TransnationalIdentities,Facebook,andMarketing:

AnEthnographicStudyaboutAUPStudents,byAUPStudents

BySarahHarperJohnstonandBrynHouri

CM3049MediaEthnography
ProfessorTaynaElder
FinalResearchPaper
5/5/15

Abstract:
TheAmericanUniversityofParisisamulticulturalanddiverseuniversity,representing
over100nationalitiesinanenvironmentthatproducestransnationalgraduates.Thestudents
comefromallovertheworld,andastheycontinuetostudyatAUP,theybecomeapartofthe
communitythatresidesinthethirdspaceaspaceofexpatswhoarequestioningtheiridentityas
theyliveabroadandfeelmoreathomeinaforeigncountry,andlikeaforeignerintheirhome
country.Thisethnographicstudyexploreshowstudentsrepresentthemselvesthroughtheir
onlineselvesonfacebookthatformsanimaginedcommunityanddiasporicspaceandhowit
directlyreflectswhattheuniversitymarketsitselfas.ThisstudywillarguethatbecauseAUP
brandsitselfasauniversitythatcreatesgraduateswhoareathomeintheworldthestudents
whoarepartofthiscommunityadoptthisidentity,andrepresentitthroughthesocialmediathat
isjustareflectionofthemselves.
ResearchQuestion:
BecauseAUPstudentsresideinacommunitythatisselfproclaimedandmarketedas
internationalandathomeintheworldhowdoesitaffectandchangetheirframedidentitieson
facebookandwhatroledoesfacebookplayintheirlivesinthedevelopmentoftheirconstructed
selves?
Background:
Ourareaofresearchwasspecificallysurroundingidentityformationanddiaspora.Since
wearestudentslivingabroadwehaveexperienceinbothfieldsespeciallywhenitrelatesto
socialmedia.Beinginternationalstudentsourselvesthiswasafamiliartopicofdiscussionbut
wewantedtoquestionitfurther.WhenstudentsmovetoParistheybecomepartofanew

communityandthen,throughsocialmedia,theyaregiventheopportunitytostayconnectedto
homeandtoformnewbonds.ThetopicofFacebookasaformofselfrepresentationwaschosen
becauseasastudentchangestheirenvironment,theiridentitiescanchange.Orthatiswhatwe
settofindoutThetransformationofAUPstudentsandtheiridentitiesonlineastheyliveinan
environmentofmigrantsthatistheinternationaluniversity.
Ouruniversity,theAmericanUniversityofParis,(AUP)marketsitselfasaninternational
community.Selfproclaimed,AUPcallsitselfaschoolthatisathomeintheworld,inhopes
toattractstudentslookingforamorediverseexperiencethanthetypicaluniversityintheUnited
States.WewillargueinourpaperthattheAmericanUniversityofParisidentifiesasadiaspora
communityofpeoplewhoarenevernecessarilyathomebecausetheyarealwaysathomeinthe
world.Becauseofthismessagethattheschoolputsonitselfandonthestudents,ashiftintheir
onlinepresentationofselfisevenstrongerandeasiertosee.
Itwasnecessarytogainnewinformationonbothsubtopics.Wefoundthattherehad
beenmuchresearchdoneonthetopicofdiasporaalone.Therewereafewstudiesthathelpedus
inourgoaltounderstandhowpeople,throughFacebook,createcommunities,online,tostay
connectedtotheirhomelandandformdiasporarelationships.OnestudybyImaginingthe
HomelandFromAfar:CommunityAndPeoplehoodIntheAgeoftheDiasporawashelpfulto
ourbetterunderstandingofhowpeopleengageinadiasporicspace.Theauthorexplains
Diasporaasbeinggroupsofpeoplewhocarryanimageofhomelandthatisseparatefromthe
hostlandinwhichtheyresidehavealwaysbeenwithus.Theexaminationofhowhomeland
governmentspromotediasporaswillbeexaminedthoughAUPstudentsandhowtheiruseof
Facebookconnectsthemtotheircountryoforigin.Theauthorsummarizes,Thediaspora

