The theme of this master thesis is Instagram - a social networking service and its impact on self-acceptance and self-promoting of teenagers. In the first place, theoretical part aims to describe concepts, that are linked with social networks, such as prosuming, participative culture, and Web 2.0. Furthermore, general approach regarding the impact of social networks on teenagers is introduced. The main subjects of this research are contextualized in the field of social networks. The thesis strives to introduce following topics: the presentation of a distincitve identity on social media, the self-reflection under the influence of the subscribed content, and the marketing exploitation of Instagram influencers. There are three main goals of the dissertation, as stated in a hypothesis part. Firstly, how are the participants of the research influenced by the subscribed content. Secondly, whether is the information stream they are following being reflected in their own Instagram presentation. And finally, what is the impact on the participants of the research in case of advertising activity represented by the Instagram influencers. Qualitative research is focused on girls at the age of sixteen. This is a moderate deflection as the original hypothesis was aiming to involve wider research group of...

The graduation thesis deals with the function of a CV in the process of finding an employment, particularly in the period before a face-to-face job interview. The subject matter is observed from the point of view of the employer and of the job applicant as well. In the theoretical part, the crucial terms are explicated and the preparations before the appointment are described. The practical part of the thesis confronts and observes theoretical information taken from a sample that consisted of sixty real CVs. Data in the theoretical part is compared with real facts. On the basis of this confrontation, conclusions concerning various categories as well as the whole issue are made.

Syftet med studien var att bidra med förståelse för hur användare av applikationen framställer sig själva, jämfört med hur de konsumerar samt bedömer andras profiler. Studien tar upp huruvida konsumtionskultur och sociala strukturer påverkar konsumenternas användning av Tinder samt hur det uttrycker sig i deras konsumtion. Studien har genomförts genom en kvalitativ ansats som grundats i tre fokusgruppsdiskussioner. Fokus har där legat kring hur och varför personer använder sig av nätdejtingapplikationen Tinder. Det empiriska materialet i studien är analyserad med hjälp av teorier kring konsumtionskultur ur ett socialpsykologiskt synsätt. Frågorna har utformats genom en undersökning av konsumenters användande och beteende kopplat till applikationen vilket resulterat i följande frågeställningar, Vad önskar användaren uppfylla genom sin konsumtion av Tinder?, Hur framställer man sig själv genom sin profil på Tinder? och Hur konsumerar användaren andras profiler på applikationen? Studiens resultat visar på att unga vuxna konsumerar applikationen när de har en önskan om att fly vardagen. Konsumtionen bidrar till en uppskattning av konsumenternas egna värde och resulterar i konsumenternas självförverkligande med applikationen som redskap. Tinder ger utlopp för fantasi vilket blir värdeskapande för konsumenten när hen konstruerar sin egna profil eller när hen konsumerar andras profiler. / The purpose of this study was to contribute an understanding of how users of the application Tinder present themselves, compared to how they consume and evaluate others profiles. The study addresses whether consumption culture and social structures affect consumers' use of Tinder and how it shows through their consumption. The study has been conducted through a qualitative approach based on three focus group discussions. The main focus has been on how and why people use the online dating application Tinder. The empirical material has been analyzed by using theories of consumption culture from a social psychological perspective. The research questions aims to study the needs and purpose of consumers linked to the application, which has resulted in the following questions: What does the consumers wish to fulfill through its consumption of Tinder?, How do consumers present themselves through their profiles on Tinder? and How does the user consume others profiles on the application? The result of the study shows that young adults consume the application when they wish to escape everyday life. Consumption contributes to an estimation of the consumers own value and results in the consumers self-realization with the application as a tool. Tinder provides the outlet for imagination that creates value for the consumer when constructing his own profile or when consuming others profiles. The thesis is written in Swedish.

The goal of this thesis is to discuss how unusual delicacies are conceptualized in the perspective of sociocultural anthropology - specifically, in the context of anthropology of food. Unusual delicacies are to be understood as non-traditional, unique, but at the same time, shocking or perceived as "bizarre" meals. The complex description of the individual's experience during the consumption of unusual delicacies will help to analyze what is the overall perception of the experience, its pervasion into self-presentation, as well as what are the main motivations for it. Further, it is discussed what role the unusual delicacies play in the context of exploring foreign countries and whether they possess any cultural and symbolic meaning.

