Self in virtual social networks Cover Image

Азът във виртуалните социални мрежи
Self in virtual social networks

Author(s): Momchil Kiryakov, Irina Zinovieva
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Psychology, Psychology of Self
Published by: Софийски университет »Св. Климент Охридски«
Keywords: social networks; self; self-presentation; identity shift; communication

Summary/Abstract: The article synthesizes extant theoretical perspectives on self in virtual social networks. Presented theories are integrated in a conceptual framework comprising three broad categories: (1) Comparison between real and virtual self; (2) Independency and detachment of self in virtual social networks; (3) Influence of the virtual self on real personality – identity shift. The main goal of this text is to present the development of theoretical understanding about self in virtual social networks – from subordinate derivative of the real ego to independent psychic structure that can navigate subsequent personal development.