Running head: SELF-PRESENTATION, AUTHENTICITY, AND FACEBOOK 1

Self-Presentation, Authenticity, and Facebook

Kelsey Summarell

Salt Lake Community College

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Abstract

Today we are surrounded by social media websites. Research has been done to examine the

effects of authentic self-presentation on these social media websites. In this literature review we

will discuss the benefits of authentic self-presentation on Facebook, negative effects of

inauthentic self-presentation on Facebook, and the factors that influence different types of

authenticity on Facebook.

Keywords: Self-Presentation, Facebook, Social Media, Authenticity

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Self-Presentation, Authenticity, and Facebook

In the 21st century it is difficult to find an individual who does not have s social media

account. Facebook is the most popular social media network with 2,271 million active users (We

Are Social, Hootsuite, & Datareportal, 2019). With the increase of social interactions online it

can be difficult to know whether the person you are interacting with is being authentic or not.

Social media networks allow users to be more strategic in their self-presentations. Franzoi (2016)

describes strategic self-presentation as a way of shaping and showing yourself in order to alter

other’s impressions of one’s self. Authentic self-presentation is beneficial to your mental health.

I am going to explore the benefits of authentic self-presentation on Facebook, effects of

inauthentic self-presentation, and factors that influence authenticity on Facebook.

Authentic Self-Presentation on Facebook

Individual’s have different perceptions on what it means to be authentic (Wiederhold,

2017, p. 343). An authentic self-presentation means to present yourself in a way that is in

accordance with your true self. Grieve and Watkinson (2016) describe the true self as a group of

qualities, beliefs, and values that are important to an individual’s identity (p. 420). When an

individual is presenting an authentic self-presentation on Facebook there is going to be none to

very little distance between the self-presented and the true self. Individual’s who present an

authentic self on Facebook can experience increase feelings of well-being (Wiederhold, 2017, p.

345).
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Lower Stress

Individuals who present an authentic self on Facebook have lower levels of stress

(Wright, White, & Obst, 2018; Weiderhold, 2017; Grieve and Watkinson, 2016). The more

similar an individual’s self-presentation on Facebook and true self are, the less stress the

individual will experience and vice versa. Grieve and Watkinson (2016) propose that lower

levels of stress are a result of minimal emotional input (p. 423).

Greater Social Connectedness

Individual’s who have an authentic self-presentation on Facebook have a greater feeling

of social connectedness (Wright, White, & Obst, 2018; Weiderhold, 2017; Grieve and Watkinson,

2016). The more similar an individual’s self-presentation on Facebook and the true self are, the

greater the feeling of being socially connected and vice versa. Social connectedness is the

measure of how people come together and interact (Social Connection, 2019).

Inauthentic Self-Presentation

Individual’s with decreased levels of well-being are more likely to be inauthentic on

Facebook because they feel they cannot be authentic (Wiederhold, 2017, p.345). When an

individual’s self-presentation on Facebook and true self are not in accordance with each other

this is inauthentic self-presentation. The main types of inauthentic self-presentation on Facebook

are lying behaviors and liking behaviors (Wright et. al., 2018, p. 45).

Low Self-Esteem

Twomey and O’Reily (2017) found that individuals that presented themselves

inauthentically on Facebook were associated with low self-esteem (p. 587), An explanation for
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this is that the individuals do not believe their true self is worth mentioning so, they instead

present an inauthentic persona.

Increased Levels of Social Anxiety

Twomey and O’Reily (2017) also found that individuals that inauthentically presented

themselves on Facebook had higher levels of social anxiety (p.587). It is proposed that Facebook

appeals to individuals with social anxiety because Facebook gives those individual’s an outlet in

which they have more control over what they present or show others (Twomey & O’Reily, 2017,

p. 593).

Factors that Influence Authenticity

Individuals who score high in neuroticism and narcissism are more likely to be

inauthentic in their self-presentations (Twomey & O’Reily, 2017, p. 587). Individuals who have

high self-esteem are more likely to be authentic in their self-presentations (Twomey & O’Reily,

2017, p. 587). Individuals with a good perception of social support are more likely to be

authentic in their self-presentations on Facebook (Twomey & O’Reily, 2017, p. 587). Younger

adults are more likely to be inauthentic in their self-presentations on Facebook (Wright et. al.,

2018, p.45). Moral norms are more likely to predict whether an individual will be inauthentic

through lying behaviors and group norms are more likely to predict whether an individual will be

inauthentic through liking behaviors (Wright et. al., 2018, p. 45).

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References

Franzoi, S. L. (2016). Social psychology. Redding CA: BVT Publishing.

Grieve, R., & Watkinson, J. (2016). The Psychological Benefits of Being Authentic on Facebook.

CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 19(7), 420–425. https://doi-

org.libprox1.slcc.edu/10.1089/cyber.2016.0010

Mehdizadeh, S. (2010). Self-Presentation 2.0: Narcissism and Self-Esteem on Facebook.

CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 13(4), 357–364. https://doi-

org.libprox1.slcc.edu/10.1089/cyber.2009.0257

Social connection. (2019, April 05). Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_connection

Twomey, C., & O’Reilly, G. (2017). Associations of Self-Presentation on Facebook with Mental Health and

Personality Variables: A Systematic Review. CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking,

20(10), 587–595. https://doi-org.libprox1.slcc.edu/10.1089/cyber.2017.0247

We Are Social, & Hootsuite, & DataReportal. (n.d.). Most Famous Social Network Sites Worldwide as of

January 2019, ranked by number of active users (in millions). In Statista - The Statistics Portal.

Retrieved April 7, 2019, from https://www-statista-com.libprox1.slcc.edu/statistics/272014/global-

social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/.

Wiederhold, B. K. (2017). Being Authentic on Facebook Has Same Health Benefits as In-Person

Authentic Behavior. CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 20(6), 345. https://doi-

org.libprox1.slcc.edu/10.1089/cyber.2017.29074.bkw
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Wright, E. J., White, K. M., & Obst, P. L. (2018). Facebook False Self-Presentation Behaviors and

Negative Mental Health. CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 21(1), 40–49.

https://doi-org.libprox1.slcc.edu/10.1089/cyber.2016.0647