Analyses of the relationship between self-expression in social media and the concept of ‘Bildung’: with a focus on the term ‘Mediale Artikulation’ and ‘Strukturale Medienbildung’

Abstract

This study aims at understanding self-expression in social media in an educational context. For this purpose, the previous studies in German-speaking area are analyzed first, in which self-expression is considered as identity work or effort to establish social relationships in social media. On the basis of the study by Jung(2005) und Jörissen & Marotzki(2009), self-expression in social media is regarded as ‘Mediale Artikulation’. In this context, this study is focused on the reflective potential of each user with self-expression in social media. Following the term ‘Strukturale Medienbildung’ by Jörissen & Marotzki(2009), the potential of ‘Mediale Artikulation’ for orientation of own life, in the sense of the ‘Bildungsprozess’, is also addressed in this study. In the age of the crises of orientation, in which the individual should seek his own orientation of own life, this study could be instructive with the focus on reflective potential and educational potential of self-expression in social media.