Pixel vs. Font. Facebook and Young People’s Self-Presentation

Abstract

This paper explores various strategies for self-presentation used on Facebook, among a sample of 1330 Italian students aged 14-19 years. Based on two social network site practices, the production of text material and the publication of personal photos, we have constructed a model embracing four types of categories and behaviors. We examined the categories according to structural variables, variables regarding self-narration, and two psychological scales. The results show the validity of the four categories in distinguishing different styles of Facebook use and allowing us to define those styles in greater depth. In particular, the publication of photos by those who do not contribute written text seems to indicate the need to maintain one’s real-life social network; the production of text alone seems to reflect the need to deepen one’s most passionate interests; while the combination of the two communicative modes tends to reveal a greater capacity in planning for the future.

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Angelini P., Sciandra A. (2013) "Pixel vs. Font. Facebook and Young People’s Self-Presentation " Italian Journal of Sociology of Education, 5(1), 58-81. DOI: 10.14658/PUPJ-IJSE-2013-1-4  
Year of Publication
2013
Journal
Italian Journal of Sociology of Education
Volume
5
Issue Number
1
Start Page
58
Last Page
81
Date Published
02/2013
ISSN Number
2035-4983
Serial Article Number
4
DOI
10.14658/PUPJ-IJSE-2013-1-4
Issue
Section
Articles