Reality Beyond Faces on Facebook

The present study investigates identity construction through visual/picture on facebook profiles, newly emerged as visual identity. This study utilizes both quantitative (N=100, Observation) and qualitative (N=20 in-person Interviews) data based on a purposive sample of Iranian and Indian active users. The exploration of the topic proceeds mainly by way of dividing images according to their topic, message form, style and their composition. The results demonstrate, in contrast with previous studies, the disparities of changes between genders take place amongst selected forms of the images not frequency of changes. Furthermore the age and nationality of the users have more control on expression and formation of the identity whether in true or hidden forms. The analysis of images reveals that the Iranian users particularly females, predominantly express their identity invisibly rather than visibly through selecting anomalous photos on facebook's profile. The characteristics of such identities are described and the implication this finding are discussed.