The definition of Self-presentation is the way we shape how others see us. It’s the process of choosing what we show and what we hide about ourselves, especially online. Whether it’s carefully picking a photo to post, editing a caption, or deciding not to comment on something, we all make choices to control how we’re perceived. While everyone does this to some extent in real life, social media has amplified it. We’re now constantly performing ourselves for an audience.
Sociologist Erving Goffman first developed self-presentation theory in The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1956). He compared social interaction to a theater performance, where we have a “front stage” (the version of ourselves we show the world) and a “backstage (who we are when no one is watching). This concept has become even more relevant in the digital age. Social media platforms give us time, tools, and filters to curate our “front stage” identity in a way that wasn’t possible before. We can carefully choose how we appear, what we post, and how we interact, often editing and revising before we hit “send.”
Today, self-presentation online is influenced by the design of the platforms themselves. Sites like Instagram and TikTok reward users with likes, comments, and followers, which become a kind of social currency. This encourages people to post content that fits popular trends or looks a certain way, even if it’s not entirely authentic. The feedback loop created by these platforms can push people to keep curating a perfect or polished version of their lives, even when it doesn’t reflect reality.
Understanding self-presentation is essential for digital literacy because it helps us be more critical of what we see online. People rarely post their failures, insecurities, or everyday moments; they highlight the best parts of their lives. Knowing this can help reduce the pressure to compare ourselves to others and remind us that what we see on social media is often more performance than truth. It also allows us to reflect on our online behavior, why we post what we post, and how we might curate our identity for an audience.
This awareness is especially important for younger generations who have grown up online. Research shows teens and young adults often tie their self-worth to social media feedback (Uhls et al., 2017). Teaching people about self-presentation gives them the tools to question those patterns and take control of their digital identity in a healthier, more intentional way.
In the end, self-presentation isn’t inherently good or bad; it’s something we all do. But being digitally literate means understanding how and why we do it and recognizing when our digital lives start shaping our real ones more than the other way around.
Works Cited:
Goffman, E. (1956). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life.
Goffman_Erving_The_Presentation_of_Self_in_Everyday_Life.pdf
Uhls, Y. T., Ellison, N. B., & Subrahmanyam, K. (2017). Benefits and Costs of Social Media
in Adolescence. Pediatrics, 140(Supplement 2), S67–S70.
Benefits and Costs of Social Media in Adolescence | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics