Creating a Self-Image

Abstract

In this article, we build on research arguing that linguistic self-representation on social media can be viewed as a form of face-work and that the strategies employed by users are influenced by both a desire to connect with others and a need to preserve privacy. Drawing on our own analyses of usernames as well as that of others which were conducted as part of a large-scale project investigating usernames in 14 languages (Schlobinski/T. Siever 2018a), we argue that these conflicting goals of wanting to be recognised as an authen­tic member of an in-group while retaining a degree of anonymity are also observable in the choice of username. Online self-naming can thus be viewed as a key practice in the debate of face-work on social media platforms, because names and naming strategies can be stud­ied more readily than broader and more complex aspects, such as stylistic variation or text-image interdependence, while at the same time forming part of these.

The Individual Identity Construction of Chinese Fans of American TV Series in Social Media

“…At the same time, the choice of usernames and profile pictures not only facilitates the expression of one's identity on the internet but also increases an individual's sense of belonging to a specific online community. The selection of profile pictures strengthens the relationship between users and their preferred subjects (Chen, 2020;Kersten & Lotze, 2020).…”

“…Goffman (1967) concept of "face-work" suggested that people do not necessarily have to reveal their true and innermost selves to others, instead, they can use a mask as a tool for social interaction. In the virtual world created by the internet, people find it easier and more convenient to construct their self-identities, creating multiple identities through language, symbols, and so on (Kersten & Lotze, 2020). Therefore, identity is not a fixed and unchanging entity but rather something that is constantly reshaped through new cultural practices, it is an ongoing process.…”

“…This form of identity reconstruction through the internet can influence behaviors and emotions in the real world. Kersten & Lotze (2020), in their research, focused on how individuals use language to construct their self-identities in the online sphere. They emphasized that on the internet, people construct their identities and images through the use of language, symbols, and establish connections with belonging groups.…”

Anonymity and authenticity on the web

“…Following the Nicknamen International project, we have previously discussed usernames as an act of self-naming from a predominantly onomastic perspective (Lotze and Kersten 2020), the creation of a self-image online from an applied linguistic perspective (Kersten and Lotze 2019) as well as the methodological approach to username research (Lotze and Kersten under review). The present article builds on these discussions as it adds a new angle to the data and outlines a framework for the interpretation of username data along a number of clines of which the formalityinformality cline is one, but which also includes more abstract dimensions.…”

“…This, at first glance at least, appears to be in opposition to the clearly drawn line between formal, authentic legal names on the one hand and informal nicknames on the other. In our analysis of data collected as part of a large scale project of usernames (Schlobinski and Siever 2018a), it becomes evident that usernames cannot be neatly categorised as being one or the other because many users choose to employ at least a certain degree of hybridity while striving to reconcile conflicting goals, namely the need to authenticate oneself and the desire to preserve at least a degree of anonymity (see also Kersten and Lotze 2020;Lotze and Kersten in press).…”