Dual Account Self Presentation and the Digital Erosion of Goffman’s Front Back Distinction Among Chinese Undergraduates

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-551-5_125How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Official Account; Alternative Account; Goffman’s Front-Stage and Backstage Theory; Mental Health; Semi-Structured Interview

Abstract

This study investigates the intrinsic mechanisms underlying the utilization of official and alternative social media accounts by Chinese university students, focusing specifically on their self-expression across public platforms. Drawing upon Goffman’s Theory of front-stage and backstage behavior, the research indicates that students meticulously curate content for their official accounts to project idealized versions of themselves. Conversely, alternative accounts facilitate more spontaneous expressions, thus alleviating social pressures and aligning more closely with their “backstage” personas. Through semi-structured interviews, the study reveals that although students oscillate between these roles, this behavior does not align precisely with Goffman’s traditional framework. The findings suggest that the front-stage and backstage are not entirely separate nor sequentially ordered; rather, they are inherently interdependent. Even in private spheres, self-presentation maintains strategic and calculated purposes, with individual variations in the differentiation between front-stage and backstage behaviors. Employing thematic analysis of in-depth interviews, the study reinterprets Goffman’s Theory, highlighting the need to recalibrate dramaturgical theory within the digital context. The research outcomes hold practical significance for digital-age life, aiding college students in comprehending the psychological motivations for their platform transitions and promoting self-regulation. Additionally, the findings offer educators and counselors a novel perspective on student subjectivity, enabling the design of more effective psychological support systems.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Ziyue Wang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/03/26
TI  - Dual Account Self Presentation and the Digital Erosion of Goffman’s Front Back Distinction Among Chinese Undergraduates
BT  - Proceeding of 2025 8th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 1153
EP  - 1160
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-551-5_125
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-551-5_125
ID  - Wang2026
ER  -