[Your Name] Journal (mock): Journal of Digital Culture & Identity , Vol. 14, Issue 2, pp. 45–59
Usernames like KJ_Bennet are not gaps to be filled by real identities but are valid social identities in their own right. Future research should explore how such handles evolve over decades. kj_bennet
This paper examines the online pseudonym “KJ_Bennet” as a representative case of identity construction in networked publics. Using a qualitative framework combining netnography and discourse analysis, we analyze public-facing posts attributed to KJ_Bennet across three platforms. Findings suggest that KJ_Bennet employs a hybrid strategy of professional signaling and personal narrative, challenging binary notions of anonymity vs. real-name identity. The study contributes to understanding how usernames function as boundary objects between private selfhood and public performance. [Your Name] Journal (mock): Journal of Digital Culture