relationshipoffersapointofdepartureofunderstandinghowcommunitiesareformedand
transformedhowlegalobligationsandallegiancesdevelopandarealteredandgenerally,how
apeopleconstitutesitselfbothwithinandacrossterritorialboundaries.Mostimportantlythe
articlediscusseshowandwhenpeoplewhoareabroadstillthinkofthemselvesasapartoftheir
homelandcommunities.ThisfactisjustasAUPstudentsuseFacebooktostayinvolvedwith
theirfriendsandfamilybackhome.
Manystudiesandarticleshelpedusdiscussourowntheoriesononlineidentity.One
article
DiasporaBasquesandOnlineSocialNetworks,
claimsthatFacebookcreatesa
communityforstudentstoopenlydiscussandbeamemberofaninternationalcommunity(pg
1480).Thispointisinalmosteveryarticleaboutdiasporaandmigrantsrelationshiptosocial
networksapointweintendtoexplorefurther.Anothersimilararticle
ASpaceCalledHome:An
ImmigrantAdolescentsDigitalLiteracyPractices,
makestheclaimthatFacebookcancreatean
onlinecommunityforpeoplewhoareabroadtobecomeapartofandfeelaconnectionthrough
theinternettotheirhomecultureformadiasporarelationship.Buttheinterestingnewclaim
thisarticleaddstosupportourargumentisthatthediasporaidentitychangesandflowsasthe
personabroadgrowsandhastheupsanddowns.Thisarticlewashelpfultoourresearchbecause
itexplainsthatonlinecommunitiesplayastrongerrolewithyoungpeople,andistheonlyarticle
conductedinourresearchthatexploresayoungercasestudy,thereforeprovideduswitha
differentperspective.
TojustifyourthesisandwewantedtodiscoverhowAUPmarketsitselfasan
internationalschooltoattractstudentswhowillfitinthereandbecomeapartofthecommunity.
Previousresearchdoneonidentityandmarketinggaveusinsight.
RunningHeader:Howthe

WorldsTop100UniversitiesIdentifyImagetoMultipleStakeholders

aisastudyaboutastudy
onhowthetopuniversitiesusemediaoutletssuchastheinternettocreatetheiridentityand
preservetheirimage.MembersoftheAUPcommunityareselfbrandedbytheuniversitys
internationalimage.AUPanditsinternationalimagehasaffectsandinfluencesontheidentities
ofstudentsonline,andofflineandthisisevidentinthechangeoftheironlinepresentationsof
self.ItisrelevanttoourtopicbecauseofthisandhowitisshownthroughFacebook.Theresults
ofthestudywerethatinternationalstudentsandthemediaareactuallykeyinfluencesonthe
marketingandstakesoftheuniversitiesinsteadofviceversa.
Withmoreresearchwefound
,IrresponsibleRadicalization:Diasporas,Globalization
andLongDistanceNationalismintheDigitalAge

asource,thoughnotdirectlyaboutthe
changeinidentitywhileabroad,itdiscussestheimportanceofsocialnetworkssuchasFacebook
astheybuildanimaginedcommunityformembersofadiasporiccommunitytobeapartof.To
pushthisthinkingfurtherwewillaskifthisisbecausetheycanallrelatethroughtheirsimilar
experiencesoflivingabroad.Thearticlegivessolidbackgroundinformationtoourtopicof
diasporaandsupportsourquestioningtoifstudentschangetheironlineidentitythemorethey
liveabroadbecauseofthediasporiccommunitytheyareapartof.Throughthisknowledgewe
wereabletoexplorethetransformationofAUPstudentsontheirFacebookpages.
Methodology:

