Presentation of selfie: a modern understanding of Goffman’s self on Instagram

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TSP2016Orth.pdf (1.19 MB)

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http://library.towson.edu/cdm/ref/collection/etd/id/51068

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http://hdl.handle.net/11603/3272

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Towson University Graduate Theses and Dissertations

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2016-10-11

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theses
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Towson University. Department of Mass Communication and Communication Studies

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Abstract

The ability to alter oneself has been explained in 1959 by Erving Goffman as the concept known as presentation of self. Since Goffman's (1959) concept of presentation of self, researchers have compared his findings to how people present themselves on social media platforms. Social media has allowed people the opportunity to communicate with the world at large while creating new or different versions of themselves. Previous literature and research have examined how Facebook users altered themselves for their friends and relationships on the platform. Previously conducted research and Goffman’s presentation of self act as the foundation for this study. This study examined how Millennials present themselves on Instagram, how they alter their presentation of self on the platform, and what impacts the communication has on Millennials who use Instagram. The study was conducted through interviews with Millennial participants at a large Mid Atlantic university. Research findings suggest, similarities between Goffman, self-presentation on Facebook, and Instagram use arose. The interviews showed that users do present themselves differently through a variety of tools, personal opinions, and self-constructed rules on Instagram. Future research will be able to expand on this study's findings to further understand how Millennials use Instagram and how male's use differs from female use.