Iranian Association of Cultural Studies & Communication Cultural Studies & Communication 2008-5575 16 58 2020 05 21 Representation of identity types in telegram profiles, based on the social semiotics of the image Representation of identity types in telegram profiles, based on the social semiotics of the image 165 192 43338 10.22034/jcsc.2020.105302.1877 FA Zahra Baradarankashani Pdh Student, Social Sciences Department of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mahdi Kermani Assistant Professor of Sociology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad 0000-0002-9405-5162 Majid Fouladian Assistant Professor of Sociology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad 0000-0002-7787-6006 Journal Article 2019 03 16 The social media has opened up new communication channels on Individual and social aspects of social actors' lives. Apart from providing easy communication between users in a wide range of time and space with the least constraints, these media provide them with new values, beliefs and styles of life, and the possibility of various manifestations of personal identity Which may not be possible in real areas of social life. Hence, the virtual world is a good place to explore and discover the identities of its users. In this regard, attention to symbolic nature, such as images of user profiles, can be considered as a means of representing the identities, beliefs, and values of individuals. The purpose of this study was to identify and represent the identities of telegram's users. For this purpose, the images of their profiles have been analyzed and typified by the method of social semiotics of image. Based on the findings, which included the analysis of more than 600 images, seven identity types were composed of nature-oriented identities, affective-oriented, individualistic, compilative, fact-oriented, imaginative, spiritualist oriented. Each of these identities has a semantic, interactive and combined representation, giving users the flexibility and power of maneuvering in their optimal self-portrayal in cyberspace. The social media has opened up new communication channels on Individual and social aspects of social actors' lives. Apart from providing easy communication between users in a wide range of time and space with the least constraints, these media provide them with new values, beliefs and styles of life, and the possibility of various manifestations of personal identity Which may not be possible in real areas of social life. Hence, the virtual world is a good place to explore and discover the identities of its users. In this regard, attention to symbolic nature, such as images of user profiles, can be considered as a means of representing the identities, beliefs, and values of individuals. The purpose of this study was to identify and represent the identities of telegram's users. For this purpose, the images of their profiles have been analyzed and typified by the method of social semiotics of image. Based on the findings, which included the analysis of more than 600 images, seven identity types were composed of nature-oriented identities, affective-oriented, individualistic, compilative, fact-oriented, imaginative, spiritualist oriented. Each of these identities has a semantic, interactive and combined representation, giving users the flexibility and power of maneuvering in their optimal self-portrayal in cyberspace. https://www.jcsc.ir/article_43338_a4c88420f2dc70fc7c492de1612dce07.pdf