Identity in the Making: Mobile Social Networking App and Identity Work of Organizational Newcomers

Vincent Huang

doi:10.1145/3706599.3720292

Identity in the Making: Mobile Social Networking App and Identity Work of Organizational Newcomers

Vincent Huang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Interactive Media

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

Abstract

Organizational socialization is a transitional event where organizational newcomers engage in identity work. Prior research suggests that social media provide space and opportunities for effective identity work during transitional events. Yet, we know little regarding how they can support such practice during organizational socialization. This study explores how organizational newcomers in China engage in identity work on WeChat. Findings from semi-structured interviews (N=30) suggest that WeChat is used for organizational newcomers’ identity learning, primarily through indirect, passive methods such as observation. Identity work includes sharing mundane work life and achievements and forwarding work-related and profession-related information. A flexibility paradox was identified, indicating that newcomers desire an online presence with coworkers while also wanting to withdraw from the demands of being viewed as a good colleague or expert. Thus, this networked performance stifles individualized expressions of newcomers. Implications for organizational socialization research and management and social media design are discussed.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Editors	Naomi Yamashita, Vanessa Evers, Koji Yatani, Xianghua (Sharon) Ding
Place of Publication	New York, NY, USA
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Print)	9798400713958
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3706599.3720292
Publication status	Published - 25 Apr 2025
Event	2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2025 - Yokohama, Japan Duration: 26 Apr 2025 → 1 May 2025 https://dl.acm.org/doi/proceedings/10.1145/3706598 https://dl.acm.org/doi/proceedings/10.1145/3706599

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Conference

Conference	2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2025
Country/Territory	Japan
City	Yokohama
Period	26/04/25 → 1/05/25
Internet address	https://dl.acm.org/doi/proceedings/10.1145/3706598 https://dl.acm.org/doi/proceedings/10.1145/3706599

User-Defined Keywords

China
Organizational socialization
WeChat
identity work
social media

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1145/3706599.3720292

Cite this

Huang, V. (2025). Identity in the Making: Mobile Social Networking App and Identity Work of Organizational Newcomers. In N. Yamashita, V. Evers, K. Yatani, & X. Ding (Eds.), Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Article 330 (Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems). Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). https://doi.org/10.1145/3706599.3720292

Huang, Vincent. / Identity in the Making: Mobile Social Networking App and Identity Work of Organizational Newcomers. Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. editor / Naomi Yamashita ; Vanessa Evers ; Koji Yatani ; Xianghua (Sharon) Ding. New York, NY, USA : Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2025. (Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems).

@inproceedings{a2977146543e429695320ee67472fd3f,

title = "Identity in the Making: Mobile Social Networking App and Identity Work of Organizational Newcomers",

abstract = "Organizational socialization is a transitional event where organizational newcomers engage in identity work. Prior research suggests that social media provide space and opportunities for effective identity work during transitional events. Yet, we know little regarding how they can support such practice during organizational socialization. This study explores how organizational newcomers in China engage in identity work on WeChat. Findings from semi-structured interviews (N=30) suggest that WeChat is used for organizational newcomers{\textquoteright} identity learning, primarily through indirect, passive methods such as observation. Identity work includes sharing mundane work life and achievements and forwarding work-related and profession-related information. A flexibility paradox was identified, indicating that newcomers desire an online presence with coworkers while also wanting to withdraw from the demands of being viewed as a good colleague or expert. Thus, this networked performance stifles individualized expressions of newcomers. Implications for organizational socialization research and management and social media design are discussed.",

keywords = "China, Organizational socialization, WeChat, identity work, social media",

author = "Vincent Huang",

note = "Publisher copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).; 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2025 ; Conference date: 26-04-2025 Through 01-05-2025",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

day = "25",

doi = "10.1145/3706599.3720292",

language = "English",

isbn = "9798400713958",

series = "Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems",

publisher = "Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)",

editor = "Naomi Yamashita and Vanessa Evers and Koji Yatani and Ding, {Xianghua (Sharon)}",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems",

address = "United States",

url = "https://dl.acm.org/doi/proceedings/10.1145/3706598, https://dl.acm.org/doi/proceedings/10.1145/3706599",

}

Huang, V 2025, Identity in the Making: Mobile Social Networking App and Identity Work of Organizational Newcomers. in N Yamashita, V Evers, K Yatani & X Ding (eds), Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems., 330, Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), New York, NY, USA, 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2025, Yokohama, Japan, 26/04/25. https://doi.org/10.1145/3706599.3720292

Identity in the Making: Mobile Social Networking App and Identity Work of Organizational Newcomers. / Huang, Vincent.
Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. ed. / Naomi Yamashita; Vanessa Evers; Koji Yatani; Xianghua (Sharon) Ding. New York, NY, USA: Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2025. 330 (Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems).

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Identity in the Making: Mobile Social Networking App and Identity Work of Organizational Newcomers

AU - Huang, Vincent

PY - 2025/4/25

Y1 - 2025/4/25

N2 - Organizational socialization is a transitional event where organizational newcomers engage in identity work. Prior research suggests that social media provide space and opportunities for effective identity work during transitional events. Yet, we know little regarding how they can support such practice during organizational socialization. This study explores how organizational newcomers in China engage in identity work on WeChat. Findings from semi-structured interviews (N=30) suggest that WeChat is used for organizational newcomers’ identity learning, primarily through indirect, passive methods such as observation. Identity work includes sharing mundane work life and achievements and forwarding work-related and profession-related information. A flexibility paradox was identified, indicating that newcomers desire an online presence with coworkers while also wanting to withdraw from the demands of being viewed as a good colleague or expert. Thus, this networked performance stifles individualized expressions of newcomers. Implications for organizational socialization research and management and social media design are discussed.

AB - Organizational socialization is a transitional event where organizational newcomers engage in identity work. Prior research suggests that social media provide space and opportunities for effective identity work during transitional events. Yet, we know little regarding how they can support such practice during organizational socialization. This study explores how organizational newcomers in China engage in identity work on WeChat. Findings from semi-structured interviews (N=30) suggest that WeChat is used for organizational newcomers’ identity learning, primarily through indirect, passive methods such as observation. Identity work includes sharing mundane work life and achievements and forwarding work-related and profession-related information. A flexibility paradox was identified, indicating that newcomers desire an online presence with coworkers while also wanting to withdraw from the demands of being viewed as a good colleague or expert. Thus, this networked performance stifles individualized expressions of newcomers. Implications for organizational socialization research and management and social media design are discussed.

KW - China

KW - Organizational socialization

KW - WeChat

KW - identity work

KW - social media

U2 - 10.1145/3706599.3720292

DO - 10.1145/3706599.3720292

M3 - Conference proceeding

SN - 9798400713958

T3 - Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

BT - Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

A2 - Yamashita, Naomi

A2 - Evers, Vanessa

A2 - Yatani, Koji

A2 - Ding, Xianghua (Sharon)

PB - Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

CY - New York, NY, USA

T2 - 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2025

Y2 - 26 April 2025 through 1 May 2025

ER -

Huang V. Identity in the Making: Mobile Social Networking App and Identity Work of Organizational Newcomers. In Yamashita N, Evers V, Yatani K, Ding X, editors, Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. New York, NY, USA: Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). 2025. 330. (Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems). doi: 10.1145/3706599.3720292

Identity in the Making: Mobile Social Networking App and Identity Work of Organizational Newcomers

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

User-Defined Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this