Article 1

23 July 2024 22:34

Social Media and Self-Identity (Flame University)

Key Concepts

- Real Self: Our true, inner self.

- Ideal Self: The self we aspire to be.

- Despised Self: The aspects of ourselves we dislike.

- Reel Self: The online persona we present.

How Self-Identity Develops

- Real World: Shaped by interactions with family, friends, and society.

- Social Media: Influenced by online interactions, self-presentation, and feedback.

Social Media as a Platform

- Self-Expression: Opportunity to share aspects of ourselves not easily expressed in real life.

- Community: Can provide support and belonging for those struggling with identity.

- Manipulation: Can be used to create a carefully curated image.

Reel vs. Real Self

- Impact: Online interactions can influence our perception of ourselves.

- Positive Feedback: Can boost self-esteem but may be unrealistic.

- Negative Feedback: Can damage self-esteem and identity.

Conclusion

- Balance: Crucial to maintain a healthy balance between online

and offline life.

- Awareness: Understanding the impact of social media on self-identity is essential.

- Authenticity: Strive for genuine self-expression rather than conforming to online pressures.

Anecdotes, Analogies or Quotations;

- As suggested by Carl Jung, over time, we develop three components of self: the real self (a
self-assessment of who we actually are), the ideal self (an image of who we would actually want
to be but struggle to reach that desired state), and the despised self (the aspects of
ourselves that we dislike).
- While some would disdain this as an escapist coping mechanism, others may view it as an
effective utilization of technology to build social support and connections that are perceived
to be useful.

- Since childhood, we start asking questions like, “Who am I?”; “What does it mean to be ‘me’?”;
“How good am I when compared to others?”; “What do I want to become?”; etc.
Article 2
23 July 2024 23:03

How Social Media Shapes our Identity (Nausicaa Renner)

Key Arguments

- The erosion of forgetting: Social media creates a permanent record of our lives, hindering
our ability to edit or forget painful memories.

- Loss of adolescent moratorium: The pressure to maintain a perfect online image prevents
experimentation and risk-taking, essential for identity formation.

- Impact on identity: The constant surveillance of our lives through social media can lead to
a distorted sense of self and difficulty in establishing new identities.

- Positive aspects of social media: The ability to connect with loved ones, share experiences,
and build communities.

Core Concepts

- Screen memories: Freud's concept of mental images used to soften painful experiences.

- Psychosocial moratorium: Erikson's term for the period of experimentation and identity
exploration during adolescence.

- The right to be forgotten: The idea that individuals should have control over their personal
data.

Contrasting Perspectives

- Eichhorn: Concerned about the negative impacts of social media on identity and privacy.

- Jurgenson: Focuses on the positive aspects of social media, emphasizing its role in
communication and experience sharing.

Key Questions

- How does the constant documentation of our lives affect our sense of self and identity?

- What are the long-term consequences of growing up in a digitally connected world?

- How can we balance the benefits of social media with the need for privacy and personal
growth?

Anecdotes, Analogies, Quotations;

- In “The End of Forgetting: Growing Up with Social Media,” Kate Eichhorn worries that coming
of age online might impede our ability to edit memories, cull what needs to be culled, and
move on.

- By 2015, Kate Eichhorn writes in “The End of Forgetting: Growing Up with Social Media,” people were sharing
thirty million images an hour on Snapchat, and British parents “posted, on average, nearly
two hundred photographs of their child online each year.” For those who have grown up with
social media—a group that includes pretty much everyone under twenty-five—childhood, an era
that was fruitfully mysterious for the rest of us, is surprisingly accessible. According to
Eichhorn, a media historian at the New School, this is certain to have some kind of profound
effect on the development of identity.

- Eichhorn sees both sides of the coin. On the one hand, she says, children and teen-agers
have gained a level of control that they didn’t have before. In the past, adults refused to
acknowledge children’s agency, or imposed on them an idealized notion of innocence and
purity. Adults were the ones writing books, taking photos with expensive cameras, and
commissioning paintings, all of which tended to commemorate childhood—to look back at it—
rather than participate in it. The arrival of cheaply made instant photos, in the nineteen-
sixties, allowed children to seize a means of production, and the arrival of the Internet
gave them an unprecedented degree of self-determination. “If childhood was once constructed
 and recorded by adults and mirrored back to children (e.g., in a carefully curated family
photo album or a series of home video clips), this is no longer the case,” Eichhorn writes.
“Today, young people create images and put them into circulation without the interference of
adults.”

- “Long before children were able to create, edit, and curate images of their lives,” she
writes, “they were already doing so on a psychic level.” Kate Eichhorn

- Freud called these images “screen memories”—no pun intended—and he thought that we used them
to soften or obscure painful experiences. Humans have always tried to cope with the
difficulty of memory, to turn it “from an intolerable horror to something which is
reassuringly innocuous and familiar.

- Growing up online, Eichhorn worries, might impede our ability to edit memories, cull what
needs to be culled, and move on. “The potential danger is no longer childhood’s
disappearance, but rather the possibility of a perpetual childhood,” she writes.

- We may, in short, have traded “screen memories for screens.” Nausicaa Renner

- As Eichhorn points out, one of the early promises of the Internet, when it was just “texts
and clip art,” was that it “presented itself as a safe place [for transgender youth] to try
on an aspect of their identities they could not explore in their material lives.” Now that
the Internet is more permanent, and more pervasive, it’s hard to avoid the relics of past
identities.

