake news and resulted in a very controversial president.
Social media has disregarded or minimized the intersection of different social identities, often as it tends to
highlight the most poignant and sensational aspects . The boundaries or distinctions between different social
groups become even more profound and clear. Individuals begin to associate themselves more with the social
groups they belong in rather than the bigger whole of what makes us similar or unites individuals together as
humans.
Identity politics in the recent ages follow a similar trend. Politicians utilize division to achieve their own
political ends to gain support. The rise of right-wing extremists and nationalistic or even xenophobic rhetoric
seen frequently among famous politicians depict this shift. Although social identification had been key even
during Reagan’s period or Obama’s, identity politics have never been pushed into the central debate as much
as it is now.Now social identification has taken over many key issues from residential areas, education to
COVID-19 treatments. These have often portrayed the long existing stratification among social groups but
politicians have also put these forward as a predominant part of individual’s self-identity, making it hard to
reconcile with other racial or religious groups who may not always share the same core values.
Nevertheless self-identity has always had the notion that individuals can cultivate their own self
independent from external environment.Yes individuals still have free-will and their way of life is not always
constrained or decided by their social groups. However, social identities do play a crucial part in how we
recognize oneself and our own self-identity can never be shaped without interaction with others. Through
these external pressures our own identities and self-recognitions are formed. It is just becoming more and
more difficult for individuals to be aware of how these self-identifications are enforced upon us and how
these self-identifications are utilized by the few, who benefit from the over-emphasis of these identifications.
Overall, social identities are often utilized and overly emphasized by companies and politicians for their
own selfish interests. Individuals have always identified themselves partly with the social groups they belong
in, but these social identifications had never been the sole aspect of their individual identity. The recent trend
of social identities becoming a dominant feature in our self-recognition is a rather new phenomenon and is a
grave problem that exacerbates division among different groups.
-social constructs
-social media
us vs them
More sensational and more divisive
Great for tech companies who can capitalize off of these conflicts
The boundaries our distinctions of different social groups become even more profound and clear
The intersection of different identities often become disregarded as social media often highlights the most
poignant and visible aspects
Individuals begin to associate themselves more with the social groups they belong in rather than the
bigger whole of what makes us similar or unites individuals together as humans
-identity politics
Similar trend
Utilizing divisions for one’s political ends of gaining support
Rise of right-wing extremists and nationalistic and even xenophobic rhetoric seen among famous
politicians depict this shift
Although social identification had been key even during reagan’s period or obama’s, identity politics
had never been the sole central issue
Now social identification has taken over on so many key issues from residential areas, education to
COVID-19 treatment
These have put forward race or religious as a predominant part of our own self-identity making it hard to
reconcile with other groups who may not always share the same core values
-nevertheless self-identity has always had the notion that individuals can cultivate their own self independent
from external environment
Yes individuals still have free-will and their way of life is not always constrained or decided by their social
groups, many of which indivdiuals may have not chosen themselves and preceded their birth.