There are many ways to display one’s identity, such as social media, films and dramas, AI machines, and so on. I will focus more on identity building on social media in this blog.
In social media, there are many influencers’ identities being made. They can be ordinary people, stars, or anyone. In films and dramas, the directors are making actor identities through shooting techniques, dubbing and background music. And the AI function is becoming increasingly powerful. Before inputting the identity characteristics, it will generate a corresponding character for you.
Firstly, people need to set up an account with a username, photo and profile on social media. These all can show the introduction of one person, and also it can reflect the first impression. Secondly, people will post their photos, stories and videos in lives, even livestreams. This makes the characters more distinct. Then, the recommendation engine will enhance certain aspects of an individual’s profile, thereby influencing how others perceive this person’s identity. Moreover, every interaction of users, like posting their comments on social media leaves a trace, and these traces can be aggregated into a “digital self” that can be used by platforms, employers or governments.
More and more identities are being created on social media platforms, which may lead to criminals making identities to seek financial gain, even using AI systems to make a visual person. So everyone needs to be cautious when making friends and not easily trust Internet celebrities on social media platforms.
In summary, identity in the digital world is a continuously negotiated performance, mediated by social platforms, AI‑generated characters, and so on. It offers unprecedented opportunities for self‑expression and community building, yet also introduces challenges around authenticity.
Reference：
Petre, G. E. and Costa, A. P. (2024). Selected Papers from the 7th World Conference on Qualitative Research. Basel: MDPI.
This was a very interesting read. AI has enhanced a lot of content in the digital media space, but I feel that maybe too much AI is now used for social media posts or other forms of short form content. There is an element of questioning how much authenticity is still created in terms of digital identity. Self expression in the media in an element that many people like about applications like Instagram and Tik Tok.