Scribd
Upload
64 views12 pages

Digital Self

The document discusses the concept of the digital self and why we express ourselves the way we do on social media. It explains that our digital selves have become representations of our identities, wants, and insecurities. Our digital selves allow us to try out different personas and identities compared to our real selves. The digital self is shaped by desires to meet expectations of others, boost self-esteem through likes and comments, feel a sense of belonging, and express an idealized version of ourselves. Taking many selfies and constantly presenting ourselves online through curated images and information has changed how we view and present ourselves.

Uploaded by

Bobi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
64 views12 pages

Digital Self

The document discusses the concept of the digital self and why we express ourselves the way we do on social media. It explains that our digital selves have become representations of our identities, wants, and insecurities. Our digital selves allow us to try out different personas and identities compared to our real selves. The digital self is shaped by desires to meet expectations of others, boost self-esteem through likes and comments, feel a sense of belonging, and express an idealized version of ourselves. Taking many selfies and constantly presenting ourselves online through curated images and information has changed how we view and present ourselves.

Uploaded by

Bobi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

DIGITAL

SELF

DR. ANNALIZA ROSARIO P. DY


The Digital Self: Why do we express
ourselves on Social Media like we do?

Our digital self has become a vivid representation of our wants, needs,
motivations, and insecurities. While it’s pretty amazing how much of our lives
become data today, the demand for new dimensions of personal data will continue
to increase as algorithms and the technologies that use them become more
sophisticated. 
The idea of the digital self developed from the original phenomenon of the
‘extended self’, pioneered by Russell Belk in 1988. He believed our possessions are
a major contributor to and reflection of our identities. Back in the day, it was
external objects, such as clothes, jewelry and cars etc. that he believed we used
and considered as part of ourselves. Think about it, could you live without your
smartphone or laptop? 
Understanding and Creating Your
Digital Self
Physician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicot once proposed a theory of self
which posited there is a "true self" that is the instinctive core of our personality and
must be nurtured and realized.
This is in contrast to the "false self" that is created to protect the "true self"
from insult and danger. The takeaway is, we all have a "true self" that is complex and
fragile, but ultimately, is our essence. In an attempt to share that self with the world,
we engage our decoy selves to manage the day-to-day anxieties and challenges that
come before us.
Like it or not, we all have a digital self—a mask that we put on to engage the
technological world.
THE CONCEPT OF THE DIGITAL SELF

Let's be honest here: Who hasn't struggled with their digital self-identity? All
of this technology has come at us so fast and furious, that we haven't had the time
to think about how our relationship with it shapes our very identity.
The digital self is the persona you use when you’re online. Some people
maintain one or more online identifies that are distinct from their “real world”
selves; others have a single online self that’s more or less the same as the one they
inhabit in the real world.
Why do we have a Digital Self?

Stone (1996) and Hemetsburger (2005) claim that the digital web allows us to try out
different personas that differ from our real life identities. 
– We want to meet the expectation of others: research shows over 50% of women
 would edit their social media photos to look better and meet the expectations that
the media and magazines have set
– We want to boost our self-esteem: people upload photos and statuses online that
they feel will receive ‘likes’ and positive feedback in which ultimately helps their egos.
– To feel a sense of belonging: Some of us want to fit in with the crowd and upload
things that are ‘down with the trend’ - for instance, who notices the amount of
people posting pictures of their food increasing? It didn’t come from nowhere.
Why do we have a Digital Self?

–  Bigger sense of freedom: Unlike real life, digital platforms allow us to express
ourselves in any way we want to without anyone there to physically judge us.
– Striving to be our ideal selves: Digital Apps, such as Facetune, that allow us to
improve our appearances on photos (through teeth whitening, skin smoothing
and body shape editing) helps consumers to express as their ‘ideal’ self online
and inevitably feel better about themselves
ELEMENTS OF THE DIGITAL SELF
A Maze of Mirrors

Today we get lost in a maze of mirrors that distort our reflections of the self,
argues anthropologist Thomas de Zengotita. He says that our screen technology
has grown to a new pinnacle of addictive delight in the digital age because our
screens make it possible for us to live in a dual role: as both spectator and star.
In the rare moments when we catch broad attention—whether through our
images or tweets or memes—we become the star. And when we watch ourselves
get approved and liked, we become the spectator too.
We Are Being Changed

Our digital photos and selfies only amplify this self-projection.


According to global stats, we now take more than one trillion digital
pictures per year. We become actors before our own phones and the
phones of our friends. We modify our self and filter our appearance.
And then we become spectators of ourselves, because “each selfie is
a performance of a person as they hope to be seen by others”.
Our camera-ready culture has
changed us
Until 1920 no one thought it was appropriate to smile for a camera. Today we
all must be ready to be photographed at any moment, ready to strike a
performance pose contorted for the camera. Image is everything, and social media
is where we craft the spectacle of ourselves. As we perform our self-chosen
identities in front of our cameras, we find that the magic of computer-generated
imagery (CGI) has been put in our hands. Our digital self is now editable by endless
filters and lenses and bitmojis—a unique plasticity for self-sculpting offered to no
other generation in human history.
Digital Self-Harm

Digital self-harm is broadly defined here as the anonymous


online posting or sharing of mean or negative online
content about oneself. 
Teenagers’ top reasons for this behaviour were: making a
joke, wanting to show resilience, looking for friends’
sympathy, and seeking reassurance of friendship.
CONCLUSION

Given that your online behaviour makes a huge impact


on how you present your digital self, it’s important to
always use social media with care and consistency—always
aware of how your personal brand can be affected by what
you say and do. 

You might also like