The digital self : a sociological analysis of Facebook use and online self-presentation among university undergraduate students in Malta

Abstract

Digital Technology has changed the way we live by extending human beings’ life from the offline social environment to the online virtual world. We live in a time where the popularity of digital innovations such as social networking sites have exploded. This thesis is the result of a close look at the use and impacts of Facebook, given that it is the most influential social media site worldwide. Facebook not only provides us with a different mode of interaction, but also gives a chance to its users to develop a profile of who they are in ‘real life’ by presenting a digitised representation of themselves. The aim of the dissertation is to explore whether University Students present identities via Facebook that are different to their identities in face-to-face interactions. Survey questionnaires were e-mailed to all the Maltese University students. Responses clearly showed that the identity students portray on Facebook is the same as the identity they present in face-to-face interactions. There is however, a difference in the relational dynamics when comparing digital to face-to-face social situations.