WRT 205 Blog

  Reflection!          For my Unit 2 project, I chose to focus on how social media shapes and distorts teenagers’ identities, with a specific emphasis on young performers. I chose this topic because it feels very relevant to my own life and experiences, especially as someone studying acting. Social media is something I’ve grown up with, and I’ve always been aware, even at a young age, that I was presenting a version of myself online that wasn’t fully real. Because of that, I wanted to explore this idea further and understand not just my own experience, but how it affects other people as well. When thinking about my audience, I wanted to write something that would be interesting both to people in the entertainment industry and to people outside of it. I think this topic is relatable to almost everyone, but I made specific rhetorica...

"I'm Always On" : Social Media, Acting Career in 2026, and the Pressure to Be Perfect On Social Media Social Media and Identity   In today’s digital world, social media plays a major role in how teenagers present themselves and understand who they are. Apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat allow people to carefully control what others see, creating a space where identity can be shaped, edited, and distorted. Social media shapes and distorts teenagers’ identities by pushing us to present highly curated versions of ourselves. This especially affects young performers who feel extra pressure to maintain an image online.  While social media can offer opportunities for self-expression, it pressures teens to present idealized versions of themselves. As a result, social media significantly distorts teenagers’ identities by encouraging them to create curated, performative versions of themselves that differ from their real-life personalit...

  In this draft, I focused on the objective facts about my topic. As I continue working on my final, I will add my own personal stance on the facts given.  S ocial media significantly distorts teenagers’ identities by encouraging them to present curated versions of themselves, especially among young performers who face added pressure to maintain a public image. Introduction: Social Media and Identity In today’s digital world, social media plays a major role in how teenagers present themselves and understand who they are. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat allow users to carefully control what others see, creating a space where identity can be shaped, edited, and sometimes distorted. While social media can offer opportunities for self-expression, it often pressures teens to present idealized versions of themselves. As a result, social media significantly distorts teenagers’ identities by encouraging them to create curated, performative versions of themselves that di...

  When I first walked into Bird Library, I was hoping to get a coffee/drink from the cafe, but unfortunately, it was closed. :( When I was a freshman, I came to this cafe once.  I didn't think it was bad! I then found this book on display, and it was super interesting.   It is an extensive work by artist and educator  Deanna Petherbridge  that argues that drawing is  the  foundational basis of  all art and visual thinking.  It explores the history of drawing in Western art from the 15th century to the present day, examining its role in generating ideas, artistic training, and contemporary practice.   I always found these skinny aisles so daunting. I don't know what it is about it.  This is where I LOVE to study. It's so cozy, and the seats are so comfortable.   I’ve always had a fine relationship with the library. In high school, I went to an arts high school. I don’t think we even had a library. (Which is so fun...

  Thesis - To what extent does social media shape or distort teenagers' identities?  1. Do you feel like your social media reflects your real personality, or a different version of yourself? Why? 2. Have you ever changed how you act, look, or post online to fit in or get more attention? 3. Do you think social media has influenced how you see yourself or your identity? If so, how?  I interviewed two actors, as well as my best friend, who is not an actor, and asked these questions, and it was really fascinating to see both the similarities and differences in their responses. All three of the people I interviewed said that their social media does not reflect their real personality. Instead, they feel like they present a curated version of themselves that appeals to a wider audience.  I think this is largely due to human nature and the desire to be liked, which is completely valid, and I also personally agree with their statements. They also mentioned that they change h...

     I was inspired by a classmate who wrote a handwritten letter and left it under their friend’s door, which I thought was a really creative idea. Because of that, I decided to invite one of my friends to be a firsthand source for my paper in a similar way. This made the process much more fun and gave my research a more personal and unique approach.  John is a friend of mine in the drama department. I’m looking forward to interviewing him about my topic: to what extent does social media shape or distort teenagers’ identities? I think this will be especially interesting for non-performers to read because people in the entertainment industry often experience even more pressure from social media to present a certain image.