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Article
A picture is worth a thousand words: Chinese college students’ self-presentation on social networking sites
Journal of Communications Media Studies (2014)
  • Qinghua Yang, University of Miami
  • Zongchao Li, University of Miami
Abstract
Social media have provided new means of self-presentation. Because individuals are able to post notes, pictures, and videos, social media users can construct their personal images on social networking sites (SNSs) and build links with their various communities. This study aims to find out how Chinese college students perceive other users' online self-presentations and how they conduct their own self-presentations through posting pictures on SNSs. Using photo-elicitation as the primary methodology, the authors conducted two.focus groups with male and female participants respectively. With grounded theory as the framework, the qualitative data show gender differences in the attitudes towards extreme self-presentation, social media effects, and the motives of online photo-based self-presentation among the participants. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed.
Keywords
  • self-presentation,
  • qualitative,
  • photo-elicitation,
  • social networking sites (SNSs),
  • Brunswik's Lens Model,
  • gender differences
Publication Date
2014
Publisher Statement
This article appeared in the Journal of Communications Media Studies, volume 6, issue 1, 2014, and is included here with permission.
Citation Information
Qinghua Yang and Zongchao Li. "A picture is worth a thousand words: Chinese college students’ self-presentation on social networking sites" Journal of Communications Media Studies Vol. 6 Iss. 1 (2014) p. 70 - 94
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/zongchao-li/6/