The Labeling Game

This article draws on sociological and psychological theory to explore the meaning application of deviance to behaviors observed on the Internet. First, definitions of deviancein online and offline contexts are discussed. Observations of the Internet as a so-called yet-to-be-normalized environment present a conflicting scenario for labeling emergent behaviors as deviant. The question stands as to whether devianceis an appropriate term to apply to some behavior observed on the Internet. The second section examines deviance on the Internet at a macro, cybercultural level and at a micro, communicational level using two key examples to illustrate some of the issues raised earlier in defining deviance. The sharing of mp3 files is used as an example to illustrate problems in definition at a macro level and at a microlevel; psychological approximations to normative and antinormative communication on the Net are discussed, using flaming as an example.