Self-presentation as an ELF user in social media: an analysis of Japanese young adults’ online language practices

Abstract

This paper delves into the identity constructions of Japanese young adults as users of English as a lingua franca on social media, with a specific focus on Instagram, a widely utilized platform among this demographic. Grounded in the premise that social media serves as a space for self-presentation, drawing from the social constructivist idea that the self is a performative act, the study centers on three Japanese young individuals with overseas experiences. It explores how they employ English as a communicative lingua franca in a transnational space while remaining highly conscious of their Japanese followers, endeavoring to portray idealized English-speaking selves. An ethnographic approach (Netnography) to the participants’ online practices involves prolonged online observations and interviews, seeking not only screen-based linguistic data but also uncovering the speakers’ voices behind the online screen. The findings illuminate that their identities as experienced English users evolves into a distinct aspiration to present themselves as competent English users. This aspiration is intricately attached to English ideologies, including native speakerism and the social status of English. The study provides valuable insights into the importance of scrutinizing the complex identity construction and language negotiation among speakers in ELF contexts, particularly within the realm of everyday online discourse. It sheds light on how young online users navigate between identities as English users and learners in the dynamic context of both global and local friendships.