The Pseudonym on Digital Networks: A Reflection of an Expected or Real Identity?

Abstract

This study is situated within sociolinguistics and digital anthroponomy, and examines the sociolinguistic and identity-related issues underlying the choice of pseudonyms by Algerian Facebook users. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Paveau (2015), Cardona (1976), Bourdache (2019, 2021) and Ertzscheid (2009), the pseudonym is approached as a discursive construction, self-assigned at the intersection of social and digital identity. The methodology combines two investigations: a qualitative analysis of pseudonyms collected from four Facebook groups (n=600 pseudonyms) and a survey conducted within three of those groups. The analysis categorizes pseudonyms based on their relation to real, professional, fantasy-based, or cryptonymic identities, highlighting their expressive, protective, relational, or projective functions. Findings show that pseudonyms reflect either real identities (actual names) or idealized identities, shaped by cultural, emotional, or ethnic references. Anonymity, self-presentation strategies, and digital reputation management are central motivations. While users tend to favour authenticity, there is a strong inclination toward constructing a "hoped-for self." This research offers an original contribution to the study of self-naming in Algerian digital contexts, emphasizing the pseudonym's role as a space for identity expression, and as a reflection of sociocultural dynamics and users' engagement with digital environments.