- Eichhorn cites one of her students, Kevin, an aspiring film critic from a small town in
upstate New York. By his second year of college, Kevin says, his Facebook stream “was
getting really weird. I had my new friends from New York posting about queer performance art
and these guys from my high school posting about dirt biking in a gravel pit and tagging me
in photographs from high school. I needed to move on.” Although he deactivated his social-
media accounts and created new ones under a pseudonym, he continued to be tagged in old
photos. “I guess that Kevin is out there for good,” he says. “I just have to live with him
and all those people he was trying to escape.”

- Eichhorn details the case of Ghyslain Raza, a Canadian teen-ager who, in 2002, recorded
himself wielding a golf-ball retriever as though it were a lightsabre. The video, which was
found by a classmate, titled “Star Wars Kid,” and uploaded to the Internet, was viewed by
millions of people; as Eichhorn points out, this all happened at a time when virality, as a
phenomenon, wasn’t really a thing. Raza was bullied at school and ended up in a psychiatric
ward. In 2013, still unable to escape the video, despite legal action, he spoke publicly
about his experience, describing his contemplation of suicide.

- Everyone, Eichhorn writes, benefits from experimentation in adolescence. During that time,
we exist in what the psychoanalyst Erik Erikson called a psychosocial “moratorium”—a stage
in which we hover “between the morality learned by the child and the ethics to be developed
by the adult.” The moratorium is a period of trial and error that society allows
adolescents, who are permitted to take risks without fear of consequence, in hopes that
doing so will clarify a “core self—a personal sense of what gives life meaning.” The
Internet interrupts the privacy of this era; it tends to scale up mistakes to monumental
proportions, and to put them on our permanent records. Colleges and employers now look at
social-media accounts for evidence of character.

- “Forgetting—that once taken-for-granted built-in resource that all humans possessed—is now
being pitted against the interests of technology companies,” she writes, implying, with an
endearing idealism, that we have a right to forget. More plausibly, she cites the right
to be forgotten, which is the nickname of both data privacy regulations in Europe and movements
against naming minors in the media.

- In some cases, retaining our sense of self across chasms that might destroy it is more
important than having a rebellious phase. Take, for instance, the case of migrants, which
Eichhorn touches on briefly: “Family members left behind can now stay in constant touch with
their sons and daughters and even track their footsteps across Europe.” Here, memory is
almost a form of political representation, enabled by social media; groups are able to
preserve their history as they travel across continents.

- In “The Social Photo,” Nathan Jurgenson puts forth the useful proposition that most online photos
are about sharing experiences, not creating memories. In one passage, Jurgenson, a founder
of Real Life magazine, writes that selfies are “less an accurate picture of me at this time in
this place and more . . . a visual depiction of the idea of me.” They’re units of
communication, more emojis or hieroglyphics than portraits; they have little context, aren’t
 discernibly located anywhere, and typically come in the aggregate. For the most part, it
wouldn’t really matter if they existed in twenty years. This explains the prevalence of
disappearing photos, like Instagram stories and Snapchat. It also explains photos of food,
which are rarely artful or worth saving.

- Nathan Ferguson, one of the founders of Real Life Magazine, has spent a lot of time studying the
ways that young people interact with technology. In his book, The Social Photo: On Photography and
Social Media, he said “Teenagers are cyborgs, and their phones are mechanical eyes that help
them interpret their experiences.”

- “To document,” Jurgenson writes, “is to be involved with our own experience instead of
passively letting it float by.”
- Jurgenson has all the right, if somewhat dutiful, opinions: nostalgia is overrated, but he’s
not into “digital austerity.” We shouldn’t hark back to an era in which we were less
attached to technology—mostly because that era doesn’t exist. “Our reality has always been
already mediated, augmented, documented,” he writes, “and there’s no access to some state of
unmediated purity.” We shouldn’t ask whether social photography is good, but how it can be
good.

- Jurgenson, unlike Eichhorn, isn’t worried about the Internet making it hard to bury past
versions of ourselves. If anything, he fears the prevalence of death. Photos, he writes,
“embalm” their subjects, encasing them in a “stilling sadness that kills what it attempts to
save out of a fear of losing it.” For him, the risk of constant documentation is alienation:
a sense that our bodies are generating still moments rather than constant movement.

- Wolfgang Schivelbusch, a German scholar who wrote about the effect of the railway on human
perception. With its speed and glass windows, “the train flattens nature into something
smooth and predictable, not something traveled within but something easily seen and
consumed,” Jurgenson writes. “As more of life is experienced through camera screens, does it
occur at a similar remove, where the messiness of lived experience is made into
something merely observable?”

