social media - self-presentation and online communication

Huang et al 2021

• adolescents may experiment with online identity more, by pretending to be someone else online

• loneliness positively predicts online identity experiments - engaging in online identity reconstruction more frequently than non-lonely peers

• emerging adults who are doubting what they want are more likely to engage in online self-exploration

• individuals with higher education present themselves more deceptively than less educated users

• individuals are more likely to engage in false self-presentation if they perceive it to be morally acceptable

• low self-esteem is generally related to increased deception in online dating context

Bunker and Kwan 2021

Heavy social media users were more open, conscientious and extraverted on social media but were lower on these traits when offline

• These traits were strong predictors of socialisation, information seeking, self-documentation, self-expression and entertainment motivations to use social media

Fullwood et al (2016, 2020)

• adolescents who spent more time online and had fewer online friends were more likely to present multiple versions of themselves

• young adults with greater social anxiety were more likely to present idealised self-images online and preferred online communication

Hu et al 2020

Virtual identity reconstruction was significantly associated with fulfilment of autonomy and self-acceptance

• seeking acceptance and validation from others diminished self-acceptance

Musico 2025

Individuals with unclear self-concept attempted to conceal imperfections via idealised self-presentation

Fioravanti et al 2024

Users reconstructed the gap between perceived self and cultural beauty ideals through perfectionistic self-presentation and body image control

Li and Knoblock-Westerwick (2024)

When ppts created public profilers, their social-evaluative concerns were amplified

• high self-esteem users sought out downward comparisons to protect self-worth

• low self-esteem users sought out upward comparisons

When ppts created private profiles, high self-esteem individuals pursued personal growth whereas low-self esteem individuals sought ego boosts

de Vaate et al 2020

• Active self-presentation can have positive effects on wellbeing or no effect

• lurking online (passive self-presentation) decreased personal wellbeing

Clark-Gordon et al 2019

Anonymity was positively correlated with self-disclosure

Howard et al 2019

Males were 2x more likely than women to engage in trolling

• greater need for participation and making downward comparisons were significant predictors of online trolling behaviour

Strimbu and O’connell 2021

Individuals high in aggression may present a more aggressive online self through cybertrolling behaviour

• gender, physical and verbal aggression, hostility are significant predictors of cybertrolling behaviour

  • physical aggression was the strongest predictor

Pang 2018

Intensity of microblog use increased likelihood of online self-disclosure

• online self-disclosure was positively related to friendship maintenance and life satisfaction

Hood et al 2018

• Romantic loneliness was significantly related to social compensation and networking motivations for SNS use

• Social loneliness was significantly related to social compensation motives for SNS use, and associated with number of online friends made via SNS and online communication

Jiang et al 2011

CMC lead to intensified self-disclosures and increased perceptions of intimacy compared to offline communication