Mapping the Digital Self. a Biographic Cartography for Situating Social Media Impacts.

This study employs biographical methods to explore how individuals integrate social media into their life narratives within an increasingly digital and quantified society. Drawing from research on the "qualitative self" in new social media, we engaged 40 diverse participants from Santiago, Chile, in a three-stage process: life story recounting, biographical map creation, and follow-up interviews focused on digital experiences. Participants used a visual mapping technique with figure-coded stickers (triangles for places, circles for people, and squares for events) on two-axis biographical maps (timeline and positive/negative evaluation). Our findings show that most participants place social media at the "center of their lives," reflecting its complex role that spans social connectivity, digital dependence, surveillance, and violence. Through quantitative analysis of the digitized maps and qualitative analysis of the accompanying narratives, we gain valuable insights into how individuals evaluate and integrate social media into their life stories. This biographical mapping method proves useful for both digital and biographical studies, offering a nuanced understanding of the "qualitative self" in our quantified society. By showcasing the potential of visual methods in exploring technologically mediated life experiences, this study contributes to biographical research by providing alternative ways to examine life stories and digital developments.