- Screens, like screen memories, are avoidant; they turn away from the painful. There are few
crying children on Instagram. A friend, whose mother digitized all her family’s old home
videos, recently told me about a significant birthday party at the roller rink. What she
remembered was the drama beforehand: at the time, she was obsessed with Rollerblades, and
when the rink had only roller skates her mother rushed to a sports store to get an inline
pair, barely saving the day. None of this, it turned out, was captured in the video. All it
showed was the triumph—a redemptive moment after tears, and a happy loop around the rink.
Article 3
23 July 2024 23:43

Effect of Social Media on Identity Construction (Ugur Gunduz)

What's Social Media?
- Platforms where all digital/virtual users with internet access can share content, express
opinions about a topic and where communication and interaction processes intensely take place
without any time or place limitation are defined as social media.
- Via social media, users come together with other users and are included in the communication or
interaction processes.
- Social media platforms allow users to share content, express opinions, and interact without time
or place limitations.
- Users can establish connections with known or unknown individuals, share content, and engage in
communication and interaction processes.
- Social media has revolutionized the circulation of information and news, emphasizing speed and
accessibility.
- Social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn enable users to create profiles, share
events, and follow friends' activities.
- Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace, Instagram, Google Plus and Periscope, the popularities of all of
which have been surging, are examples of commonly used social networks. The common
characteristics of these social networks are that contents are produced by users and are shared
with people who are in the same platform.

The Effect of Social Media on Identity Construction

- Social media platforms play a significant role in showcasing living experiences and reflecting
various dimensions of individuals in virtual and physical social life.
- Social media enables identity expression, exploration, and experimentation, which are natural
aspects of the human experience.
- Individuals use social media to present themselves to others, determine how they want to be
perceived, connect with people, and participate in activities.
- The motives of agencies in real life influence group interactions on social platforms.
- The creation of a virtual identity can lead to a "spiral of transformation" where online
identities impact real-life interactions.

Virtual Socialization and Virtual Communities

- Virtual environments facilitate social interaction, allowing users to establish connections and
support content.
- Users can create profiles, interact with others, and form groups in virtual environments.
- Virtual communities primarily exist online and differ from physical communities in terms of
commitment and interaction patterns.
- Users can establish interactions with others using fictionalized profiles, allowing for freedom
of expression and communication.

New Communication Technologies: The Concept of Social Media and Social Networks

- New communication technologies offer freedom and ease in content customization, contrasting with
traditional media's restrictions.
- Information is easily transmitted to wide audiences through new communication channels,
enhancing accessibility and data sharing.
- Modern communication systems integrate various technologies, shaping communication processes
based on personal needs and desires.
- Social media is reshaping communication channels and is expected to become a dominant form of
media in the future.

An Overview of Social Media and Virtual Identity Concept

- Digital identity involves ethical and appropriate behavior in electronic environments,

emphasizing ethical interactions and responsible use of technology.
- Digital literacy is essential in today's technological world, similar to media literacy in
previous eras.
- Digital ethics guide users to act ethically and collaboratively in virtual platforms, avoiding
harm to others' rights and interests.
- Digital rights and liabilities encompass the freedom of expression and the responsibility to
maintain personal security in the online environment.
- Digital identity serves as a certification for users, preventing impersonation and ensuring
secure communication in virtual platforms.
Conclusion

- Social media has become a prominent platform for sharing opinions, emotions, and thoughts
without self-censorship.
- Virtual environments enable real-time social interaction, allowing users to express themselves
freely and escape from societal roles.
- Digital tagging and social bookmarking enhance the scope of messages, involving users in
discussions and broadening social media communication.
- Social media's impact on society is profound, influencing social movements, organizational
structures, and communication patterns.
- The integration of social media into daily life has transformed social interactions and
communication dynamics, shaping the structure of modern society.

Anecdotes, Analogies, Quotations;

- According to Erdem (2012,p.183), "emerging of the new communication technologies was interpreted
as a revolution, this revolution also brought about a social revolution. Claims of that all
people in the world are linked each other via a virtual channel and freedom of communication,
participation, development and democratization claims are also in the world's agenda."
- Media presents a virtual framework for all individuals within a society to live within and
brings this framework into the forefront as a settlement location. In other words, it creates an
influence area within which an item which does not have an appearance in the media has no chance
to make its presence felt (Gunduz,2013,p.134).
- “Rapid development experienced in communication technologies brings every culture of the world
closer each other. As a result of this, interaction of every culture of the world with other
culture has increased” (Karacor,2009,p.121).
- There are few “no exit” relationships in cyberspace, and the term “surfing the net” is an apt
descriptor of the depth of much online activity (McLaughlin,Osborne&Ellison,2011,p.149).
- Castells (2005,p.479) when asking whether virtual communities are real, gave the answer "They
are, but not physical; they do not follow interaction and communication patterns followed by
physical communities".
- When the answer of the question ‘What is digital health?’ is being sought, it is possible to
find the following result: People should be aware that there can be some factors in the internet
environment that physically, mentally or spiritually affect health directly or indirectly. These
effects include visual health, stress, introversion, and physical problems.
- Politicians, artists, and opinion leaders can write long posts by splitting them into numbered
parts. Tweets can be shared with determining numbers (1-2-3...) and can reach the masses. This
can be regarded as a continuation of the oratory tradition.
- Nowadays, social media being in the public eye has become an indispensable fact for everyone,
famous or not.
- As a result, social media is a magic wand that determines structure of the society, forms a
basis for polarizations and dissolutions and also ensures mergers and agreements.
- . The Big Brother concept in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four is now valid for
everyone and has caused a panopticon in that everyone observes everyone.
Article 4
24 July 2024 00:41

The Effects of Social Media on the Dynamics of Identity

Abstract;
• The paper examines how social media influence identity construction and negotiation.
• The authors approach the topic from a multidisciplinary perspective, including philosophy,
linguistics, and cognitive sciences.
• They discuss the dynamics of identity, interactivity, and discursiveness in social media.
• The text also delves into the temporal, spatial, and otherness dimensions of identity construction.
• Various aspects of identity in relation to social media interactions are analyzed, such as
visibility, duration, and authorial properties of digital traces.

