FACEBOOK’S ROLE IN CONSTRUCTING ONLINE IDENTITY

Abstract

This article looks at how Facebook helps shape the way we think about and present our identities online. It explores how the platform encourages users to be “real” by using their actual names and lives as part of their digital presence. By looking at Facebook’s features – like profiles, posts, and the news feed – the research shows people carefully managing how they appear to others, often influenced by likes, comments, and what the algorithm decides to show. The article explores digital identity construction through case study and platform feature analyses, focusing on authenticity, performance, engagement dynamics, and how people balance being themselves with presenting a version of themselves that fits social expectations. Drawing from research in media and social sciences, the article argues that while Facebook helps normalize online identity tied to real life, it also creates new pressures to manage that identity carefully. It ends by raising questions about what this means for how we see ourselves in the digital world today.