Influência da comparação social na apresentação de si de adolescentes na rede social digital Instagram

Abstract

As social beings, individuals interact seeking to get closer to their interest groups and even without explicit intention, they seek to convey positive aspects about themselves. In an attempt to create advantageous images, comparing oneself to individuals in a better or worse situation about the observed trait can result in important information that will be used for self-assessment, self-improvement, or improvement of self-esteem. Knowing that the internet occupies a significant space of sociability for young people and based on the studies of Léon Festinger on social comparison and Erving Goffman on self-presentation, this research aimed to analyze how the process of social comparison of adolescents affects the construction of your self-presentations on the digital social network Instagram. Qualitative research was carried out, with an exploratory approach, through 8 interviews with adolescents aged 14 to 17 years old. It was concluded that, although it does not always occur intentionally, social comparison influences on the use of strategies to present themselves. The techniques of the online environment offer the use of resources (such as filters) that allow the user to change information about himself through high degrees of selection and editing. It was observed that young people make upward comparisons more often than downward comparisons and use available tools to conform to comparison targets. This process can have positive (inspirational) or negative (low self-esteem) consequences for the self-perception of these young people since often the content on Instagram can project illusory images of individuals.