Philosophical, temporal, spatial, and relational aspects of identity construction in social media;
• Identity in social media involves both synchronic and diachronic dimensions, focusing on experiences
and self-recognition.
• Social media platforms are defined by unique profiles, public connections, and user-generated
content.
• Discourse analysis reveals how identity is discursively produced and negotiated in social media
interactions.
• Digital traces play a crucial role in identity construction, with visible traces aiding in self-
recognition and reflection.
• The permanence of digital traces raises questions about data ownership and the construction of a
"calculated identity."
• Temporal aspects in social media influence the construction of identity, with users navigating
various time frames and spaces.
• Spatial dimensions in social media shape interactions and community dynamics, influencing how users
position themselves.
• Otherness in social media networks plays a key role in identity construction, with users defining
themselves in relation to others and the platform itself.

Understanding Social Media Communication: A Deeper Dive

The Essence of Social Media

- Social media is more than just technology; it's a socio-technical phenomenon.

- It has evolved from traditional computer-mediated communication (CMC) to convergent media CMC
(CMCMC).
* To understand social media, we need new analytical frameworks.

The Three Dimensions of Social Media

The text proposes a three-dimensional framework for analyzing social media:

1. Discourse: How language is used within the platform.

- Social media is multimodal, combining text, images, and audio/video.
- Platform design influences the types of messages shared.
- External discourses about social media shape user behavior.

2. Interactions: How people communicate on the platform.

- Social media redefines traditional interaction patterns.
- Technology plays a crucial role in shaping interactions.
- Users construct their identities through careful choices.

3. Traces: The digital footprints left behind by users.

- These traces reveal user behavior and identity.
- They can be compiled into personal narratives.

Key Concepts and Terms

- Convergent media CMC: The merging of various communication channels (text, image, audio, video) in a
digital environment.
- Multimodal: Using multiple modes of communication (text, image, audio, video) simultaneously.
- Technolinguistic material: The unique language and technology combination found in social media.
- Technosigne: A term for the hashtag (#) as a specific linguistic and technological element.
- Multimodal density: The degree to which different communication modes are used in an interaction.
- Discursive exposition space: The environment created by a platform for language use.
- Participation frameworks: The rules and expectations governing interaction.
Characteristics of Digital Traces

1. Visibility: Traces can be visible to the creator, others involved in the interaction, or a wider
audience.
Impact on identity: Visible traces contribute to self-reflection and identity formation, acting as
"mirrors with memory." They can also influence social regulation and self-awareness.

2. Permanence: Digital traces are often persistent, raising questions about ownership, control, and the
afterlife of digital identities.
Impact on identity: Permanence can lead to both positive (identity stabilization) and negative
(harmful consequences) effects.

3. Ownership: The question of who owns digital traces is complex, particularly in collaborative online
environments.
Impact on identity: Ownership influences how traces are used and interpreted in identity
construction.

Digital Traces and Identity Construction

- Reflexivity: Digital traces facilitate self-reflection and identity development.

- Calculated identity: Algorithms create a "data self" based on digital traces, potentially diverging
from the individual's self-perception.
- Collective identity: In collaborative platforms, traces contribute to the construction of shared
identities.

Key Terms

- Ipse-identity: The appropriation of lived experiences as part of one's self.

- Reflexive technologies: Technologies that facilitate self-reflection.
- Calculated identity: An identity constructed by algorithms based on digital traces.
- Data self/Quantified self: An identity derived from personal data collected online.

Understanding the Construction of Identity in Social Media

Time and Identity

- Temporal fluidity: Social media blurs the lines between past, present, and future.
- Life stages: Platforms accommodate different life stages, from childhood to death.
- Availability: The concept of "being online" introduces new dynamics of presence and absence.
- Data management: Users must navigate the complexities of preserving or deleting digital traces.
- Chronotopes: The interplay of time and space shapes social media experiences.

Space and Identity

- Screen space: The design and functionality of platforms influence user behavior and identity
expression.
- Physical space: The location of users impacts how they interact with social media.
- Imagined space: Users create mental representations of others based on online cues.
- Network space: The composition of one's social network influences identity.

Otherness and Identity

- Social comparison: Individuals construct their identities in relation to others.

- Communities: Social media fosters the creation of diverse communities.
- Network dynamics: The structure of social networks shapes identity formation.
- Machine influence: Algorithms and data contribute to identity construction.

Key Concepts

- Chronotopes: The interrelation of time and space in human activity.

