Which is the REAL you?

We discussed ‘fake’ news last week but what about you being a snake (🐍) because you’re F-A-K-E?!

Creating an online identity usually involves a degree of pretence to hide certain information about yourself (Longair, 2006). It is commonly found on social media, online gamings, resale platforms etc.

There are two types of approaches to online identity – single or multiple. Single identity approach is where you put in your real identity and multiple approach is when you decide to mask your identity in any way (Futurelearn).

This was an iconic comic created 24 years ago that was used to describe how people’s online personas differ from real life.

Source: Know Your Meme 

I am guilty of being a snake – being fake online. I have created a breakdown on how I have used single and multiple identities on various platforms. I currently have 1 Facebook and Twitter account, 3 Instagram accounts, 2 YouTube accounts and 2 websites.

Source: Screenshots by me

 

As I used both single and multiple identities for these online platforms, I do sometimes face the problem of posting on the wrong account, unable to create a separation between personal and work life.

Here’s a breakdown of the good and bad of using single identity online.

Infographics created by me. Source: FutureLearn, GigaOm

Different sites, different audiences, different purposes. – Nicole Lee

People create multiple identities to cater to different audience (Casserly, 2011). A study from Pennsylvania State University finds that many social media users tweak the way they come off on different platforms because they just want to fit in.

Here’s the breakdown of the good and bad for having multiple identities online:

Infographics created by me. Source: FutureLearn, Social Media Today

Here’s a Ted Talk by Ulrike Schultze on how social media shapes our identity:

Source: TedxTalk 

Currently I have no major problem managing my multiple online identities and I feel more relieved knowing that my personal and work online platforms are separated.

“I don’t trust nobody, nobody trusts me.” – Taylor Swift

Do you also have multiple online personalities like me or will you still trust me now that I have told you about my other alter egos?

(313 words)

Sources:

Bonari, A. (2011). The Pros and Cons of Using an Alias for Your Online Persona. Social Media Today. Retrieved from https://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/pros-and-cons-using-alias-your-online-persona

Bowes, P (2013). Is your virtual self employable?. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/av/business-25217962/job-hunting-how-to-promote-yourself-online

Casserly, M. (2011). Forbes.com. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2011/01/26/multiple-personalities-and-social-media-the-many-faces-of-me/

FutureLearn. (2017). What is your network identity? – Learning in the Network Age – University of Southampton. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/3/steps/263025

Garden, H., Networking, S., & Networks, S. (2017). Our Online Personalities Change Across Different Social Media Platforms. HowStuffWorks. Retrieved from https://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/social-networking/networks/online-personality-change-social-media.htm

Gonzalez, R. (2014). Who Are You? How to Develop a Brand Identity for Instagram. (2014). Likeable Media. Retrieved from https://www.likeable.com/blog/2014/08/who-are-you-how-to-develop-a-brand-identity-for-instagram

How Social Media Shapes Identity | Ulrike Schultze | TEDxSMU. (2015). YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSpyZor-Byk&t=22s

Ingram, M. (2011). Why Twitter doesn’t care what your real name is. Gigaom. Retrieved from https://gigaom.com/2011/09/16/why-twitter-doesnt-care-what-your-real-name-is/

Krotoski, A. (2012). Online identity: is authenticity or anonymity more important?. the Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/apr/19/online-identity-authenticity-anonymity

Lee, N. (2016) Having multiple online identities is more normal than you think. Engadget. Retrievedfrom https://www.engadget.com/2016/03/04/multiple-online-identities/

On the Internet, Nobody Knows You’re a Dog. (2012). Know Your Meme. Retrieved from http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/on-the-internet-nobody-knows-youre-a-dog

Pennsylvania State University (2017). Pike.psu.edu. Retrieved from http://pike.psu.edu/publications/icwsm17.pdf

Pilkington, E. (2013). Justine Sacco, PR executive fired over racist tweet, ‘ashamed’. the Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/22/pr-exec-fired-racist-tweet-aids-africa-apology

Taylor Swift – Look What You Made Me Do (Lyric Video). (2017). YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K0RzZGpyds

Taylor Swift Is a Snake. (2016). Know Your Meme. Retrieved from http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/taylor-swift-is-a-snake