The doctoral thesis studied the behaviour of scientists on Internet profiles. The scientific community is founded on communication. The advance of research, the evaluation of research results, the reputation of individual scientists - all rest on constant interaction among the community members. The Internet, as a flexible channel for world-wide communication, has a considerable potential for the scientific community. Besides often discussed consequences for scientific publishing, the Internet also offers new opportunities for self-presentation of scientists. In this thesis, the online presence of scientists was studied with a 'positive lens', concentrating on how the Internet can be used to enhance scientists' individual self-presentation. The doctoral thesis consists of five essays: an overview and four essays documenting separate research projects. The research was founded on the radical constructivist understanding of reality. It was classified as connected to three areas: research on science communication, research on digital identity, and research on generation of online content. Viewing the existing literature in these areas, three focal points were identified, which informed and guided the formulation of research aims and the implementation of research projects: focus on Internet self-presentation, assumption of strategic importance, and need for a holistic view. The aims of the thesis were (A) to develop a holistic understanding of scientists' Internet presence, (B) to study behavioural patterns on scientists' Internet profiles, and (C) to develop an instrument to support the development and management of scientists' Internet self-presentation. Based on these aims, four research projects were carried out. Each project pursued own research questions or objectives using suitable methods, yet all contributed to the overall aims of the thesis. Thus the thesis presents conceptual, empirical, and applied findings resulting from a multi-method approach and contributing both to research on Internet self-presentation as well as to practice in the management of online presence.:1 Introduction 2 Theoretical foundation 3 Research areas 4 Research aims and questions 5 Methods 6 Findings 7 Conclusions References Essay 1: Bukvova, H. (2011). Scientists online: A framework for the analysis of Internet profiles. First Monday, 16(10). Essay 2: Bukvova, H. (2012). A holistic approach to the analysis of online profiles. Internet Research, 22(3). Essay 3: Bukvova, H. (2011). Information demand on scientists’ Internet profiles. Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Systems, 11(173). Essay 4: Bukvova, H. (2011). Online Impression Management for Scientists. Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Systems, 11(140).

