Social Media Use and Impacts on Self: A Case of Indonesian University Students

Globalization cannot be separated from the process and the results of global interconnections. The impacts of globalization are simply far-reaching. In relation to the technological development that globalization has brought, the Internet has undoubtedly influenced many people’s lives. By using case study approach, this study aims to explore a group of university students’ experiences engaging on social media and what are their perceptions towards social media use. Questionnaire and individual interviews were used as data collection methods. Drawing on Goffman’s dramaturgy theory that Delfanti and Arvidsson (2019) used in identity construction on digital media, the findings show that social media is more like a double-edged sword, bringing both positive and negative impacts on the students’ individual selves. Thus, students need to be smart and critical users when engaging on social media as it is where they are significantly exposed to the contestation of ideas and values