The Publicization Of Private Sphere

Instagram is a photo sharing social media platform which offers users a unique way to present and express themselves.Users can define or build their images by sharing pictures on this application.They can also maintain interpersonal relationships,make self-presentation and present their private information on this platform.Drawing on Erving Goffman's theory of self-presentation,this study analyzed 1200 pictures posted by 40 Instagram users to explore the phenomenon of the publicization of private sphere on Instagram users' self-presentation.Results show that the photos of semi-private domain far outnumber those in private domain and public domain.There were significant differences between semi-private domain and the other two domains.Gender comparison shows that males were more inclined to post photos of public domain while females were more likely to post photos with more private information.Furthermore,within the private sphere,the photos were put into seven classifications based on the information they present.And statistical analyses show that there was a significant difference between male Instagram users and female Instagram users.The statistical collection of the "like" suggests other Instagram users' recognition of the publicization of private sphere.The statistical analyses from the three aspects proved that the phenomenon of the publicization of private sphere on Instagram users' self-presentation.The features of the publicization of private sphere were analyzed and categorized based on the photos Instagram users used to present themselves.And also this study showed that those photos belonging to private sphere were generally accepted by Instagram users.