Exploring The Digital Backstage: Instagram and the Presentation of Self

Abstract

Social media and technology have become increasingly prevalent in modern-day society, especially as new technologies begin to develop and rapidly advance. With digital spaces taking center stage in daily life, it is important to study how individuals can upkeep an authentic self-representation online, as more and more interactions occur over the Internet. This thesis attempts to explore the interactions between Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical theory and social media, particularly Instagram. Past research in this area has explored associations through social media platforms like MySpace and Facebook. Through a mixed-methods research approach using both survey data and semi-structured interviews, I discover that Instagram Finstas and the Close Friend’s Story provide users with a space to more authentically represent themselves in an area otherwise inherently performative. I also determine that these secondary avenues allow users to maintain deep personal relationships with close friends. Finally, I discuss the potential implications of the future of social media.