Generational Differences in WeChat Avatars: Transmutation of Identity Symbols in China's Generation X and Generation Z

Abstract

With the internet development in China, social media is becoming more and more popular, and many older people are beginning to use social media. Thus, a generation gap regarding identities on social media begins to appear. In this article, the author focuses on the generation gap in WeChat profile pictures between Generation Z and Generation X. The author uses Netnography and in-depth interviews to examine and analyze the differences between the WeChat profile pictures and the reasons behind ones choice of social media profile pictures of the two generations. The author categorizes the sampled WeChat profile pictures based on the nine cultural spheres and analyzes the differences and their causes based on the cultural spheres. Dramaturgy, identity symbols, developmental psychology, and history are being used to analyze the reasons behind these differences. This study reveals how the introduction of foreign culture into China and identity symbols influence the choice of profile pictures for Gen Z and Gen X.