Digital Identity Construction of LinkedIn Users: An Analytical Study of Discursive Practices

Abstract

Digital identity construction on LinkedIn has appeared as an important area of investigation, mainly in relation to how individuals create and present themselves on social media platforms for professional networking. As an internationally acclaimed platform, the function of LinkedIn is not only limited to its role as a best tool for job seeking and recruiting but also as a discursive space where individuals consciously shape and negotiate their professional personas. These discursive practices understood through the frameworks of scholars such as Norman Fairclough and Ruth Wodak offer insight into the complex interplay between language, society, and power in digital contexts. This study investigates the concept of "digital identity" with a particular focus on how Goffman’s (1959) theories of impression management, front stage, and backstage behavior manifest in online self-presentation. Particularly, it focuses on how users employ LinkedIn to construct their professional identities, and to what extent these digitally mediated identities bring into line with, or diverge from, their offline identities.