Between a Banker and a Barbie: The Illusions of Social Media: An Abstract

Abstract

Within social media, projections of identities can be deceiving and differ markedly from reality. Without realising the impact of social media on their future career, students regularly project their current student identities on various social platforms. Despite the rapid increase, potential impact of social media and high tendency of younger people to use social media, this area lacks in empirically driven theory (Benson et al. 2014).

This study therefore aims to address the research gap stated in the studies conducted by Casatander and Camacho (2012) and Jackson and Wilton (2016) by exploring the impact of social media on students’ digital identities in a higher education context. The author conducted 33 “talk and draw” interviews which lasted 45 min on average with final year students. This visual research technique provided the respondents with an alternative way to express and communicate their views around their digital identities which might be difficult to articulate in words (Theron et al. 2011).

In line with the past studies (Linn et al. 2017; Woodley and Silversti 2013) there were major discrepancies between students’ digital identities and their future career aspirations. This was attributed to parents’ involvement in picking the professions for their children on the basis of high income. Students were aware of their digital prints on some occasions; however, this awareness did not create any positive impact on shaping their digital identities in contrast to Camacaho et al. (2012) study. Further, social media was identified as an overwhelming tool which can give rise to various uncertainties in relation to students’ future careers. For example, they demonstrated cognitive dissonance by portraying themselves as tech savvy without considering the bigger picture of creating their own digital prints which can be potentially looked at by their future employers.

This study contributes to the identity formation literature through social media and has implications for Higher Education sector. The discussion concludes that universities must confront social media challenges as part of the educational experience for the development of a responsible and professional ethical digital citizenry. Future research is needed to assess the ways which can positively influence students to shape their digital identities to increase their employability opportunities.