AI-Mediated Self-Presentation: Towards a New Understanding of Authenticity in AI Society
(2026) Controversies of AI Society p.129-130- Abstract
- This paper challenges the dominant conceptualization of authentic self-presentation as real, genuine or true expression of inner essence or social identity (Lehmann et al., 2019) and calls for its redefinition in light of the rise of AI-generated content within algorithmically mediated online environments.
Authenticity has long been central to identity construction and self-presentation, traditionally associated with inner truthfulness and intrinsic motivation for genuine self-expression (Banet-Weiser, 2012). However, the proliferation of artificially produced communication content complicates this understanding. Current perspectives on authentic self-presentation overlook relational dimensions of authenticity, particularly how... (More) - This paper challenges the dominant conceptualization of authentic self-presentation as real, genuine or true expression of inner essence or social identity (Lehmann et al., 2019) and calls for its redefinition in light of the rise of AI-generated content within algorithmically mediated online environments.
Authenticity has long been central to identity construction and self-presentation, traditionally associated with inner truthfulness and intrinsic motivation for genuine self-expression (Banet-Weiser, 2012). However, the proliferation of artificially produced communication content complicates this understanding. Current perspectives on authentic self-presentation overlook relational dimensions of authenticity, particularly how it emerges through interactions with platform norms and the enabling and constraining logics of AI-mediated communication. This raises the question of whether the traditional definition of authenticity has transformed into a fundamentally different construct. This paper aims to analyze authenticity in the age of AI and to develop a reconceptualization that in-corporates technological and social implications of the AI-mediated communication environment.
Adopting a conceptual approach, this paper first reviews dominant understandings of authenticity as constructed, performed, perceived, and synthetic. It then examines LinkedIn as an illustrative case, where AI-generated self-presentation in long-form posts are increasingly prevalent (Gillham, 2025). Integrating platform dynamics, recent advances in generative AI, and Baudrillard’s (1983) notion of simulation, the preliminary analysis highlights how authenticity is evaluated through comparisons to users’ personal references of realness. As distinctions between human- and AI-gen-erated content become less perceptible (Lao et al., 2025), this evaluative process blurs the boundary between the real and artificial. The analysis further suggests that authenticity on LinkedIn operates less as inner truthfulness and more as a success strategy rooted in societal and platform expectations, simultaneously encompassing temporality, constructivity, performance, perception, and synthetic elements. Consequently, authenticity becomes a technological and social simulation, which is sustained through algorithmically reinforced repetition rather than originality. In this sense, sim-ulated repetition – the citational and iterative use of AI-generated content (Taylor, 2022) – emerges as a new mode of authenticity that remains compelling and believable to audiences.
This paper aims to contribute a reconceptualization of authenticity as a simulated yet socially efficacious performance, shaped by public attention and platform logic rather than depth of personal expression. It also provides a framework for understanding identity construction in AI-mediated environments and invites critical reflection on the future of meaningful interaction in AI society. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- This paper challenges the dominant conceptualization of authentic self-presentation as real, genuine or true expression of inner essence or social identity (Lehmann et al., 2019) and calls for its redefinition in light of the rise of AI-generated content within algorithmically mediated online environments.
Authenticity has long been central to identity construction and self-presentation, traditionally associated with inner truthfulness and intrinsic motivation for genuine self-expression (Banet-Weiser, 2012). However, the proliferation of artificially produced communication content complicates this understanding. Current perspectives on authentic self-presentation overlook relational dimensions of authenticity, particularly how... (More) - This paper challenges the dominant conceptualization of authentic self-presentation as real, genuine or true expression of inner essence or social identity (Lehmann et al., 2019) and calls for its redefinition in light of the rise of AI-generated content within algorithmically mediated online environments.
Authenticity has long been central to identity construction and self-presentation, traditionally associated with inner truthfulness and intrinsic motivation for genuine self-expression (Banet-Weiser, 2012). However, the proliferation of artificially produced communication content complicates this understanding. Current perspectives on authentic self-presentation overlook relational dimensions of authenticity, particularly how it emerges through interactions with platform norms and the enabling and constraining logics of AI-mediated communication. This raises the question of whether the traditional definition of authenticity has transformed into a fundamentally different construct. This paper aims to analyze authenticity in the age of AI and to develop a reconceptualization that in-corporates technological and social implications of the AI-mediated communication environment.
