The persona, as described by Carl Jung, is the version of the self that we choose to show to the world. In digital media, the personas are the carefully curated profiles that we use online, and can take many forms, changing according to the function they serve. The use of persona is not condemned, but the problem starts when we confuse the self with the persona. When our worth is solely related to our digital performance, when we constantly compare ourselves with others, and ultimately, when, instead of using the mask, we are used by the image that we have built.
Our news feed can show the hidden parts of our personality. The likes and engagement with content become data, and we end up disclosing the hidden part of ourselves to the algorithm. The algorithm can be viewed as the mirror that portrays our behavior rather than our persona. While we influence and feed the algorithm, the algorithm also feeds us by selecting content based on our preferences.
In the process of individuation and finding our true selves, connecting the conscious and the unconscious, the digital media seems to hinder this process. The requirement is to discover ourselves as a whole, but in this age, fragmentation is supported. Having different personas like professional, social, romantic, and private according to the platform we use, the audience, and the goal we set for maximizing the benefits of each platform, makes the individuation process more difficult.
But how could we leverage the tools of the digital world?
We can start by being aware of our feelings, behaviors, and reactions. We have to make sure that the personas are not confused with our true selves and that the masks are used as a tool, and not as prisons of our personality. By paying attention to our algorithms and the feelings that arise, we can be led into deeper reflection, understand our triggers, the comparison, and our fluctuating worth, and reach a better understanding of ourselves.
Jung, C. G. (1953/1966). Two Essays on Analytical Psychology (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.). In H. Read, M. Fordham, & G. Adler (Eds.), The Collected Works of C. G. Jung (Vol. 7). Princeton University Press.
Available at: https://jungiancenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Vol-7-two-essays-on-analytical-psychology.pdf
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