An example of a social norm online is the use of away messages. This is an important tool in the online world because it lets others know when a user is not available to engage in conversation because they are away from their computer or busy doing other work. The use of the away message is in many ways very similar to a person’s answering machine. It allows people to leave messages when others are not available to talk on the phone. Although the initial purpose of the away message was designed to allow people to stay connected even when away from the computer, it is also used by individuals to screen people’s messages.
People who are unaware of the away message tool, come to understand its use once they try to communicate with others and receive a message conveying that they are not currently available but can leave a message. Over time, they realize that when a notepad graphic pops up next to a person’s screen name, this means that they have an away message posted and are not available to talk. Also, for those new to instant messaging, the internet provides them with guidance by offering several default away messages to use such as “I am away from the computer right now”.
In some cases, people either forget or don’t know to utilize an away message, and remain online while they are in fact away from the computer. As a result, others may try to communicate with them, only to get no response in return. In such a situation, many people become offended by the lack of response. Because of the easy access to use away messages, people tend to resent others who fail to conform to such a standard and assume that those people are “ignoring” them. The Leviathan, therefore, enforces this norm because people feel pressured to conform to avoid sounding rude. Over time, the away message has become a form of etiquette online.
Although there is no official moderator to act as the Leviathan in this form of communication, an invisible one exists. This is because of individuals “…willingness to conform and our eagerness to preserve a productive online group environment…” (Wallace, 70). There is no person to enforce the use of away messages, however, people still conform because they know it will help make online communication more effective.
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2 comments:
Off the bat, the use of away messages are definitely a social norm. I often get apologies from people who tend to forget to put up an away message.
It is interesting how you mentioned the intended use of the away message and the actual function of the away message these days. It shows the adaption of social norms and its evolution.
It might have been interesting to expand on the Leviathan and explain why feeling "ignored" would trigger the Leviathan to act or why this is inefficient/peaceful. Is there a greater Leviathan in play besides friends feeling ignored?
Another form of away message use has been the use of away messages when users are not truly away. Is there a Leviathan against or in favor of this act? Is it related to the current act of actually being away or not having an away message at all?
Your post rang true with me. I have one friend who refuses to put an away message up, and has it so that they are never idle. They always appear to be sitting at their computer. At first the unanswered messages I sent made me feel like I was being ignored. After confronting the friend, they told me they just don't do the whole "away message thing."
Away message use has become the convention online. Even if the message isn't utilized in the original intended manner (many people will just put songs or quotes), it still lets people know the user is away or busy.
I also like the point Jennifer made, about using away messages when the user isn't truly away. I think that there is a Leviathan in favor of this act, at least in my circle of friends. Many of us are often busy doing work, and can't sustain long chats, and instead put up away messages. Even if we know a friend is online with an away message up, we know they are busy. To us it is more acceptable than being online, without an away message, and having to tell anyone who IMs that we are busy.
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