Young people increasingly find authenticity online, study reveals

When do you feel completely yourself? With friends? On Snapchat? While gaming? For 20-year-old Aurora Linnea Holte Saksen, TikTok and Snapchat are the platforms where she feels most authentic. “I feel more like myself on social media because I can express myself fully without the discomfort of face-to-face interactions,” she explains.

Saksen began posting videos on TikTok after moving to Florida to work at Disney World. She is not alone in her experience; a study from the U.S. indicates that young people feel more like themselves online than in real life. The majority of participants, primarily from Generation Z and millennials, reported feeling more appreciated, talented, and creative while online, according to research.

The comfort of screens allows individuals to curate what they share and which parts of themselves they display, as Saksen notes. “While it’s easier to showcase the best sides online, it can also lead to a less authentic representation of oneself,” she adds. However, there is a positive aspect; finding like-minded individuals online can alleviate feelings of isolation.

Seventeen-year-old Alexander Wessel Landvik also resonates with the experience of being more authentic online. He finds it easier to express his opinions in digital spaces rather than in person. On the other hand, some peers feel that real-life interactions enable more genuine emotional expression.

Psychologist Nadine Rose A. Richani remarks on the complexities of self-esteem linked to online personas. “It’s concerning that social media can replace essential human connections,” she cautions. While online platforms can provide a sense of security, they should not replace fundamental social needs.