Togatherallofourinformationforthispaper,weconductedeightinterviewswith
currentAUPstudents.FivestudentswhohavebeenatAUPfortwoyears,andthreestudents
whohaveattendedforoneyear,andweinterviewedfourgirlsandfourboys.Becauseweare
studentsaswell,alloftheintervieweeswereourfriendsorcloseacquaintances.Wechosetodo

thisbecauseitisdifficulttostudysomebodysfacebookhabitswithouthavingaccesstotheir
profiles,orhadaccessforaleastafewmonths.Allofthestudentsinterviewed,wewentback
throughtheirfacebookstoseewhatpicturestheytook,itemsposted,andtheiractivityand
relationshiptoAUP,theirchangingidentity,andtheirrepresentationsofthemselveson
facebook.Wehadofficialscriptedquestionswrittenandthenwerewordedthemduring
interviewstocasuallyflowwithconversation.Thequestionscoveredtopicssuchas:howlong
theyvebeeninParis,whattheylike/dislikeaboutschool/Paris/expatlife,howoftentheyuse
facebookandwhy,picturestheypostandwhy,howtheyassumeothersviewtheirfacebooks,if
theyfilterwhattheypostonline,AUPspresenceonsocialmediaandifhaschanged,AUP
brandingasathomeintheworld,AUPscommunityandiftheycouldidentifyit,andifthey
sawachangeintheirownidentitysincetheyhavebeenabroad.
Becauseweobservedtheirprofilesandhadlongconversationswiththem,thiswasmore
ethnographicthananofficialinterviewsetting.Itisalsoanaccuraterepresentationbecausewe
arebothAUPstudentswhousefacebook,sotherewerenoculturaldifferencesorexploitations
oftheotherbecausewearealsotheother.Ourmethodissimilartotheethnographicstudy,
DiasporaBasquesandOnlineSocialNetworks
becauseitwaswrittenbysomebodywhoisfrom
theBasquecountryinSpain,andconductedhisinterviewsandobservationswithpeopleheknew
andcouldrelatewith.Thiswasthecasewithanotherethnographicstudy,
AnImmigrant
AdolescentsDigitalLIteracyPractices
asitwasalsowrittenbyanimmigrant.This
ethnographictakeonidentitythroughexpatsandtheirsocialnetworksisnotanunexploredarea
inmediastudies,andbecauseofthis,ourapproachtogatheringnewinformationisaccurate
becauseitincludesethnographicobservationsandrecordedinterviews.

Themethodweusedwasstrongbecausewhilethestudentswerebeingrecorded,they
gaveextremelywellthoughtoutanswers,andthesettingwasformal,andeverythingchanged
oncethecamerawasturnedoff.Studentsbecamemoreopentodiscussinganythingwithme,
becausewealreadyhadapersonalrelationship,thiscombinationofofficialandcasualworked
effectively.Theinterviewswereneverexactlyplanned,aswecameuptopeopleduringtheday
toaskiftheywouldhelpwithaprojectatthatmoment,andthereforetheywereindifferent
settingsaroundcampusinsideandoutsidethatmadethemfeelonceagainfeelcomfortable,as
wetriedtoadapttowheretheywantedtobe.
Althoughthemethodwasmostlyeffective,therewereafewobstacles.Sometimesit
becameobvioushowuncomfortablethestudentswere,andthatiswhyweincorporatedthe
casualconversationaswell,butpossiblyitwouldhavebeenbettertonotrecordatall.Wehad
tolookthroughtheirfacebookprofilesbecauseitishardformostnoncommunicationsstudents
toidentifyhowsocialmediareallyrepresentsthemselves,andalotofstudentswhowerenot
familiarwiththisidealwereconfusedbythequestionanddidntknowwhattosay.Perhapsthis
wasnotthebestapproach,becausesometimestheyfeltuncomfortableanalyzingtheirown
activityonline,butitstillgaveusinterestingresults,soitwaseffectiveinthelongrun.Itwas
difficultforthemtopinpointacertaintypeofAUPstudent,orsomestudentsdidnotpay
attentiontohowAUPmarketstheuniversity,orseewhyitisimportanttothem,ormystudyin
particular.Theseissuesweremoreaboutthestudentspersonalinterestsandtheformationofmy
questions,andifthestudyweretobeextendedfurther,theyareideaswewouldimproveonby
findingstudentswhostudiedcommunicationsandwereinvolvedinschool,andthequestions
wouldbewordedmoreclearly.

