Digital Identities and Social Inequality: A Sociological Analysis of Identity Formation in the Era of Algorithmic Surveillance

Mohammad Salman Alkhazaleh, Mimas Kamour, Ahmed Mostafa, Samer Abdel-Hadi, Shereen Mohamed Ali and Reema Al Qaruty

Studies in Media and Communication, 2025, vol. 13, issue 4, 282-293

Abstract: This study provides a sociological analysis of digital identity formation among Jordanian youth in the era of algorithmic surveillance. The study employed a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews analyzed with the NVivo program. Twenty-five young men and women from three provinces (Amman, Irbid, and Karak) were selected for the study based on geographic and social diversity. The interviews were used to understand their perceptions and behaviors related to their digital presence.The results revealed that digital identities are formed under the influence of invisible algorithms that promote certain patterns of interaction and exclude others. This perpetuates disparities related to class, gender, and geography. The study shows that, in the absence of transparency and justice in the design of these systems, young people are forced to adjust their digital identities (e.g., language and appearance) to adapt to the logic of algorithms.The analysis was based on three main theoretical frameworks- Foucault's concept of surveillance, Bourdieu's concept of symbolic capital, and Lorton's concept of digital sociology. These frameworks revealed how digital platforms reproduce social inequality through hidden technical tools.The study recommends integrating digital justice concepts into educational and media policies, developing legislation requiring platforms to be transparent, and promoting digital empowerment for marginalized groups.

Date: 2025
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://redfame.com/journal/index.php/smc/article/download/7917/7005 (application/pdf)
https://redfame.com/journal/index.php/smc/article/view/7917 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rfa:smcjnl:v:13:y:2025:i:4:p:282-293

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Studies in Media and Communication from Redfame publishing Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Redfame publishing ().