Final answer:
College students who retain their online identity from before university may experience less loneliness during their transition. This concept highlights the value of personal history and continuity of self in adjusting to new social spaces. Studies show mixed effects of social media on loneliness, underscoring the need for mindful engagement online.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the relationship between a student's online identity, or 'liminal self,' and the potential for loneliness when transitioning into university life. When students maintain their pre-university online identity, they may have an easier time adjusting to their new surroundings and avoid feeling isolated. This connection between self-identity, social media, and loneliness underscores the importance of personal history and continuity as individuals integrate into new social environments.
Authentic self-expression, as encouraged by Michelle Obama, allows students to maintain the continuity of their identity and may serve as a bridge to forming new relationships, thereby reducing feelings of loneliness. Additionally, studies like those by Raney & Troop-Gordon (2012) suggest that computer-mediated communication can play a supportive role for students in transition. However, it's also important to acknowledge, as Hunt et al. (2018) indicate, that social media might increase loneliness if not used mindfully.
Colleges often implement programs like peer mentoring to help foster social connections for new students. It is during this pivotal transition that one's sense of self, including their online persona and cultural background, can serve as valuable assets for both the student and the university community.