Analyze self-presentation on social media by applying Goffman’s dramaturgical theory

Abstract

This study, based on Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical theory, aims to analyze the phenomenon of selfpresentation on social media. By integrating methods such as literature review, case analysis, questionnaire survey, and in-depth interviews, the study found that the boundaries between the “front stage” and “back stage” on social media are increasingly blurred, with users presenting both carefully curated content and private information simultaneously. The research indicates that Goffman’s dramaturgical theory has certain explanatory power for the self-presentation phenomenon on social media, but it needs to be expanded in light of the characteristics of social media. Social media has reshaped the mode of selfpresentation, and a deeper understanding of its patterns is of great significance for both theoretical development and online social practices.