BecausebothresearchersareapartoftheAUPcommunityonfacebook,therewereno
language,gender,orclassbarriers.Theonlyissueasexplainedbeforewasourhypersensitivity
tothecommunicationstudiesaboutidentity,diaspora,andfacebook,andmostofthestudents
intervieweddidnotseethisanalysisasimportant.Onestudentinparticular,Sarahhasavery
personalrelationshipwith,andthestudentisapoliticsmajorandbelievesthatcommunications
isamajorthatisnotuseful,academicallychallenging,andissimplystudyingsocialmedia
whichisthisstudentseyeshasnopurpose.Althoughtheseideaswerenotdiscussedinthe
interviewsfortheproject,webelievethattheseideaspreventedherfromgivinghonestanswers
aboutheridentitybecauseshewasmoreconcernedwithdisagreeingwitheverything.For
example,whenrespondingtoaquestionaboutrelatingtotheslogan,Athomeintheworld,the
studentclaimedshedoesntunderstanditbecause,Iamnotthekindofpersonwhoislooking
forahome,Idontneedone,itisnotsomethingIneedIamlookingforagoodcareerinlife.
Thestudentalmostseemedreluctanttotalkaboutanysocialmediabecausesheknewitwas
whatwewasstudying,andwantedhertotalkabout.Perhapsshecouldsenseourfrustration,and
weshouldhavepredictedthisandeithernotchosenherfortheproject,orframedthequestions
inadifferentwaytogettototalkaboutheridentitythroughsocialmediawithoutherrealizingit.
Thiswastheonlymajorobstaclewehadduringourinterviews,andthatismostlybecausewe
werenototheringthoseinterviewed,wewerejusthavingaconversationwiththemabout
somethingweallcouldrelateto.
FindingsandAnalysis:AUPBrandingTechniques
WhenquestionedaboutAUPsbrandingandhoworifithashadanimpactonthem,the
intervieweesanswerswerenotsurprising.Allstudentsinterviewedwerefamiliarwiththe

universitysmarketingcampaignsAtHomeIntheWorldand#auptravels.Bothusedon
socialmedia,theyhavebeeningrainedintothestudentssincetheyreceivedtheiracceptance
letters.AUPencouragesallstudentstoengagewiththemthroughallsocialmediaoutletsand
theydo!
Thearticle
"RunningHeader:HowTheWorld'sTop100UniversitiesIdentifyImageTo
MultipleStakeholders."ConferencePapersInternationalCommunicationAssociation(2012):
122.Communication&MassMediaComplete.Web.3May2015.
previouslymentioned,helped
usprovethatuniversitiesmarketonsocialmediatoconnectwithcurrentandprospective
students.Thedatasuggeststhatuniversitiesthroughouttheworldregardthemediaasacritical
public.Thefindingsareencouraging.Perhapstheuniversitiesareattemptingtousethemediaas
aplatformtofosteridentificationwithpublicsviatheInternet.Theplatformcanbeseenasafirst
steptoinvolvepublicsinthemeaningmakingprocess.(pg11)Whatwealsodiscoveredwasfor
universitiesculturaldifferencesandthechangesintechnologycankeeptheiroutreachefforts
fromreachingtheirtargetaudience.TheInternetandsocialmediamakeitfeasibleandcritically
importanttoincludeconsistentbrandbuildingeffortsinaschoolsstrivetoreachstudents.

