Can You Guess Who I Am? Real, Ideal, and False Self-Presentation on Facebook Among Emerging Adults

TLDR

Emerging adulthood is a critical period for self‑development, during which young adults use online platforms to explore and present themselves. This study examined how emerging adults present their real, ideal, and false selves on Facebook and how these presentations relate to identity coherence and psychosocial well‑being. A sample of 261 emerging adults completed self‑report measures of identity state, well‑being, and Facebook self‑presentation. Participants reported showing their real self more than their ideal or false selves; a path analysis revealed that greater identity coherence predicted greater real‑self presentation, whereas weaker identity coherence and lower self‑esteem predicted greater false‑self presentation.

Abstract

Emerging adulthood is an important period for self-development, and youth use online contexts for self-exploration and self-presentation. Using a multiple self-presentation framework, the present study examined emerging adults’ presentation of their real self, ideal self, and false self on Facebook, and the relation between their identity state, psychosocial well-being, and online self-presentation. Participants ( N = 261; 66 males, 195 females M age 22) completed self-report measures of identity state, well-being, and self-presentation on Facebook. Respondents reported presenting their real self more than their ideal self and false self on Facebook. A path analysis suggested that emerging adults who reported having more coherent identity states also reported presenting their real self on Facebook to a greater extent. However, those with a less coherent sense of the self and lower self-esteem reported presenting their false self on Facebook to a greater extent. Implications for methodology and future directions are discussed.