La influencia de Instagram en la construcción identitaria del estudiante universitario dentro de la sociedad del espectáculo y el simulacro

Abstract

Individuals and society, as constantly interacting elements, mutually and reciprocally influence each other, shaping not only individual or group cognitions and behaviors, but also the very structures of identity. The dialogical nature of the new identity is reinforced in this prevailing liquid life that permeates everything and gives rise to fragmented, diffuse, volatile identities trained for the spectacle led by digital social networks. In this scenario, young people who are in the process of constructing and consolidating their identities must confront a set of rules dictated by the essential characteristics of this new social functioning and its consequences. Instagram, as one of the leading platforms in terms of popularity, exerts a strong objectification of identity and is associated with specific dynamics related to the processes of self-concept construction, reconstruction, and disturbances in self-esteem. The general objective of this study is to provide an understanding of how students from the University of Salamanca perceive this social network, focusing on these socio-educational and relational practices described. For this purpose, a descriptive study was conducted with a sample of 311 subjects, using a self-designed data collection instrument. The results showed that the students in the sample highlighted low levels of sincerity, high levels of perceived comparison, and perceived harm, as well as significant differences in the results based on gender. These findings, in addition to bringing us closer to the reality of social networks, allow us to reaffirm that what happens on these platforms, characterized by theatricality and fiction, has true effects on the internal structures of individuals. This initial revelation serves as a starting point for educational work, both in its practical and research aspects.