FromafirstglanceatthescreensofallofthestudentsFacebookpagesweimmediatelynoticed
theyeachhadaphotorelatingtotravelasthecoverorprofilepicture
(Figures:39show
examplesoffacebookprofilesfromresearch
).
Afteralltheresearchwasfinalizeditbecameclear
howaninternationaluniversityneedstomarketitselfinordertoreachitstargetaudience.One
interviewee,said:Ittakesacertaintypeofpersontonotonlyliveinaforeigncountrybutgoto
aschoolwheremostofthestudentsarenotfromthecountryyourefromandtherearedifferent

customs,traditions,andwaysofdoingthingsandtheyaretryingtoattractthattypeofperson
becausetheywillstayhereallfouryears.ItbecameveryclearthatAUPadvertisesitselfthe
wayitdoestoattractaparticulartypeofstudent.Intervieweesledustounderstandthe
importanceofaschoollisteningtowhatisbeingsaidaboutitandknowingwhereitstands.AUP
defineswhatitstandsforandpreservesandembracesboththetangibleandintangibleelements
thatmakeitsbrandunique.Besidesitscurriculum,programs,andstaffandcampus,every
educationalinstitutionalsohastodefineitspersonalitythecultureandexperienceithastooffer.
Astrongbrandfocusesonthemostdifferentiatingandcompellingaspectsofacollegeor
universitysvalueandappealstostudentsonbotharationalandanemotionallevel.

Figure1:HomepagetoAUPwebsitehighlightsthetransnationalcommunity

Figure2:TheAUPfacebookpagehighlightstheuniversitysmulticulturalanddiverse
environment.

FindingsandAnalysis:OnlineIdentityandReflectionofSelf

Thestudents,whetherornottheyrealizedit,reflectedtheirownidentitiesintheironline
profiles,becauseanybodysonlineidentityisareflectionofthemselves,orwhotheywantthe
worldtoseethemas.Today,socialmediahasbecomesuchaneverydaypartoflife,itbecame
difficultforsomeofthestudentstoidentifyhowitreflectswhotheyareasaperson,becauseitis
notsomethingcommonlythoughtaboutbyuniversitystudents.Whenaskeddirectlyiffacebook
wasanextensionofheridentity,onepoliticsmajorexplained,Idontknow,itisjustfacebook,
everybodyhasit.IdontreallyseeitasanythingspecialAlthoughnoneoftheotherstudents
interviewedwherethisvocalwiththeiropinions,itwasinterpretedthroughbodylanguagethat
thisquestionaboutidentitywassomethingalmostimpossibleforthestudentstoanswer.Because
itwassuchadifficultquestion,andsomethingthatseemedalmosttoosimpleandobviousto
answer,itmeansthatfacebookhasbecomesuchasimplepartofeverydaylife,itisnotanything
thatanonmediastudiesstudentwouldeventhinkabouttwice.Facebookfunctionsasan
extensionofselfintoanonlineplatform,asexplainedinthearticle,
DiasporaBasquesand

