Insta-Identity : the Construction of Identity through Instagram an Extended Literature Review

A person\u27s ability to curate, communicate, and perceive their identity through the exploration and sharing of selfhood has never been easier thanks to social media applications that promote user-generated content and encourage self-promotion through computer-mediated communication within a social network. This paper analyzes the role Instagram has in the construction of identity by reviewing existing literature on identity theories, with a focus on communication theory of identity, as well as the methodologies behind representing self to see how they apply to the features and frameworks of Instagram. Based on the review it is argued that social media applications such as Instagram have a large role in the construction of identity and the potential benefits of this for diverse and marginalized identities are explored