ProGCouns: Journal of Professionals in Guidance and Counseling
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Progcouns: Journal of Professionals in Guidance and Counseling

Self-Disclosure Tendencies in Digital Spaces: A Qualitative Study of Secondary Instagram Account Use Among Guidance and Counseling Students

Yuttami Keila Azahra (Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta)
Agus Triyanto (Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 May 2026

Abstract

This research focuses on the self-disclosure of students from guidance and counseling studies who use a second Instagram account. Data Analysis Approach A thematic analysis was conducted on the qualitative data following the six-phase model proposed by Braun and Clarke (2021). Participants were recruited using purposive sampling with explicit inclusion criteria: active Guidance and Counseling students who had owned a second Instagram account for at least 1 year prior to data collection and who frequently used the account to communicate thoughts, feelings, and daily life experiences. Seven participants met all criteria. Theoretically, this study is based on Goffman's Dramaturgy Theory and Butler's Performativity theory as an interpretative framework of the second account use situation regarding identity performance and self-presentation in a digital context. The analysis yielded five themes based on DeVito's (2011) categories of self-disclosure: Amount, Accuracy, Intention, Intimacy, and Valence. Results indicate that the second Instagram account serves as a negotiated backstage space, where Guidance and Counseling students express identities that are context-dependent, emotionally oriented, and relationally selective, all of which have implications for developing empathic and reflexive counselor competencies. Counselor education implications and Guidance and Counseling service development are also discussed in the article.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

progcouns

Publisher

Subject

Education Social Sciences

Description

The Journal of Professionals in Guidance and Counseling aims to publish literary works that set trends and initiate contemporaneous creativity and innovation in understanding and practicing guidance, counseling, counseling, supervision, and related professional organization and multicultural ...