Social media’s Truman show: Construction of celebrity identities and the struggle for a backstage

In the digital world, everyday users and celebrities carefully construct their identities through their social media platforms. Social media allows celebrities to create their public image by curating select content, such as images, videos, and even post captions, to strengthen their image and connect with fans. This is known as impression management, a concept developed by sociologist Erving Goffman, who explains how people adjust their behaviour to make a good impression based on the situation and audience (Scannell, 2007).

Impression management theory

Goffman developed impression management theory to explain how people can control and shift their behaviour according to a situation to leave a good impression on the person they interact with. This can be achieved through how they present themselves, the way they speak and even how they dress. He referred to this as the front stage, where we perform to leave a good impression on people. However, there is also a backstage, a place of privacy where people are allowed to be authentic without having to perform (Scannell, 2007).

To better understand this, let’s apply the theory to celebrities, specifically music artists. Impression management is essential in understanding how music artists construct their social media identities, allowing them to shape how fans and the wider public perceive them. Social media platforms act as a front stage to perform and shape identities. On platforms like Instagram, X, and TikTok, artists can curate their posts to align with their image; by being authentic and maintaining the brand’s image, they can create a strong bond with their audience (Haziq, 2019). By selectively sharing content, whether it’s behind-the-scenes studio clips, concert photos, or quirky videos, artists create a front-stage persona. The self-curation of their online identities helps them maintain control over their image.

For example, Olivia Rodrigo’s social media identity gives off the impression of a quirky GenZ popstar.

What does the backstage look like for celebrities?

The importance of a backstage is that it is a place where people do not have to perform and can be themselves; however, a backstage requires privacy, and the nature of a celebrity is to be constantly in the media rotation and be visible to the public (Drake, 2007). Therefore, a backstage presence for artists is very limited in a digital world that demands visibility. The impact of this is that artists must consistently perform their personas to satisfy their audience, as they are always in the spotlight. Many artists, such as Chappel Roan and Tyler the Creator, have spoken on social media about fan expectations and behaviour outside of social media.

*Explixt langauge in videos*

Any behind-the-scenes moment that could contradict the image they created on social media platforms could potentially harm their image, risking the trust they have built with their audience. The pressure to consistently perform can also take a toll on an artist’s mental health, as they must constantly project an idealized persona with few opportunities to authentically be themselves.

In the digital age, the construction of identity is an exhausting balancing act for music artists, where every post reinforces the merging of public and private self into one, continuous performance.

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References

Drake, P. (2007). Who Owns Celebrity?: Privacy, Publicity and the Legal Regulation of Celebrity Images. In: Stardom and Celebrity: A Reader. pp. 219-229. Available at: <https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446269534> (Accessed: 2 November 2024)

Haziq, S (2019) Putting the best digital self forward in the age of Social Media. Available at: https://medium.com/@haziqsabreen25/putting-the-best-digital-self-forward-in-the-age-of-social-media-d3dbec422b73 (Accessed: 2 November 2024)

Scannell, P. (2007) Media and Communication. pp.145-168. Available at: https://r1.vlereader.com/Reader?ean=9781849208307 (Accessed: 2 November 2024)

The Truman Show.(2024) Available at: https://www.the-cinematograph.com/movies/the-truman-show/. (Accessed: 2 November 2024)