Growing up with access to social media has shaped me in many ways I canât ignore. Being on my phone late into the night or feeling the need to constantly check social media reminds me how intertwined my identity has become with the digital world. Sometimes I envy my parents and those who grew up in a world without social media, who could form a sense of self less influenced by the pressures of the online world. However, social media isnât entirely negative. It forces me to consider who I am, and who I mightâve been without it. It complicates the idea of individuality and personal identity, but thatâs precisely why ideas around identity in this digital age are worth discussing.
Itâs easy to point out where social media possibly went wrong. Chatrooms perpetuate ideas of in-group, where users scavenge for approval from others, putting themselves in uncertain amounts of danger in attempts to find like-minded people. The yearning for community is pertinent online: itâs what drives us to engage with every trend or keeps us posting daily. Our identities arenât just who we are; on social media, itâs how weâre perceived. I think Sherry Turkleâs phrase âI post therefore I amâ perfectly sums this up. Social mediaâs entire algorithm is literally designed to favour those who consistently engage and make their presence âknownâ on social media. TikTokâs reposting feature encapsulates this: reposting is less about curating feeds and more about performatively signalling statements about your online aesthetic or identity to others. Thus, personal identities are curiously validated through visibility, making our online presence a narrative of our identity, rather than a static self-image. Consequently, the rise of social media has shifted our personal identities to something which is increasingly defined by others. Yet this speaks to the fragility of our identities: what does it mean for us if our identities are no longer internally determined?
On one hand, itâs not such a worry for social media users to admit this. Even without social media, our identities are shaped by our environments. Where we grew up, the people we interact with and our experiences are all social and cultural factors which make us who we are. The notable change I believe people are perceiving is instead social mediaâs impact on individuality. In many ways, social media has democratized self-expression: making online platforms easily accessible to anybody, anywhere, it has allowed everyone to take charge of their own narrative and begin sharing.
This freedom has paved the way for micro-influencers who help us reflect on the type of media we want to consume, besides the algorithm. Micro-influencers represent a middle ground between everyday users and celebrity influencers, creating spaces that feel less manufactured and more human. Set apart by their authenticity, audiences see them as relatable, grounded in niche interests rather than mass appeal. These communities make spaces for less-popular interests and for people who otherwise may have felt ostracised or alone in their identities. However, in many ways, itâs these micro-influencers who demonstrate the paradox of social media on identity and individuality.
On the face of it, micro-influencers stand out, unique in their self-expression and seemingly grounded in authentic individuality. Yet ironically, it is precisely this individuality which becomes the basis of a community. Sometimes, their identity becomes a template for audiences to copy, making expressive individuality turn into collective identity, rather than its intended direction. Perhaps this reflects social mediaâs tendency to blur the boundaries between individual and group identity, as we may accidentally adopt styles and behaviours fashioned by others in order to fit in, rather than express ourselves authentically. Or it may also reveal deeper underlying insecurities in those users who gravitate towards these social media celebrities. As they represent polished, socially accepted versions of themselves, versions which feel safe, aspirational and achievable. Accordingly, even those who appear most individualistic online reveal how fragile and malleable identity can become.
Ultimately, social media complicates the very idea of individuality. It promotes self-expression, yet its subtle pressures toward conformity are impossible to ignore. Our online presence and interactions often define our identity far more than we realise. What appears authentic is also itself, often influenced; what seems individual can easily become collective. Growing up with social media mustâve shaped me in many ways I could never fully comprehend, but to simply ignore it would be wrong. It has influenced not only how I present myself online, but also how I perceive my own identity and the identities of those around me. In this modern age, our identities become entangled with online visibility, and our self-expression often feels performative. Though this shouldnât be ignored. Instead, it simply reminds us to question the external forces which influence, focus on ourselves and try not to compare. In a world dominated by algorithms and manufactured marketing, perhaps the most authentic way to understand ourselves is to look beyond the screen and learn about ourselves behind the social presence.