Searching for a new self in the digital world: A study on genderlessness discourses

Abstract

The concept of self-expresses a person's views on himself/herself. The uploads a person makes to himself/herself show how the self is perceived. The development and rapid spread of communication technologies have made digital technologies easily enter daily life. Many digital technology tools such as tablets, phones, and computers have created an environment allowing people to present their self-presentations and selves virtually. Mainly because social media applications allow for making friends, creating a new identity and profile, and meeting the need for socialization. Their structure allows for communication, which brings about the use of these channels by many individuals. The recent spread of the concept of genderlessness by influencers especially shows that a new one has been added to how the self is constructed through social media. In the method section, this study discussed Instagram, one of Turkey's most used social media platforms. Two influencers with the highest number of followers in Turkey and Europe, who emphasize genderlessness discourses, were examined within the sample. According to the findings, influencers emphasize genderlessness discourses.