The Digital Extended Self of Influencers: A Case Study of a Travel Channel

This article analyzes the construction of the Digital Extended Self of digital influencers from the travel channel Travel Channel, drawing on R. W. Belk’s theory. The study employs a qualitative exploratory–descriptive approach, using a case study as its methodological strategy. Data collection involved analyzing five podcast interviews with the channel’s founders, along with videos published between 2022 and 2024. In addition, viewer comments on these videos were extracted and examined. All materials were analyzed using Bardin’s content analysis. The results reveal a strong presence of the Extended Self dimensions, co-construction, and sharing, showing that interaction with the audience actively shapes the influencers’ identity and content. The dimensions of dematerialization (e.g., cloud storage) and distributed memory (the use of digital records as extensions of memory) were also evident. Reincarnation (the use of avatars or personas) was the least observed dimension, a finding attributed to the influencers’ authentic style and focus on real-life experiences. Overall, the Digital Extended Self of the Travel Channel emerges as a genuine and organically constructed entity, resulting in an aggregated Self that reflects a strong connection with its audience. This research provides valuable insights into how Belk’s theory can be applied to the in-depth analysis of digital materials.