Self, Society, and Screens: A Sociological Study of Social Media and Identity Formation Among Women in Batticaloa District

Abstract

In the contemporary digital era, social media platforms have become central spaces for communication, interaction, and self-expression. This study explores how women in Batticaloa District construct and negotiates their identities through social media. Grounded in the theory of Symbolic Interactionism, the study examines how meanings, symbols, and interactions in digital environments influence self-concept, social roles, and identity formation among women. Despite the widespread use of social media, there is limited sociological understanding of how women in specific local contexts experience and interpret identity formation in digital spaces. The study addresses how social media interactions shape self-perception, reinforce or challenge cultural norms, and influence women’s social identities within their socio-cultural setting. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on patterns of social media use, while semi-structured interviews explored participants lived experiences and interpretations of identity construction. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 120 women from diverse age groups and socio-economic backgrounds in Batticaloa District, with 15 participants engaged in in-depth interviews. The findings reveal that social media serves as a significant platform for self-presentation, social interaction, and identity negotiation. From a socio-economic perspective, women with higher education and income levels demonstrated greater digital literacy, wider online networks, and more autonomy in identity expression, while women from lower socio-economic backgrounds often experienced limited access and stronger dependency on culturally regulated forms of expression. From a cultural perspective, participants continuously negotiated between traditional Tamil cultural expectations and modern digital influences, leading to both reinforcement and gradual transformation of gender norms. From a social perspective, feedback mechanisms such as likes, comments, and shares significantly shaped self-esteem, social validation, and peer comparison, often influencing emotional well-being and identity construction. The study concludes that social media both empowers and constrains women’s identity formation in Batticaloa District. From a Symbolic Interactionist perspective, digital interactions function as symbolic processes through which meanings of self and society are continuously constructed and reconstructed. The findings highlight the need for digital literacy and gender-sensitive approaches to foster inclusive digital environments.