OnlineSocialNetworks
,writtenfromtheperspectiveofanimmigrantfromtheBasquecountry,
explainsthatthepurposeofonlinesocialnetworksistoconstructapublicorsemipublic
profilewithaboundedsystem,articulatealistofotheruserswithwhomtheyshareaconnection,
andviewandtraversetheirlistofconnectionsandthosemadebyotherswithinthesystem.
(Oiarzabal10).Thisarticlesupportsourfindingsbecauseitexplainshowtheonlinesocial
networks,especiallyforexpats,representamajorpartoftheiridentityasitallowsthemto
connectwithpeople.Expatsandimmigrants,suchasAUPstudents,aremorevulnerablewhenit
comestotheiridentity,becauseitisbeingtestedandchangedeverydaywhilelivingabroad,and
thereforefacebookbecomesanevenbiggerplatformforselfexpressionasthey,arenot
necessarilynetworkingorlookingtomeetnewpeopleinstead,theyareprimarily
communicatingwithpeoplewhoarealreadyapartoftheirextendedsocialnetwork,(Oiarzabal
11).BecauseAUPstudentsonfacebookareconnectingtotheirfellowstudents,friendsand
familyaroundtheworld,theyarerepresentingtheiridentitythroughconnectionwithothers,
whilealsopostingpicturesthatreflectedtheirlife.Whenaskedwhystudentspickedcertain
profileandcoverpicturesontheirprofiles,everystudentrespondedwithalmostthesame
explanation,thatitshowedwhattheyweredoingintheirlife.Whetheritwasacoverorprofile
picture,thewerealwaysofabeautifullocationabroad,oraboutlivingabroad.AlloftheAUP
studentsinterviewedhaveanidentityonline,andinreallifethatisrelatedtotravelingorliving
abroad.Perhapsthecommunitythattheyareinvolvedinhasselfidentifiedasinternationaland
diverse,andthestudentsaretryingtoadapttoit,oritisjustreflectingtheireverydaylife,butall
ofthefacebooksrepresenttheaspectoftheiridentitiesthattheywantmadepublic.

FindingsandAnalysis:FacebookasDiasporicSpace
ThetypicalAUPstudentbelongstoastrangethirdspace,aspacethatdoesnotalways
feelathomeintheirhomecountry,yetnotcomfortableinthecountrythattheylivein.Because
ofthisdisconnectionandconfusionwithidentity,AUPstudentsandimmigrantswillusesocial
mediatoconnectwiththeirhomes,andformanimaginedcommunityanddiasporicspace.AUP
studentsaresimilartotheHindumigrantsdiscussedinthearticle,
IrresponsibleRadicalism,
becausetheybothcravemeaning,authenticity,andcommunity,butfindthemselvesensnared
andlockedintheirisolated,chieflyEuroAmerican,suburbswhileresentingtheconsequencesof
everdeepeningAmericanism,(Coversi72).AlthoughAUPstudentsdonotresentamericanism,
sometimestheyneedanoutlettoventaboutthestrugglesoflivinginfrance,andtheAUP
facebookpagesdescribedbymostlythefreshmenstudentsprovidedthis.Theycoulddiscussany
questionsabouttheuniversityoranyeverydayerrandsthataredifficultwhenlivingabroad.All
threeofthefreshmenstudentsinterviewedmentionedthisgroup,whilethestudentswhohad
beenhereforlongerdidnot.Thisshowshowthemoretimestudentsspendabroad,themore
comfortabletheyarewiththeirtransnationalidentity,andthereforethelesssupporttheyneed
fromthediasporicidentityformingcommunitythatisfacebook.FortheAUPstudents,allof
themmentionedtheyusefacebooktostayconnectedtotheirhomes,friendsinParis,andold
friendswhoarenowaroundtheworld.Facebookpairstogetheralloftheirsocialinteractionson
onescreen,andtheyareabletoscrollthroughtheirfriendships.Facebookisabletoreaffirm
andmaintaintheiridentityinacollaborativemanner,withaclearsenseofcommunitybuilding,
(Basque12).AnexampleofAUPstudentsdoingthisisinonesubjectscoverpictureon
facebook,becausetheyallcanagreewithhowdifficultitistogetaeuropeanvisa,andtherefore

