Online Self-Presentation on Facebook and Self Development During the College Transition

J Youth Adolesc. 2016 Feb;45(2):402-16. doi: 10.1007/s10964-015-0385-y. Epub 2015 Nov 3.

Abstract

Self-presentation, a central element of young people's identity development, now extends from face-to-face contexts to social networking sites. Online self-presentation may change when youth transition to college, faced with the need to reclaim or redefine themselves in the new environment. Drawing on theories of self-presentation and self development, this study explores changes in youth's online self-presentation during their transition to a residential college. It also examines associations between online self-presentation and students' self-esteem and self-concept clarity. We surveyed 218 college freshmen (M age = 18.07; 64 % female, 79 % White) at the beginning and again at the end of their first semester. Freshmen's Facebook self-presentation became less restricted later in the semester. Broad, deep, positive, and authentic Facebook self-presentation was positively associated with perceived support from the audience, which contributed to higher self-esteem contemporaneously, though not longitudinally. Intentional Facebook self-presentation engaged students in self-reflection, which was related to lower self-concept clarity concurrently but higher self-esteem longitudinally. Findings clarified the paths from multifaceted online self-presentation to self development via interpersonal and intrapersonal processes during college transition.

Keywords: College transition; Identity; Self-concept clarity; Self-esteem; Self-presentation; Social media; Social networking site.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Male
  • Self Concept*
  • Social Networking*
  • Social Perception*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Universities*