How Does Erving Goffman Presentation Of Self Explain Social Media?

2025-08-26 04:05:55 106

4 Answers

Charlie
Charlie
2025-08-27 12:31:59
I often think in short examples: a tweet that feels off, a carefully cropped selfie, a LinkedIn post that reads like a résumé movie. Goffman's dramaturgical metaphor explains all of it — we perform for audiences, choose props, and rehearse lines. Unlike physical encounters where you can ask to leave the room if the vibe is wrong, social media collapses audiences and freezes performances into screenshots. That permanence changes strategies: some people double down on polished personas, others experiment with rawness knowing a clip might live forever.

I notice how people manage 'teams' too — friends who like posts to boost visibility, or brand accounts coordinating voices. That team performance is classic Goffman, except now the stage manager might be an algorithm rather than a human.
Ruby
Ruby
2025-08-28 21:06:26
It's wild how a book written in the 1950s still maps onto my endless scroll. Reading 'The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life' felt like finding a cheat sheet for modern profiles: Goffman's idea of front stage/back stage translates perfectly to feeds and stories. On my front stage I craft captions, pick filters, and line up photos so friends, colleagues, and followers see a tidy version of me. Props have changed from hats and cigars to ring lights, curated playlists, and that perfect angle.

Back stage is the DMs, the unsent drafts, the pile of unedited images, and the private group chats where I admit I’m tired of performing. The twist with social media is context collapse — everyone watches at once: family, old classmates, bosses, strangers. That makes impression management trickier and sometimes exhausting. Algorithms amplify certain performances too, rewarding drama or polish, which nudges how we script ourselves. I try to remind myself that authenticity can be staged; being aware of the performance lets me decide when to go onstage and when to stay backstage, and that little choice feels empowering rather than performative.
Una
Una
2025-08-29 02:26:32
Sometimes I catch myself thinking like a director, which is exactly the kind of thinking Goffman invites. His idea that interaction is a staged performance helps me analyze micro-behaviors online: the timing of a post (opening night), the choice of platform (which theater), and the audience reaction (applause or silence). When I scroll through Instagram I see performers adjusting costumes — minimalist aesthetics, lifestyle branding, or meme-driven authenticity — each one a deliberate script.

The modern wrinkle is the algorithmic audience and quantified feedback. Likes, views, and follower counts are metrics for success that Goffman didn't foresee, and they change incentives. People curate not just to be seen but to be seen favorably by an opaque system, which can create echo chambers and encourage sensational performances. I also appreciate how Goffman helps explain why some creators maintain separate spaces: a public front stage for the brand and private back stages for vulnerability, friendships, and repair work. Understanding this helps me be kinder about online personas and more mindful about what I broadcast.
Nina
Nina
2025-09-01 02:18:43
Scrolling through social media makes Goffman's dramaturgy click instantly for me: profiles are front stages, DMs are back stages, and photos and captions act as props. The big difference today is audience mash-up — everyone and no one can watch — which forces people into hybrid performances.

I sometimes mute feeds to escape the pressure of constant impression management, and that little practice feels like stepping backstage for a breather.
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