Think of your favourite influencer or online creator. What image do they project through their posts, captions, and curated feeds? Their content doesn’t just entertain you, it shapes what you see, like, and post next. Now take a look at your own online presence. How much of it is shaped by the same algorithmic logic? And how closely does your digital self resemble the person you are offline? Perhaps, without even realising it, you too have become a performer on the virtual stage.
Whenever you go about your everyday life, do you think you are putting on a show in front of others? Sociologist Erving Goffman says we all navigate social interactions like stage actors. We present ourselves favourably through impression management and avoid social embarrassment. Goffman’s ideas resonate strongly in the age of social media, where digital spaces have become fertile ground for performing and experimenting with identity. So, how performative do you think you are?
Traditionally, identity refers to how people understand and present who they are, shaped by culture, gender, class, and personal experience. In the digital world, however, identity becomes more performative and mediated by technology. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn encourage users to curate self-presentations, choosing what to reveal and conceal.
Our digital identities are carefully constructed through interaction. Every profile picture, post, username, and comment contributes to a version of the self. In online spaces, like in theatre, there is both a front and a backstage. Behaviour shifts depending on the audience. Individuals manage their impressions by showcasing select aspects of their lives, values, and personalities on the front stage, while keeping other parts hidden backstage. When you look at your online presence, you’ve created this identity that is ‘perfect’.
We use our online identities to ‘sell’ ourselves to our audience. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok invite users to construct aesthetic, brand-like versions of themselves. These spaces encourage people to present a polished and engaging image of a personal brand through filters, captions, and algorithms. What began as self-expression often becomes a performance calibrated for attention (likes, shares, and followers).
We use different platforms to create different versions of ourselves in the best way possible. Due to the various uses of each platform, for example, LinkedIn is more professional and formal, while Instagram is more aesthetic. This variousness can empower self-expression but also risks identity fragmentation and a sense of inauthenticity if the online and offline selves divide significantly. So if you often wonder why they say ‘don’t meet your idols’, this is probably why.
Aesthetic trends and influencer culture magnify this effect, turning self-expression into a performance designed for visibility. Here, digital identity becomes crafted by the individual and moulded by the platform, shaped within systems that reward confidence, consistency, and visual polish. The more seamlessly one fits these ideals, the more “authentic” they appear, even when that authenticity is strategically performed.
To conclude, Goffman’s ideas show that we rarely reveal our whole selves online. We choose which parts of our lives to share, crafting the most flattering version for our digital audience. We’ve become performers in many ways, constantly aware of who might be watching. So, ask yourself: how authentic is the self you show, both online and offline?
References:
- Crossman, A. (2024). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. ThoughtCo. Available at: https://www.thoughtco.com/the-presentation-of-self-in-everyday-life-3026754 (Accessed: 2 November 2025).
- Haziq, S. (2019). Putting the best digital self forward in the age of Social Media. Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@haziqsabreen25/putting-the-best-digital-self-forward-in-the-age-of-social-media-d3dbec422b73 (Accessed: 2 November 2025).
Hello! i really liked your post, it was very engaging. I liked the beginning, especially because it really drew me in as a reader. I like how you always start your post as if you’re having a conversation with someone- starting with a relatable question about influencers is a good idea, as it is more likely to engage readers. Again, the opening works really well because it makes you think about your own behaviour whilst focusing on the theme of performance and identity. I also enjoyed the ending, mainly because it’s strong and it ties everything together well. Overall, this post is very engaging, and you have explained academic sources like Goffman very well- you have also used relatable examples to make the topic easier to understand. Your writing is clear and structured.
This article is written with great maturity and insight. Its structure is clear, the language flows naturally, and it skillfully connects sociological theory with contemporary digital culture. The opening effectively draws readers in through a series of guiding questions, leading them from reflections on influencer imagery to the idea of self-presentation. The tone strikes a perfect balance between academic depth and accessibility, making it both thought-provoking and engaging. The author’s application of Erving Goffman’s theory of self-presentation is particularly well done — it not only accurately explains the concepts of “front stage” and “backstage,” but also cleverly links them to the construction of “digital identity” in social media contexts, creating a strong resonance between theory and reality. Throughout the discussion, the author uses vivid examples (such as the differences between Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn) to support their points. This concrete approach makes abstract ideas easier to grasp and demonstrates a nuanced understanding of today’s media ecology.
This is a great article, with a captivating opening paragraph, that is written well. I appreciate how you distinguish our traditional ideas of identity and how it’s created; and newer, more modernised ideas as a result of the digital age. I also appreciate your use of rhetorical questions when opening and closing your blog, it makes it real and conversational, whilst also forcing us to think.