Identity Presentation in Face Book Posts: The Kenyan Situation

Abstract

The Internet technology is dramatically changing the landscape of identity construction by mobilizing people around the world to re-conceptualize their image. This paper argues that although once identity was ascribed by family name and reputation, social status, education and such like factors, Face Book users now exert the utmost influence in shaping their virtual image to reflect both actual and ideal identities. It goes on to contend that Face Book provides an optimal format for users to keep a personal narrative going in which they integrate events which happen in the external world, and sort them into an ongoing’ story about the self. The paper uses a research design that is both qualitative and quantitative in nature. Purposive sampling procedure was used to arrive at the sample for the paper which consisted of eight Facebook friends in the 22-35 age bracket. This is the age that was found to use Facebook more in Kenya. This narrative on self is presented on Face Book in the feature called Timeline. One is able to access histories on an individual’s posts and photos, all that make up to re-construct the identity of this individual.

Identity construction, face book, timeline, personal narrative, posts