In today's society we spend more time on social media than ever before. 61% of all Sweden's internet users are active on Instagram, this makes the social media platform the second most used application after Facebook.   The aim of this study was to explore how active users on Instagram, so-called prosumers, experience their own use and self-presentation on Instagram. We chose to conduct ten qualitative semi-structured interviews. We sought to create an understanding of how prosumers use the application and whether there are any usage standards that are important in how they want to present themselves to other users.    The collective term “usage standards” has been created to illustrate the relationship between how prosumers are expected to act and behave towards each other on the platform, and how they subsequently use Instagram. The purpose of this study has been investigated by the use of three research questions: How do prosumers describe their own activity on Instagram? How do prosumers’ usage standards affect other users on Instagram? What is the prosumers’ understanding of the way they present themselves on Instagram?   We have used a number of theoretical frameworks to investigate the study’s purpose. All theories deal with different areas such as use of social media, self-presentation and comparison. The used theories are Goffman’s work on social norms and self-presentation, social comparison theory, social cognitive theory and uses and gratification. To develop a deeper understanding of the study and the subject, it was most appropriate to use a qualitative interview method. Even before the interviews were conducted, four main themes were identified - use, self-presentation, social adaptation and comparison, which are all part of the concept of usage standards. The interviews were conducted in the form of individual interviews and were based on semi-structured questions. This means that the interview contained open questions that allowed respondents to describe their thoughts and experiences.    The four main themes discussed above were used to report and analyze the results. It was discovered that prosumers are mainly influenced by their social environment, which leads them to being inspired by other users as well as copying content. Prosumers also admit that it is important to showcase a “real” image of themselves on the platform, while at the same time insisting that they care about adjusting and customizing their images to make it look aesthetically pleasing. The results show that prosumers compare themselves to other users, consciously and subconsciously, in order to determine how to present themselves.   In the discussion and conclusion, it is found that the social environment influences prosumers in all their activity on Instagram. Prosumers also create usage standards by comparing and adapting their behavior to other users’ content on the platform. / Idag spenderar vi mer tid i sociala medier än vi någonsin gjort tidigare. 61% av alla internetanvändare i Sverige är idag aktiva på Instagram vilket gör applikationen till den sociala medieplattformen med flest aktiva användare efter Facebook.    För att få reda på hur aktiva användare, så kallade prosumers, upplever sin egen användning och självpresentation på Instagram valde vi att genomföra tio stycken kvalitativa samtalsintervjuer. Vi strävade efter att skapa en förståelse för hur prosumers använder applikationen och om det fanns några användningsnormer som hade betydelse för hur de ville framställa sig själva för andra användare.    Samlingsbegreppet användningsnormer skapades för att illustrera förhållandet mellan hur prosumers förväntades agera och bete sig gentemot varandra på plattformen, och som sedan leder till hur prosumers i praktiken använder Instagram. Syftet med denna studie har undersökts med hjälp av tre forskningsfrågor: Hur beskriver prosumers sin egen aktivitet på Instagram? Vad har prosumers användningsnormer för betydelse gentemot andra användare på Instagram? Vilken förståelse har prosumers för hur de väljer att framställa sig själva på Instagram?    Vi har använt ett antal teoretiska ramverk för att undersöka studiens syfte. Samtliga behandlar olika områden som är: användning, social självpresentation och jämförelse. Teorierna vi har använt oss av är Goffmans teorier om sociala normer och självpresentation, social jämförelseteori, social kognitiv teori och användarforskningen. För att skapa en djupare förståelse för studien och ämnet var det mest lämpat att använda en kvalitativ intervjumetod. Redan innan intervjuerna utfördes identifierades fyra huvudteman - användning, framställning, social anpassning och jämförelse som samtliga är en del av begreppet användningsnormer. Intervjuerna utfördes i form av enskilda samtalsintervjuer och utgick ifrån semistrukturerade frågor.   De fyra huvudteman som benämns ovan användes för att redovisa och analysera resultatet. Det framkom att prosumers i stor mån blir påverkade av den sociala omgivningen vilket leder till att de inspireras av andra användare samt kopierar deras innehåll. De medgav även att det är viktigt att visa upp en “äkta” bild av sig själva på plattformen, samtidigt påtalade de att de bryr sig om att justera och anpassa sina bilder för att det ska bra ut för andra Instagram-användare. Resultatet visar att prosumers jämför sig med andra användare, medvetet och omedvetet för att själva komma fram till hur de ska framställa sig.    I diskussionen och slutsatsen, visade det sig att den sociala omgivningen påverkar prosumers i alla beslut de tar om Instagram. Prosumers skapar även användningsnormer genom att jämföra och anpassa sig till andra användare på plattformen.

This diploma thesis aims to provide an overview of social networks issue, specifically of increasingly popular Instagram with regard to body and corporeality perception of its users and interpersonal interactions. The theoretical part of this thesis cover symbolic interactionism, which analyse the society through individual interactions and interprets them. Other theoretical chapters are dedicated to notions of self-presentation and body from the sociological point of view and current research of self-presentation and interactions in the Instagram environment. For the empirical part of this diploma thesis the qualitative approach has been chosen. The sample of studied individuals was composed using the purposive sample and the snow ball method, with respect to defined socio-demographic criterions. The sample is composed of man and women in the age of twenty to thirty years old, living in the Czech Republic, who are university students or absolvents. The data were obtained using semi-structured interviews and diary research. The audio record, text and photographs were analysed following the example of the grounded theory.

