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Becoming oneself online: narrative self-constitution and the internet

Anna Bortolan Orcid Logo

Philosophical Studies, Volume: 181, Pages: 2405 - 2427

Swansea University Author: Anna Bortolan Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1007/s11098-024-02169-9

Abstract

This paper explores how self-identity can be impacted upon by the use of digital and social media. In particular, drawing on a narrative account of selfhood, it argues that some forms of activity and interaction on the internet can support the capacity to be oneself, and foster transformative proces...

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Published in: Philosophical Studies
ISSN: 0031-8116 1573-0883
Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2024
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66315
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spelling 2025-08-21T15:25:10.9875480 v2 66315 2024-05-07 Becoming oneself online: narrative self-constitution and the internet 9931f2ee5e3c744a5af4b5668a6f0f8c 0000-0002-6544-998X Anna Bortolan Anna Bortolan true false 2024-05-07 SOSS This paper explores how self-identity can be impacted upon by the use of digital and social media. In particular, drawing on a narrative account of selfhood, it argues that some forms of activity and interaction on the internet can support the capacity to be oneself, and foster transformative processes that are self-enhancing.I start by introducing different positions in the philosophical exploration of identity online, critically outlining the arguments of those who hold a “pessimistic” and an “optimistic” stance respectively. I then expand on the narrative identity framework that has been used to support the optimists’ view, arguing that digital and social media use can foster forms of self-understanding that enable us to preserve or develop our identity. More precisely, exploring these dynamics also in relation to the lived experience of mental ill-health, I maintain that internet-enabled technology can support narrative self-constitution in three main ways: (1) by facilitating the processes through which we remember self-defining life-stories; (2) by enabling us to give salience to the stories that we decide should matter the most; and (3) by providing us with opportunities to obtain social uptake for our narratives. I then conclude by dispelling some possible objections to the use of a narrative approach to account for selfhood online. Journal Article Philosophical Studies 181 2405 2427 Springer Science and Business Media LLC 0031-8116 1573-0883 Narrative self; Self-identity; Embodiment; Internet technology; Mental health 1 9 2024 2024-09-01 10.1007/s11098-024-02169-9 COLLEGE NANME Social Sciences School COLLEGE CODE SOSS Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) Swansea University 2025-08-21T15:25:10.9875480 2024-05-07T09:42:43.2786430 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Social Sciences - Politics, Philosophy and International Relations Anna Bortolan 0000-0002-6544-998X 1 66315__31013__7dddbce578fb4898964af0241aae08f0.pdf 66315.VoR.pdf 2024-07-31T14:32:52.7161865 Output 926732 application/pdf Version of Record true © The Author(s) 2024. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Becoming oneself online: narrative self-constitution and the internet
spellingShingle Becoming oneself online: narrative self-constitution and the internet
Anna Bortolan
title_short Becoming oneself online: narrative self-constitution and the internet
title_full Becoming oneself online: narrative self-constitution and the internet
title_fullStr Becoming oneself online: narrative self-constitution and the internet
title_full_unstemmed Becoming oneself online: narrative self-constitution and the internet
title_sort Becoming oneself online: narrative self-constitution and the internet
author_id_str_mv 9931f2ee5e3c744a5af4b5668a6f0f8c
author_id_fullname_str_mv 9931f2ee5e3c744a5af4b5668a6f0f8c_***_Anna Bortolan
author Anna Bortolan
author2 Anna Bortolan
format Journal article
container_title Philosophical Studies
container_volume 181
container_start_page 2405
publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
issn 0031-8116
1573-0883
doi_str_mv 10.1007/s11098-024-02169-9
publisher Springer Science and Business Media LLC
college_str Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
department_str School of Social Sciences - Politics, Philosophy and International Relations{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Social Sciences - Politics, Philosophy and International Relations
document_store_str 1
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description This paper explores how self-identity can be impacted upon by the use of digital and social media. In particular, drawing on a narrative account of selfhood, it argues that some forms of activity and interaction on the internet can support the capacity to be oneself, and foster transformative processes that are self-enhancing.I start by introducing different positions in the philosophical exploration of identity online, critically outlining the arguments of those who hold a “pessimistic” and an “optimistic” stance respectively. I then expand on the narrative identity framework that has been used to support the optimists’ view, arguing that digital and social media use can foster forms of self-understanding that enable us to preserve or develop our identity. More precisely, exploring these dynamics also in relation to the lived experience of mental ill-health, I maintain that internet-enabled technology can support narrative self-constitution in three main ways: (1) by facilitating the processes through which we remember self-defining life-stories; (2) by enabling us to give salience to the stories that we decide should matter the most; and (3) by providing us with opportunities to obtain social uptake for our narratives. I then conclude by dispelling some possible objections to the use of a narrative approach to account for selfhood online.
published_date 2024-09-01T05:15:32Z
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