Online-Offline Self-Consistency Test: How far is your social feed from your real life

1. What is online-offline self-consistency?

Today, as social media pervades daily life, many people present themselves on platforms such as WeChat Moments, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu. But have you ever wondered: how big is the gap between the 'me' you present online and the real you in everyday life?

In psychology, this phenomenon is called'self-presentation discrepancy', which refers to the degree of difference in self-image, values, and behavior patterns a person shows across different social situations (especially online vs. offline).

This difference is not inherently negative - a moderate amount of beautification is a social strategy; but when the gap is too large and the split lasts a long time, it may bring psychological stress, identity confusion, and even affect real-life relationships.

2. Theoretical basis: Goffman's dramaturgical theory

In The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, sociologist Erving Goffman introduced the famous 'dramaturgical theory':

• Front stage:The role we deliberately perform in front of others, such as a carefully curated social feed.
• Back stage:The private space where we drop the disguise and return to our true selves.
• Impression management:People consciously control the impression they make on others.

This test is based on this theory and uses multiple everyday scenarios to assess how often and how much you switch between the front stage and the back stage.

3. The five dimensions of this test

This test has 20 questions in total, organized around the following five core dimensions:

• Content selectivity: Do you show only the good-looking side of your life?
• Emotional expression discrepancy: Are the emotions you express online consistent with your real feelings?
• Image-building motivation: Do you post to record, or to build a certain persona?
• Dependence on social feedback: Do you adjust your expression based on likes and comments?
• Authentic self-disclosure: Are you willing to show vulnerability, failure, or imperfection online?

4. Why take this test?

This test is suited to the following people:

• People who often feel that the me in my feed is not the real me
• People who keep checking feedback after posting and feel anxious
• People who want to reduce social pressure and reclaim authentic self-expression
• People interested in social media psychology and self-identity

Through the test, you can see more clearly how much you perform in the virtual world, and consider: is this performance protective coloring, or a burden?

5. Scoring

Each question is scored from 1 to 5, from 'Strongly disagree' to 'Strongly agree.' Based on your scores across the five dimensions, the system will determine your self-consistency type and offer targeted advice.