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    How Facebook users select identity categories for self-presentation


    Bouvier, Gwen (2012) How Facebook users select identity categories for self-presentation. Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 7 (1). pp. 37-57. ISSN 1744-7143

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    Abstract

    This paper focuses on the display of identity on Facebook, and more specifically on how undergraduate students in Cardiff, Wales, say they express identity on their profiles. The theoretical context of this study is observed processes of change in the way we play out identity through what have been described as globalisation, deterritorialisation and the rise of lifestyle consumer society. The paper is based on an analysis of responses from a questionnaire and interviews with 100 students from Media and Communication degrees at the University of Glamorgan. The data collection is designed to indicate what kinds of self-categorisation are used. These data are analysed using Social Actor Analysis developed by Machin and Van Leeuwen. The paper shows that we find a range of identity categories, some that are based around a biological model of national identity, while others focus on a belonging to a territory, others on national cultural activities and yet others link to lifestyle identity. What is most notable in this Welsh sample is the high use of nationalist identity categories and biological ethnic classification alongside other lifestyle identities.

    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: discourse; identity; Facebook; small nations; nationalism;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Arts,Celtic Studies and Philosophy > School of English, Media & Theatre Studies > Media Studies
    Item ID: 11869
    Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1080/17447143.2011.652781
    Depositing User: Gwen Bouvier
    Date Deposited: 25 Nov 2019 15:43
    Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Multicultural Discourses
    Publisher: Taylor & Francis
    Refereed: Yes
    URI:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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