- Screen as a site: The concept of the screen as a liminal space between the physical and digital
worlds.
- Multi-focusing of attention: The ability to engage in multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Post-traditional communities: Online communities characterized by flexibility and shared interests.
Article 5
24 July 2024 01:06

Introduction

- Adolescence represents a pivotal period for identity development, a complex and lifelong
process shaped by various contexts, individuals, and social environments (Branje et al.,
2021). Erikson (1968) characterizes personal identity as the extent to which individuals
adopt clear and consistent goals, beliefs, and values. Marcia (1980) further refines this
concept by describing identity formation through a dynamic process involving exploration
and commitment. Marcia identifies four identity statuses:

1. Diffusion: Lack of active exploration or commitment.

2. Moratorium: Active exploration without commitment.
3. Foreclosure: Commitment without exploration.
4. Achievement: Commitment following exploration.

- Recent models, like the three-factor model (Crocetti et al., 2008; Crocetti & Meeus,
2015), expand upon these stages, emphasizing the dynamic nature of identity formation.
This model highlights three processes: commitment, in-depth exploration, and
reconsideration of commitment. Unlike Marcia's sequential model, the three-factor model
incorporates a dual-cycle process where adolescents continually form, evaluate, and
revise their identities (Crocetti, 2017).

The Role of Social Media in Identity Formation

- In today's context, social media and online activities play a significant role in
identity development (Raiziene et al., 2022). Adolescents, who are the most active social
media users, utilize these platforms to express themselves, connect with peers, and
engage with online influencers (Lajnef, 2023; Meier & Johnson, 2022). Social media
provides a unique space for self-expression and feedback, impacting self-concept and
identity formation (Cingel et al., 2022; Shankleman et al., 2021).

Key Themes in Social Media and Identity Development

Self-Presentation on Social Media

- Self-presentation involves conveying information about oneself to others and is crucial

for identity development (Baumeister & Hutton, 1987). Social media enables selective
self-presentation, where adolescents can craft their image through curated content like
selfies and profiles. This dynamic allows for extensive self-exploration and
experimentation (Yang et al., 2018; Hollenbaugh, 2021). While social media enables a
positive bias in self-presentation, it also offers opportunities for more authentic self-
expression (Shankleman et al., 2021).

Online Social Media Audience

- The audience on social media, including friends, peers, and unknown users, influences
identity formation. Adolescents are sensitive to peer feedback, which can shape self-
esteem and self-concept. Social media feedback, whether positive or negative, impacts
self-perception and can lead to the adjustment of self-presentation strategies
(Koutamanis et al., 2015; Peters et al., 2021). The concept of an "imaginary audience"
further affects behavior, as adolescents may feel constantly observed and adjust their
online behavior to align with perceived expectations (Elkind, 1967; Cingel & Krcmar,
2014).

Social Comparison on Social Media

- Social comparison is a critical process in identity development, where individuals assess

themselves relative to others (Festinger, 1954). Social media heightens this process,
often leading to upward comparisons with idealized images of others. Such comparisons can
impact self-esteem and well-being, particularly when they focus on physical appearance
and other identity domains (Schreurs & Vandenbosch, 2021; Midgley et al., 2021). While
social comparison can have negative effects, it can also offer positive outcomes when it
promotes self-improvement and inspiration (Meier & Johnson, 2022).

Role Models on Social Media: Imitation and Identification

 - Social media introduces new types of role models, including celebrities and influencers,
who serve as referents for identity development (Berger et al., 2022). Adolescents often
engage in parasocial relationships with these figures, finding inspiration and guidance
for self-development (Hoffner & Bond, 2022). These relationships facilitate exploration
of various roles and behaviors, contributing to identity formation (Bandura, 2001;
Gleason et al., 2017).

Conclusion

- Social media profoundly influences adolescent identity formation through mechanisms of

self-presentation, audience interaction, social comparison, and engagement with role
models. While there are potential risks, such as negative self-comparison and risky
behaviors, social media also offers opportunities for positive self-expression and
identity exploration. Understanding these dynamics is essential for guiding future
research and supporting healthy identity development in the digital age.
Elements to Use;
23 July 2024 23:37

Anecdotes
Analogies
Quotations
Statistics
Research statements
Personal Experiences
Questions
Definitions
Draft 1
24 July 2024 01:53

[Intro Music Fades In]

Nishant: Welcome back to "Cognition's Kitchen," the podcast where we dig into the recipes of food
for thought. I'm your chef, Nishant, and today, we are exploring a dish that's both complex and
tantalizing. I call this one, "The Psychology of Online Persona." Grab a seat at the dining table
as we dig into how social media serves as a kitchen for cooking up your identity.

[Intro Music Fades Out]

So, let’s dive into the virtual kitchen of social media, where the ingredients for our identity
are mixed, blended, and sometimes overcooked. We all know that adolescence is like a rollercoaster
of self-discovery. Erik Erikson famously likened it to a stage where we're all crafting our
personal identity—an intricate tapestry woven from goals, beliefs, and values. Think of it as
baking a cake where each layer represents a new aspect of ourselves. But here's where the recipe
gets interesting: social media is like adding a new ingredient that changes the flavor entirely.

In the realm of social media, our online persona can be likened to a virtual soufflé. Just as a
soufflé can rise and fall based on the mix of ingredients and oven temperature, our online
identities fluctuate based on the content we share and the interactions we have. This virtual
soufflé is shaped by our desire for self-expression and the feedback we receive from our digital
audience.

Kate Eichhorn, in her insightful observations, draws a compelling analogy about the "selfie" era,
comparing our online profiles to storefront windows. She argues that our social media profiles are
curated just like a shop display, showcasing only the most polished and appealing parts of our
lives. This careful curation can create a dichotomy between our virtual and real-world selves.
Just as a shop window might not reveal the clutter in the back room, our online personas often
hide the messiness of real life.

Let's take a stroll through the social media landscape. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter offer
us a stage where we perform for an audience. Here, our online self is a blend of crafted personas
and genuine self-expression. This interplay can be likened to a theater performance where we
switch roles depending on the audience. Nathan Jurgenson describes this phenomenon as "digital
dualism," where there's a stark divide between our online and offline lives. But what happens when
these worlds collide?

Take Freud’s concept of the "ego" and "superego." On social media, the ego represents our actual
self—the one trying to balance various aspects of life. The superego, on the other hand, is like
the voice of societal expectations and norms. Our online persona often caters to this superego,
aiming to meet the perceived standards and approval of our digital audience. This creates a
psychological tension where we might feel pressured to project an idealized self rather than our
authentic self.

Moving on to identity formation, we encounter a dynamic process. Adolescents today, more than
ever, use social media as a canvas for self-exploration. This aligns with the concept of "identity
moratorium" from James Marcia’s theory, where individuals explore different roles and values
before settling on a cohesive identity. Social media allows for this exploration in real-time,
enabling users to experiment with different aspects of their identity through posts, likes, and
interactions.

Now, imagine social comparison as a high-stakes game. Social media heightens this game by
presenting us with curated images and lifestyles. We might find ourselves comparing our behind-
the-scenes with someone else's highlight reel. This can be a double-edged sword—sometimes it
motivates us to improve, but other times it can lead to dissatisfaction and anxiety. As Sherry
Turkle suggests, this constant comparison is like trying to measure our success with someone
else’s yardstick.

Furthermore, social media introduces new role models—celebrities and influencers—who become guides
in our journey of self-discovery. They offer templates for how we might shape our own identities.
But here's a catch: these role models can sometimes overshadow our individuality, leading us to
adopt personas that are more about fitting in than standing out. As Freud might say, this can lead
to an identity crisis where our digital selves start to reflect the personas of those we admire,
rather than our authentic selves.

In conclusion, social media serves as both a mirror and a stage for our identities. It offers a
space for self-expression and exploration, but it also imposes pressures and comparisons that can
distort our self-image. As we navigate this digital landscape, it’s crucial to find a balance
between crafting a persona that resonates with our true selves and meeting the expectations of our
digital world.
So, as we wrap up today's episode of "Thought's Kitchen," remember: while our online personas
might be carefully curated, the most important ingredient is always authenticity. Join us next
time as we continue to explore the recipes of modern life.

[Outro Music Fades In]

Nishant: Thanks for tuning in to "Thought's Kitchen." If you enjoyed today's episode, don’t forget
to subscribe and leave a review. Until next time, keep exploring and stay true to your authentic
self.

[Outro Music Fades Out]

---
Draft 2
24 July 2024 02:07

[Intro Music Fades In]

Nishant: Welcome back to "Cognition's Kitchen," the podcast where we dig into the recipes
of food for thought. I'm your chef, Nishant, and today, we are exploring a dish that's both
complex and tantalizing. I call this one, "The Psychology of Online Persona." Grab a seat
at the dining table as we dig into how social media serves as a kitchen for cooking up your
identity.

[Intro Music Fades Out]

Starting with pre heated oven of self exploration, the adolescence. These are the years
where all the ingredients for our identity are mixed, blended, and sometimes even
overcooked.

Adolescence is a time for self discovery. From the moment these teenage years begin, right
up until the end. The whole period of time is just full of questions. Who am I?, What does
it mean to be ‘me’?, “How good am I when compared to my peers?, What do I want to become?.
It's the embodiment of existential crisis.

Well, Erik Erikson famously likened adolescence to a stage where we're all crafting our
personal identity. Think of it as making an interesting piece of origami, folded out of
goals, beliefs, and values. Think of it as baking a cake where each layer represents a new
aspect of ourselves. But here's where the recipe gets interesting: social media is like
adding a new ingredient that changes the flavour entirely.

So when we engage with social media, this personal identity is moulded into a persona. We
can compare our online persona to a virtual soufflé. Just as a soufflé can rise and fall
based on the mix of ingredients and the oven temperature, our online identities can
fluctuate depending on the content we share and the interactions we have. This virtual
soufflé is baked with our desire for self-expression and the taste check is done by our
digital audience.

Kate Eichhorn, in her insightful observations, draws a compelling analogy about the
"selfie" era, comparing our online profiles to storefront windows. She argues that our
social media profiles are curated just like a shop display, showcasing only the most
polished and appealing parts of our lives. This careful curation can create a dichotomy
between our virtual and real-world selves. She says, "Just as a shop window might not
reveal the clutter in the back room, our online personas often hide the messiness of real
life." What a cool way to put it, isn't it?

Very accurate too. Social Media platforms like Instagram and Twitter offer us a stage where
we perform for an audience. Here, our online self is a blend of crafted personas and
genuine self-expression. Over time, we develop three components of self, as explained by
Carl Jung. This includes the real self, the ideal self, and the despised self.

We only work to show the traits of that are closest to the ideal self, while pushing away
the traits we do not like, or the traits which belong to the despised self. In this
struggle between the ideal self and the despised self, there's a threat that we end up
distorting our sense of the real self.

