Impression management strategies employed by former Muslims on social media

• Main Authors: Hashmi, U.M., Ab. Rashid, R.A., Abu Bakar, M.A.
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: HD28 Management. Industrial Management; HE Transportation and Communications
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/4525/1/FH03-FBK-21-56560.pdf; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/4525/

This article aims to provide insights into the impression management strategies employed by Malaysian former-Muslims in their postings on social media. Data was generated from extended observation of their postings for 10 months from July 2019 to April 2020. A total of 294 relevant postings were gathered and analyzed thematically using impression management strategies by [1] and [2] as an analytic framework. The analysis revealed that supplication emerges as the primary strategy employed by the former Muslims, followed by self-promotion, exemplification, and ingratiation. The study argues that the former Muslims' social media postings are not a mere expression of interests, experiences, or criticism of the religion; instead, these postings serve as a means of negotiating impression of them; and as a collaborative attempt of building their new self-image.