Social Media, Communities, & Networks Conference 2026: Semester 1

#AuthenticityOnline

Beyond the Filter: Instagram’s Hidden Influence on Identity Performance

Posted on

26/04/2025

by

SheungLam Lai

Abstract This paper demonstrates how Instagram’s algorithmic architecture shapes social norms and user self-presentation, focusing on the platform’s role in mediating digital identity. While Instagram markets itself as a space for authentic self-expression, its algorithm invisibly prioritizes specific types of visual and behavioral content, effectively guiding how users perform their identities online. The algorithm encourages…
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#AlgorithmicBias, #AlgorithmicCulture, #AuthenticityOnline, #CuratedSelf, #DigitalIdentity, #FilteredReality, #IdentityPerformance, #InfluencerCulture, #InstagramAlgorithm, #MentalHealthAndSocialMedia, #OnlineSelfWorth, #SelfPresentation, #SocialMediaInfluence, #SocialNorms, #VisibilityGame