theybelongtothisgroupofexpats,whofeelmisunderstoodwithpeoplewhodonotliveinthis
thirdspace(seefigure1).Asexplainedinanotherjournal,
ASpaceCalledHome,
forthe
caribbeanimmigrantlivingintheUSA,heronlineselfistheonlyplacewhereshecanequally
combinebothworldsandrelatetopeoplewhofeelthesameway.AUPisaplacewherethese
typesofpeoplecancometogether,andtheonlineAUPcommunityisjustanextensionofthis.
Eachstudentcontributedtotheirinternationalidentitiesonlineastheyallpostedpicturesoftheir
travels(seeinfigures27),buttheyalladmittedthattheybelievefacebookisfadingaway,and
saidthattheydidnotpostasmuchastheyusedto,butareonfacebookmoreoften.Although
theyallarenotafanofthewebsite,theyarestilloniteverysingledaybecauseitiscrucialto
keepingintouchwiththeirdifferenthomes,asitrepresentstheiridentity.Anidentitythatis
international,travelbugged,and
athomeintheworld,
justliketheuniversitysmarketing
strategiesclaimittobe.
FindingsandAnalysis:Pictures
Figure1:CoverpicturecatchingtheattentionofmanyAUPstudentswhocanrelate.

Figure2:StudentscoverphotofromIcelandwithlinktovideoabouttravels.

Figure3:ProfilepicturefromfirstweekinParis,publicizingthatParisishercity.

Figure4:Picturefromspringbreaktravels,talkingaboutallthecountriesvisited.

Figure5:ProfilepictureoftypicalParisianrooftop

Figure6:Profilepicturefromfirstweekabroad,toprovideevidenceofhistravels.

Figure7:Fromhertravels,usingtypicaltravelerhashtagsthatidentifiesandlabelsherassuch.

Conclusions:
Wefoundourresearchtobeapositiveexperiencewithaninsightfuloutcomethat
demonstrateshowstudentswhoattenduniversityinathirdspacethatisabroad,formtheir
identityonfacebookinacertainway.Thestudentsallrepresentedtheexpatinthemthrough
theirfacebookpictures,andmadeitincrediblyclearthattheywerelivingabroadontheirinternet
pages,becausethisisamajoraspectoftheirlivesandidentity,thereforeisreaffirmonsocial
mediatomaintaintheirreputationandhowtheywanttobeseenasamemberoftheAUP
community.Allofthestudentshadnoticedandmentionedtheuniversitysmarketingtechniques,
andunderstoodthattheschoolmarketsitselfasinternationalandaspaceforexpats,because
thosearethetypeofstudentstheyaretryingtoattract.Everystudentinterviewedforthisstudy,

reflectedwhatAUPbrandsitselfas,anditshowstheinfluenceAUPhashadontheirformation
ofidentity.ForAUPstudents,facebookisaplaceforthemtoconnectwithhomewhilealso
relatingtoothersinthesamesituationthroughadiasporicspace,andconstructanimageof
themselvesthatfitsthetypicalAUPstudentthatistrulyathomeintheworld.
Inthebigpictureofmediastudies,diasporathroughsocialmediaandthehabitsofexpats
isnotanewconcept,sothissupportsourclaimswhileatthesametimeourstudycontributesto
thisbigpoolofinformation.Whatuniqueaspectthatourstudycontributesisthatitincludesan
analysisofthebrandingtechniquesofuniversityandshowsthatifstudentsbelongtoagroup
thatislabeledasinternational,theironlineidentitieswillreflectthatevenmore.Whetherthey
aregenuinefeelingsorpressuretofitinattheuniversitywewillnotknow,butitisannew
aspectthatincludesmarketingofuniversitiesandtheeffectsonstudents.
Ifthisstudyweretobeconductedagain,wewouldtakeintoconsiderationthedifferent
backgroundsofstudentsandpossiblyexpandittonotjustamericans,togetdifferent
perspectives.Becausefacebookitselfisoneofthesocialnetworksthatisbecomingincreasingly
lesspopular,itisimportanttoreviewallformsofsocialmediaandhowthestudentsengagewith
them,togainamoremodernandaccurateperspectiveoftheironlineidentities.Itwouldbe
interestingtolookatotherinternationaluniversities,andcomparethoseresultswithAUP
students.Thisstudyopensupmanyotherpossibilitiesandsectionstoexplore,whileatthesame
timestayingonthetopicofidentityformationthroughmediaoutlets,whichissomethingthat
willalwaysberelevanttostudy.

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