How do visual representations and engagements on Instagram re/construct self identities?

Mushongera, Talent Kumbirai

1. term

Culture, Communication and Globalization, Master

2018

This thesis explores how visual representations and audience engagements on Instagram re/construct self-identities. Against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding, image-centric platform, it treats posts as visual narratives through which users continually build and revise the self in response to perceived audience expectations. The study is grounded in a social constructionist approach and draws on self-presentation concepts (e.g., frontstage/backstage). Methodologically, it employs an exploratory qualitative design using semi-structured individual interviews (including by phone) with three prominent Instagram users identified via top #Aalborg posts between 1 November and 1 December 2018. Platform features—filters, hashtags, likes, comments, and algorithmic visibility—are introduced as mechanisms that enable selective curation and signal social validation. The scope is delimited to prominent Aalborg accounts, excluding smaller profiles and other platforms. While detailed empirical findings are not included in this excerpt, the analysis addresses how filters foster impressions, how engagements influence lifestyle choices, how users manage impressions and sustain narratives over time, and why backstage moments are comparatively rare. The study contributes insights into identity work within a visual social media environment where feedback loops can encourage continual self-revision.

Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan visuelle repræsentationer og publikums engagementer på Instagram er med til at re/konstruere selv-identiteter. Med udgangspunkt i den hurtige udbredelse af en visuelt drevet platform argumenteres der for, at opslag fungerer som visuelle narrativer, hvorigennem brugere løbende bygger og reviderer deres selvforståelse i lyset af opfattede forventninger fra deres følgere. Studiet er forankret i en socialkonstruktivistisk tilgang og trækker på begreber om selvfremstilling (fx frontstage/backstage). Metodisk anvendes et eksplorativt kvalitativt design baseret på semistrukturerede individuelle interviews (herunder telefoninterview) med tre fremtrædende Instagram-brugere, identificeret via topopslag under #Aalborg i perioden 1. november til 1. december 2018. Platformfunktioner som filtre, hashtags, likes, kommentarer og algoritmisk synlighed beskrives som mekanismer, der muliggør selektiv kuratering og signalerer social bekræftelse. Afgrænsningen omfatter fokus på markante Aalborg-profiler og udelukker mindre konti samt andre sociale platforme. De detaljerede empiriske resultater fremgår ikke af dette uddrag, men analysen adresserer, hvordan filtre former indtryk, hvordan engagementer påvirker livsstilsvalg, hvordan indtryk håndteres og fortællinger vedligeholdes over tid, samt hvorfor backstage-øjeblikke er relativt sjældne. Studiet bidrager med indsigt i identitetsarbejde i et visuelt socialt mediemiljø, hvor feedback-sløjfer kan understøtte kontinuerlig selvrevision.

[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]

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Mushongera, Talent Kumbirai:

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