Digital Identities and Social Inequality: A Sociological Analysis of Identity Formation in the Era of Algorithmic Surveillance

Abstract

This study provides a sociological analysis of digital identity formation among Jordanian youth in the era of algorithmic surveillance. The study employed a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews analyzed with the NVivo program. Twenty-five young men and women from three provinces (Amman, Irbid, and Karak) were selected for the study based on geographic and social diversity. The interviews were used to understand their perceptions and behaviors related to their digital presence.

The results revealed that digital identities are formed under the influence of invisible algorithms that promote certain patterns of interaction and exclude others. This perpetuates disparities related to class, gender, and geography. The study shows that, in the absence of transparency and justice in the design of these systems, young people are forced to adjust their digital identities (e.g., language and appearance) to adapt to the logic of algorithms.

The analysis was based on three main theoretical frameworks: Foucault's concept of surveillance, Bourdieu's concept of symbolic capital, and Lorton's concept of digital sociology. These frameworks revealed how digital platforms reproduce social inequality through hidden technical tools.

The study recommends integrating digital justice concepts into educational and media policies, developing legislation requiring platforms to be transparent, and promoting digital empowerment for marginalized groups.