This whole thing can be compared to a theatre performance. We switch our roles depending on
the audience. Nathan Jurgenson describes this phenomenon as "digital dualism," where
there's a very noticeable divide between our online and offline lives. But what happens
when the reel world and the real world end up colliding?

Take Freud’s concept of the "ego" and "superego." On social media, the ego represents our
actual self—the one trying to balance various aspects of life. The superego, on the other
hand, is like the voice of societal expectations and norms. Our online persona often caters
to this superego, aiming to meet the standards and gain approval of our digital audience.
This creates a psychological tension, where we might feel pressured to portray an idealized
self rather than our authentic self.

Moving on to identity formation, we encounter a dynamic process. Adolescents today, more

than ever, use social media as a canvas for self-exploration. In words of Nathan Ferguson,
teenagers are cyborgs, and their phones are mechanical eyes that help them interpret their
experiences.

This use of social media for the exploration of our own identity, aligns with the concept
of "identity moratorium" from James Marcia’s theory, where individuals explore different
roles and values before settling on a cohesive identity. Social media allows for this
exploration in real-time, enabling users to experiment with different aspects of their
identity through posts, likes, and interactions.

Now, imagine social comparison as a high-stakes game. Social media heightens this game by
presenting us with curated images and lifestyles. We might end up comparing our behind-the-
scenes with someone else's highlight reel. This can be a amazing, as well as awful, as it
motivates us to improve, but it can also lead to dissatisfaction and anxiety. As Sherry
Turkle suggests, this constant comparison is like trying to measure our success with
someone else’s yardstick.

On top of this, social media introduces new role models like celebrities and influencers,
who become tour guides in our travelling vlog of self-discovery. They offer templates for
how we might shape our own identities. But there's still a problem. The thing is, these
role models can sometimes overshadow our individuality. They can make us adopt personas
that are more about fitting in, rather than standing out. As Freud might say, this can lead
to an identity crisis where our digital selves start to reflect the personas of those we
admire, rather than our authentic selves.

As we gather these thoughts, one thing is for certain... Social media can be viewed as both
a mirror and a stage for our identities. It's space for self-expression and exploration,
but it also imposes pressures and comparisons that can distort our self-image. Going
through these complications though, isn't new by any means. It's just that our generation
has a whole different playfield to go through them, in form of social media. But finding a
balance between crafting a persona that resonates with our true selves and meeting the
expectations of this new, digital world is what's crucial.

So, as we wrap up today's episode of "Cognition's Kitchen," remember: while our online
personas might be carefully curated, the most important ingredient is always authenticity.
Join us next time as we continue to explore the recipes of knowledge for your hungry,
curious minds.

[Outro Music Fades In]

Nishant: Thanks for tuning in to "Cognition's Kitchen." If you enjoyed today's episode, do
show your appreciation with likes and comments. Until next time, keep exploring and more
importantly, stay true to your authentic self.

[Outro Music Fades Out]

---
Final Script
24 July 2024 09:14

[Intro Music Fades In]

Welcome to "Cognition's Kitchen," the podcast where we dig into the recipes of food for
thought, to satisfy your intellectual appetite. I'm your chef Nishant, and today, we are
exploring a dish that's both complex and tantalizing. I call this one, "The Psychology of
Online Persona." Grab a seat at this virtual dining table as we dig into how social media
serves as a kitchen for cooking up your identity.

[Intro Music Fades Out]

Starting with the pre heated oven of self exploration, the adolescence. These are the years
where all the ingredients for our identity are mixed, blended, and sometimes even overcooked.

Adolescence is a time for self discovery. From the moment these teenage years begin, right up
until the end. The whole period is just full of questions. "Who am I?", "What does it mean to
be ‘me’?", "How good am I when compared to my peers?", "What do I want to become?" and so
on...

Interestingly enough, Erik Erikson famously likened adolescence to a stage where we're all
crafting our personal identity. Think of it as making an interesting piece of origami, folded
out of goals, beliefs, and values. Or... think of it as baking a cake where each layer
represents a new aspect of ourselves. But here's where the recipe gets interesting. Social
media is like adding a new ingredient that changes the flavour entirely.

When we engage with social media, our personal identity is moulded into a persona. We can
compare our online persona to a virtual soufflé. Just as a soufflé can rise and fall based on
the mix of ingredients and the oven temperature, our online identities can fluctuate depending
on the content we share and the interactions we have. This virtual soufflé is baked with our
desire for self-expression and the taste check is conducted by our digital audience.

Kate Eichhorn, in her insightful observations, draws a compelling analogy about the "selfie"
era, comparing our online profiles to storefront windows. She argues that our social media
profiles are curated just like a shop display, showcasing only the most polished and appealing
parts of our lives. This careful curation can create a dichotomy between our virtual and real-
world selves. Just as a shop window might not reveal the clutter in the back room, our online
personas often hide the messiness of real life. What a cool way to put it, isn't it?.

Very accurate too. Social Media platforms like Instagram and Twitter offer us a stage where we
perform for an audience. Here, our online self is a blend of crafted personas and genuine
self-expression. Over time, we develop three components of self, as explained by Carl Jung.
This includes the real self, the ideal self, and the despised self.

