Testing the Self: Digital Trials and Identity Work on Instagram

Abstract

This article examines young people’s strategies for navigating identity challenges on social media, where platforms act as testing arenas for digital self-presentation. Drawing from narrative theory and the sociology of individuation, we conceptualize this process as “digital trials.” Through interviews and monitoring of 33 young people’s Instagram accounts in Chile, we identified three primary trials: the pursuit of singularization, the recognition of authenticity, and the delimitation of safe spaces. While Instagram presents challenges, users strategically engage with its features to navigate these trials. Certain platform functionalities facilitate this process. However, social differences emerge, with some individuals unable to overcome these challenges and seeking alternative options. Thus, social media serves as a trial-and-error arena for users and platforms alike.