2. Do people create new, different projections of themselves online, or do they stay close to their face-to-face identities? Discuss.
Behind a screen you can literally be anyone that you want to be. You can change you name, release your inner personality, and just let those lovely alter-ego juices flow freely! It has been said that it is so much easier to talk to people from the safety of your technology (be it a tablet, phone, laptop, etc) and that statement is very true. Creating or releasing an alter ego online can be a person’s way of expressing themselves without fear of judgement.
Society places a lot of stigma on what is and what is not acceptable and many people do not feel comfortable allowing their true selves to be brought to the forefront. When they wish to speak they don’t, in the presence of others they’ll change their views to conform to the views of those around them. Humans are very, very quick to pick out what is different and that causes many people to try to mold themselves to what is “normal,” when in reality there is no such thing as normal.
Due to the anonymity online I believe people most definitely take advantage of the fact that they can portray a different person than what they put on in the “real world.” The safety of the screen creates almost like an armor allowing people to distance themselves from who society thinks they are and instead bring forth what they wish they could. Granted this can cause a few issues, the most prominent being online dating and not knowing if the person you are talking to is really who they say they are. But, to many, the benefits outweigh the risk.
Come on, who wouldn’t create an alter ego if they had the chance. Pretending to be someone you’ve always wanted to be sounds exciting!
Pieces of Me 