We only work to show the traits of us, that are closest to the ideal self, while pushing away
the traits we do not like, or the traits which belong to the despised self. In this struggle
between the ideal self and the despised self, there's a threat that we end up distorting our
sense of the real self.

This whole thing can be compared to a theatre performance. We switch our roles depending on
the audience. Nathan Jurgenson describes this phenomenon as "digital dualism," where there's a
very noticeable divide between our online and offline lives. The complications arise, when our
reel world and the real world start colliding. The lines of separation tend to get blurred
when this happens.

Take Freud’s concept of the "ego" and "superego." On social media, the ego represents our
actual self. This is the version of us trying to balance various aspects of life. The
superego, on the other hand, is like the voice of societal expectations and norms. Our online
persona often tries to appeal to this superego, aiming to meet the perceived standards and
gain approval of our digital audience. This creates a psychological tension where we might
feel pressured to project an idealized self rather than our authentic self.

To understand this more, we can talk about the process of identity formation, especially
during adolescence. It's an important time of life where we explore and solidify our sense of
self. Adolescents today, more than ever, use social media as a canvas for self-exploration. In
words of Nathan Ferguson, teenagers are cyborgs, and their phones are mechanical eyes that
help them interpret their experiences.
In identity formation, we encounter a process that's ever evolving. James Marcia’s theory on
identity formation identifies four stages. The first being diffusion, which refers to a lack
of exploration and commitment. The second stage is moratorium and it's about active
exploration without commitment. Foreclosure, which is the third stage, refers to commitment
without exploration. And achievement as the fourth and final stage, deals with commitment
after exploration.

Social media provides a unique platform for these explorations. For instance, if we think
about the moratorium stage, adolescents actively explore various identities without making
permanent commitments. Social media acts as a playground for this exploration, allowing them
to try on different personas through their posts, interactions, and engagements.

Crocetti and Meeus proposed a three-factor model. This model covers the dynamic nature of
identity formation. It emphasizes commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of
commitments.

Unlike Marcia’s sequential approach, this model suggests that we continuously form, evaluate,
and revise our identities. Social media, with its immediate feedback mechanisms, makes this
process much quicker. This enables us to iterate on our identity exploration and self-
presentation, at a faster rate.

Self presentation is described by Baumeister and Hutton as the act of conveying information
about oneself to others. Social media amplifies this by allowing selective self-presentation.
Adolescents can craft their online image through curated content, such as selfies and status
updates. This doesn't just facilitate self-exploration. It also offers opportunities for more
authentic self-expression, depending on the platform and audience.

The audience on social media, including friends, peers, and even unknown users, really
influences identity formation. And we know how sensitive adolescents can be to peer feedback.
It can really shape their self-esteem and self-concept. The feedback loop on social media
consists of the likes, comments, and shares. It has a humongous impact on self-perception of
adolescents. This can lead to adjustments in how these adolescents present themselves to align
with the perceived expectations of their audience.

This brings us to the concept of the "imaginary audience," a term coined by David Elkind. In
the constant posting and scrutiny of the world as it is now, we can often feel as though we
are continually being observed and judged by others. This can influence our online behaviour.
This sense of an ever-present audience can amplify all the aspects of social media
interaction, whether positive or negative.

On top of that, social comparison is another critical process in identity development.

Festinger’s theory of social comparison explains how individuals assess themselves relative to
others. Imagine social comparison as a high-stakes game. Social media heightens this game by
presenting us with curated images and lifestyles. We might end up comparing our behind-the-
scenes with someone else's highlight reel. This can be amazing, as well as awful, because
although it does motivates us to improve, it can also lead to dissatisfaction and anxiety. As
Sherry Turkle suggests, this constant comparison is like trying to measure our success with
someone else’s yardstick.

Let’s not forget the role of social media influencers and celebrities, either. These modern-
day role models really impact identity formation of the youth. We often engage in para-social
relationships with these figures. We look up to them, drawing inspiration and guidance for our
personal development. Bandura’s social learning theory explains how individuals learn
behaviours through observation and imitation. In the context of social media, influencers
serve as models for various aspects of life, from fashion and beauty to lifestyle and values.

Freud might argue that this phenomenon is a modern manifestation of his idea of
identification, where individuals adopt traits and behaviours of others they admire. While
these para-social relationships can offer valuable role models, they also risk promoting
unrealistic standards and expectations.

As we gather these thoughts, one thing is for certain... Social media can be viewed as both a
mirror and a stage for our identities. It's space for self-expression and exploration, but it
also imposes pressures and comparisons that can distort our self-image. Going through these
complications though, isn't new by any means. It's just that our generation has a new
playfield to go through these difficulties, in the form of social media. But finding a balance
between crafting a persona that resonates with our true selves and meeting the expectations of
this new, digital world is what's crucial.

So, as we wrap up today's episode of "Cognition's Kitchen," remember: while our online
personas might be carefully curated, the most important ingredient is always authenticity.
Join us next time as we continue to explore the recipes of knowledge to feed your hungry,
curious minds.

[Outro Music Fades In]

Thanks for tuning in to "Cognition's Kitchen." If you enjoyed today's recipe, do show your
appreciation with likes and comments. Until next time, keep exploring, and more importantly,
stay true to your authentic self.

[Outro Music Fades Out]