Experience Sharing on Social Networking Sites: A Glimpse into the Process, Benefits, and Drawbacks of Curated Experiences

This study seeks to gain a greater understanding of why individuals choose to share select experiences social networking sites and how the sharing of such experiences shapes their overall personal brand. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 individuals within the Millennial and Generation Z cohorts who had travelled in the last two years. The interviews were analyzed using an interpretivist epistemological approach. Impression Management Theory, Personal Branding Theory, and Critical Visual Methodology Theory, as well as constructs such as 'staged authenticity' and image framing were used to identify themes and categorize processes. Findings suggest that the process of posting involves all four sites of Critical Visual Methodology Theory and that pictures shared online are strongly influenced by Kodak. Professional and personal benefits and drawbacks of experience sharing are explored in detail. To conclude, there is a discussion of the research limitations and suggestions for future research.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Marketing

Grantor dc:publisher

Carleton University

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Krystek, Sophia Alicia

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2021 the author(s). Theses may be used for non-commercial research, educational, or related academic purposes only. Such uses include personal study, research, scholarship, and teaching. Theses may only be shared by linking to Carleton University Institutional Repository and no part may be used without proper attribution to the author. No part may be used for commercial purposes directly or indirectly via a for-profit platform; no adaptation or derivative works are permitted without consent from the copyright owner.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

10.22215/etd/2021-14621

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:carleton.scholaris.ca:20.500.14718/42567