Adopting a conceptual approach, this paper first reviews dominant understandings of authenticity as constructed, performed, perceived, and synthetic. It then examines LinkedIn as an illustrative case, where AI-generated self-presentation in long-form posts are increasingly prevalent (Gillham, 2025). Integrating platform dynamics, recent advances in generative AI, and Baudrillard’s (1983) notion of simulation, the preliminary analysis highlights how authenticity is evaluated through comparisons to users’ personal references of realness. As distinctions between human- and AI-gen-erated content become less perceptible (Lao et al., 2025), this evaluative process blurs the boundary between the real and artificial. The analysis further suggests that authenticity on LinkedIn operates less as inner truthfulness and more as a success strategy rooted in societal and platform expectations, simultaneously encompassing temporality, constructivity, performance, perception, and synthetic elements. Consequently, authenticity becomes a technological and social simulation, which is sustained through algorithmically reinforced repetition rather than originality. In this sense, sim-ulated repetition – the citational and iterative use of AI-generated content (Taylor, 2022) – emerges as a new mode of authenticity that remains compelling and believable to audiences.
This paper aims to contribute a reconceptualization of authenticity as a simulated yet socially efficacious performance, shaped by public attention and platform logic rather than depth of personal expression. It also provides a framework for understanding identity construction in AI-mediated environments and invites critical reflection on the future of meaningful interaction in AI society. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/31cda072-7d6a-47ab-8156-eb87d7ca84cd
- author
- Vovk, Lucia LU and Sossini, Alessandra LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-04
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- published
- subject
- pages
- 129 - 130
- conference name
- Controversies of AI Society
- conference location
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- conference dates
- 2026-04-09 - 2026-04-10
- DOI
- 10.54337/aau.add.scai.boa
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 31cda072-7d6a-47ab-8156-eb87d7ca84cd
- date added to LUP
- 2026-04-14 11:51:05
- date last changed
- 2026-05-12 07:54:54
@misc{31cda072-7d6a-47ab-8156-eb87d7ca84cd,
abstract = {{This paper challenges the dominant conceptualization of authentic self-presentation as real, genuine or true expression of inner essence or social identity (Lehmann et al., 2019) and calls for its redefinition in light of the rise of AI-generated content within algorithmically mediated online environments. <br/><br/>Authenticity has long been central to identity construction and self-presentation, traditionally associated with inner truthfulness and intrinsic motivation for genuine self-expression (Banet-Weiser, 2012). However, the proliferation of artificially produced communication content complicates this understanding. Current perspectives on authentic self-presentation overlook relational dimensions of authenticity, particularly how it emerges through interactions with platform norms and the enabling and constraining logics of AI-mediated communication. This raises the question of whether the traditional definition of authenticity has transformed into a fundamentally different construct. This paper aims to analyze authenticity in the age of AI and to develop a reconceptualization that in-corporates technological and social implications of the AI-mediated communication environment.<br/><br/>Adopting a conceptual approach, this paper first reviews dominant understandings of authenticity as constructed, performed, perceived, and synthetic. It then examines LinkedIn as an illustrative case, where AI-generated self-presentation in long-form posts are increasingly prevalent (Gillham, 2025). Integrating platform dynamics, recent advances in generative AI, and Baudrillard’s (1983) notion of simulation, the preliminary analysis highlights how authenticity is evaluated through comparisons to users’ personal references of realness. As distinctions between human- and AI-gen-erated content become less perceptible (Lao et al., 2025), this evaluative process blurs the boundary between the real and artificial. The analysis further suggests that authenticity on LinkedIn operates less as inner truthfulness and more as a success strategy rooted in societal and platform expectations, simultaneously encompassing temporality, constructivity, performance, perception, and synthetic elements. Consequently, authenticity becomes a technological and social simulation, which is sustained through algorithmically reinforced repetition rather than originality. In this sense, sim-ulated repetition – the citational and iterative use of AI-generated content (Taylor, 2022) – emerges as a new mode of authenticity that remains compelling and believable to audiences.<br/><br/>This paper aims to contribute a reconceptualization of authenticity as a simulated yet socially efficacious performance, shaped by public attention and platform logic rather than depth of personal expression. It also provides a framework for understanding identity construction in AI-mediated environments and invites critical reflection on the future of meaningful interaction in AI society.}},
author = {{Vovk, Lucia and Sossini, Alessandra}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{129--130}},
title = {{AI-Mediated Self-Presentation: Towards a New Understanding of Authenticity in AI Society}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.54337/aau.add.scai.boa}},
doi = {{10.54337/aau.add.scai.boa}},
year = {{2026}},
}