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The imagined audience in social media: a systematic review


Citation

Sun, Jingle and Ahmad Ghazali, Akmar Hayati and Saiful Nujaimi Abdul, Rahman (2024) The imagined audience in social media: a systematic review. Studies in Media and Communication, 13 (1). pp. 301-312. ISSN 2325-8071; eISSN: 2325-808X

Abstract

Determining the audience for social media posts is complex due to platform algorithms and mixed audiences. The "invisible audience" and the collapse of distinct social contexts challenge users’ capacity to manage their social circles effectively. This systematic review, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, identified 17 relevant articles through a structured search and screening. It outlines study backgrounds, sample characteristics, data collection methods, and highlights factors influencing audience categorization, aiding the understanding of imagined audience formation. The review discusses the impact of imagined audiences on user behavior and emotions, distinguishing these effects and enriching existing research. It aims to enhance users' audience awareness, improve privacy management, and support technology and literacy efforts related to social media privacy challenges.


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Additional Metadata

Item Type: Article
Subject: Communication
Subject: Sociology and Political Science
Subject: Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Divisions: Faculty of Modern Language and Communication
DOI Number: https://doi.org/10.11114/smc.v13i1.7346
Publisher: Redfame Publishing Inc.
Keywords: Audience types; Imagined audiences; Privacy risks; Risky self-disclosure; Social media; Systems literature review
Depositing User: MS. HADIZAH NORDIN
Date Deposited: 14 Apr 2026 01:00
Last Modified: 14 Apr 2026 01:00
Altmetrics: http://www.altmetric.com/details.php?domain=psasir.upm.edu.my&doi=10.11114/smc.v13i1.7346
URI: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/124490
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