Exploring My Digital Self
The importance of Knowing who we are beyond social media
The importance of Knowing who we are beyond social media: Authenticity
Why it matters:
- Cuts down pressure to perform for likes and followers.
- Builds trust in relationships (online and offline).
- Makes it easier to ask for help and to support others honestly.
How to recognise it
- Posts that feel “behind the scenes” or honest, not perfectly staged.
- People sharing mistakes, learning or everyday moments.
- Content that focuses on process, not only outcomes.
The importance of Knowing who we are beyond social media: Self-worth
Why it matters:
- Protects mental health against negative comparisons.
- Helps people make choices that match their values, not trends.
- Increases resilience when faced with criticism or exclusion online.
How to recognise it
- Low: frequent comparison, needing validation from comments, feeling crushed by negative feedback.
- Strong: noticing personal strengths, doing offline activities that build confidence, seeking feedback from trusted people.
The importance of Knowing who we are beyond social media: Balance
Why it matters:
- Prevents digital use from replacing essential needs (sleep, exercise, study).
- Improves focus, mood and real-world relationships.
- Makes online time more intentional and rewarding.
How to recognise imbalance
- Skipping meals, late-night scrolling, losing track of time, feeling drained after online sessions.
- Neglecting hobbies or friends in favour of endless scrolling.
- Reflect on personal online and offline identities.
- Identify similarities and differences between how young people present themselves digitally vs. offline.
- Recognise external pressures and self-perceptions linked to social media.
- Build empathy and understanding of diverse digital identities within the group.
Exploring My Digital Self
This activity help us:
- Notice differences between how we present ourselves online and how we feel offline
- think about what parts of our identity are real, chosen or pressured
- understand that everyone shows only a small part of themselves on social media
- reflect on what feels authentic and what feels performed.
Online-Self
Offline Self
How they present themselves, what others see, apps they use, filters, style, emojis, etc.
How they see themselves in everyday life (strengths, hobbies, moods, relationships, values…).
By sharing our portraits we:
- realise others also have hidden feelings and insecurities
- see that online images do not tell the full story
- practise listening without judgement
- learn to respect different ways of expressing identity
Your identity is personal.
You are always in control of what you share.
Take care of yourself first.
How to do it?
Online Self – What to include
Participants can show:
- apps or platforms they use most
- profile pictures, filters, emojis or avatars
- how they want others to see them
- typical online moods (confident, fun, quiet, anxious, etc.)
- colours, symbols or words linked to their online style
- things they usually post or share (selfies, memes, sports, art…)
- numbers that matter to them online (likes, followers, views)
Offline Self – What to include
Participants can show:
- real hobbies and interests (music, sport, drawing, nature, etc.)
- strengths and positive qualities (kind, patient, funny, creative…)
- real emotions they experience (happy, tired, stressed, relaxed…)
- people who matter to them (friends, family, pets, community)
- daily activities and routines
- personal dreams or goals
- values that guide them (respect, honesty, freedom, loyalty…)
Sharing is voluntary.
Emotions are valid.
Respect and kindness are expected.
How this activity helps you as a Peer Educator
- Understanding your online and offline selves helps you notice pressures others may also feel.
- When you reflect on your own habits, it becomes easier to listen without judging your peers.
- You can recognise signs of low self-esteem, comparison or digital stress in friends.
- You learn ways to start conversations about online identity and wellbeing.
- Your experience in this activity gives you examples you can share to support others.
Reflection
After 35–40 minutes, participants form a circle gallery walk: everyone lays down their portraits, and the group walks around silently observing. Each participant then explains a little (2–3 minutes each).
Individual journalling
“One word that describes how I feel about my online self is… / One word that describes my offline self is…”
Prompts to Think About
- What is the first thing you notice about these portraits?
- What feels different between online and offline versions?
- Where do you see confidence?
- Where do you see pressure or stress?
- What similarities do you notice between people’s portraits?
- What surprised you while looking at others’ work?
Real-Life Application
“How could exploring online vs. offline identity help you support peers who feel pressure to ‘look perfect’ online?”
“What is one way you can use today’s activity in a workshop or youth event to start a conversation about digital identity?”
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Project Number: 2024-2-PT02-KA220-YOU-000287246
English 
Greek 
Portuguese