Syftet med förevarande undersökning är att bidra med en djupare förståelse om hur rasifierade kvinnor framställer sina autobiografiska berättelser utifrån tre feministiska poddar. För att genomföra undersökningen kommer studien att använda sig av Pierre Bourdieus (1997) teoretiska ramverk om kapitalteori samt teoretiska begrepp fält och doxa. Ramverket centraliserar sig även kring feministen Sara Ahmeds postkoloniala ståndpunkter gällande hur tecken och koder resulterar i att känslor klibbar sig fast på olika grupper av människor och värden skapas (Ahmed, 2011).  Genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys undersöker jag podcastprogrammen The Broad Experience, Unladylike, Call Your Girlfriend. / The purpose of the present study is to contribute with a deeper understanding of how women of color present their autobiographical stories through podcasting. To conduct the study I will be using a theoretical framework based on Pierre Bourdieus’s (1997) capital theory and Bourdieus’s theoretical concepts of field and doxa. The study’s theoretical framework also centralizes around the feminist Sara Ahmed's postcolonial viewpoint regarding how codes result in emotions that sticks to different groups of people (Ahmed, 2011).

The purpose of this study was to gain an increased understanding of the college students 'self-presentation on social media, emphasizing whether the use of social media affects the college students' well-being. It is also studied whether the use of social media has changed due to the corona pandemic. This essay aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the research topic. A qualitative approach was used in the study, where a total of four semi-structured interviews were conducted. All participants were students at Södertörn University. The collected material was interpreted with the help of theories of Goffman's dramaturgical perspective on role appearances and self-presentation, as well as Scheff's theory of social ties and its role in human life. The theories were used interchangeably to conduct a content analysis. The survey shows that the informants have a daily use of social media that is focused on communication purposes and a social interaction with family and friends. The results of the study show numerous positive aspects of the use of social media. However, there are considerably negative impacts on the informants' well-being. In addition, the participants were continuously seeking approval from others, as well as an idealization of themselves in order to place themselves in social cohesion. This resulted in the college students engaging in presenting themselves in a favorable way on social media. Finally, the results show that the informants experienced a negative impact on self-esteem, stress, anxiety and depression due to their use of social media platforms. / Syftet med denna studie var att få en ökad förståelse för högskolestudenternas självpresentation på sociala medier, med fokus att belysa om användningen av sociala medier påverkar högskolestudenternas välbefinnande. Utgångspunkten var att få en uppfattning om studenternas användning av sociala medier och deras upplevelser av vad de tror att sociala medier bidrar med och om sociala mediers inflytande i deras liv. Denna studie har genomförts med hjälp av fyra intervjupersoner som var högskolestudenter vid intervjuernas tidpunkt. Sammanfattningsvis går det att utläsa att användningen av sociala medier bidrar till en rad positiva aspekter. Sociala medier underlättar kommunikation och sökning av information. Den förstärker sociala relationer och bidrar till ökad social sammanhållning och gemenskap för användarna. I studien framkom att utöver de positiva aspekterna som sociala medier erbjuder kan det uppstå flera negativa aspekter som kan påverka människans välmående. Deltagarna upplevde att det ställdes krav och förväntningar på dem som lett till att de valt att presentera sig själva på ett visst sätt som enligt deras mening skulle gynna publiken på sociala medier. Detta ledde till stress, nedstämdhet och depression. Resultaten visar även att ständiga jämförelser med andra användare kan bero på bekräftelsebehov, som i sin tur kan leda till att användarnas självförtroende påverkas negativt. Detta kan exempelvis illustreras genom att respondenterna kan sätta högre krav gällande sina respektive självpresentationer på diverse sociala medier. / sociologi

Taking selfies is a technique of self-monitoring, gaze and comparison, drawing from its regulatory force upon women. The photo-taking practice marks the surveillance of how individual gender performances fulfill the expectations of existing gender norms. The contemporary postfeminist hegemonic femininity presents woman as owning the right kind of dispositions, such as confidence or sexiness, in which case the area of the body plays a central role. In order to explore how performances of such femininity are constructed, this study uses content analysis to study the visual and textual content of Instagram posts. This master thesis analyses whether the Instagram users tagging posts #zanormalniholky (#fornormalgirls) are responsive through selfies to postfeminist femininity or rather use it as a form of resistance against the postfeminist discourse. Identity, including gender identity, is constituted through acts that purport to be its consequence. Selfies - as the results of this thesis show - have normative potential. Key words postfeminism, selfie, Instagram, social media, gender, self-portrait, self-presentation, feminism, #zanormalniholky, femininity, makeover paradigm