There is a lot of discussion about anonymity on the Internet, but the question of the identity of the user is at least as important. Because...
Digital Identity: What are we on the web?
The question of identity is a thoroughly philosophical one that is not so easy to answer. Countless thinkers over the centuries have already dealt with whether and who we actually are. In this context, it quickly becomes clear that there are no simple answers and that a single, clear identity can hardly be pinned down. In any attempt to define identity, we inevitably focus on certain criteria or factors that we consider central and objective. This makes it difficult to understand the versatility and contradiction of a person. The model of digital identity also follows this basic idea. Online identity is not about what constitutes identity, but how we can shape it. The focus is therefore on identity representation. Researchers assume that the representation can vary greatly depending on the context. From a psychological perspective, for example, it is crucial whether we show our faces or are represented by a digital avatar. Online and offline identity can therefore be completely different. However, digital identities are always interpreted as a consciously chosen or at least partially influenced form of self-expression.
When identity becomes a role play
In our digital identity, we can take on different roles and switch between them. A role can be created as a playful thought experiment or used to express different aspects of who we are. In this way, we can consciously live out aspects of our own personality that have no place in our offline identity. This phenomenon becomes interesting when the virtual world and the real world come into contact with one another again. In gaming, social interaction with other players is becoming increasingly important. The participants can enter into a personal exchange via voice or text chat, talk about the game, or do completely different things.
But how does this connection affect the representation of our digital identity? Social interaction is becoming more important in a wide range of gaming areas and is now considered a real catalyst for the success of a game. This not only applies to global hits like Fortnite, which can be played by umpteen gamers at the same time, but this trend is also clearly visible in iGaming. This is reflected not least in the providers who are increasingly integrating the live element into their digital casinos. For example, how does a player present himself in the online live casino, when he goes virtually to the gaming table via video camera and voice chat and enters into a personal exchange with other players and the croupier? Which facet of one's self is presented in such a context? When we enter a virtual casino and communicate with a webcam, we let our own face represent us. Nevertheless, we can choose from which side we want to show ourselves.
Introverts in particular can also be much more open because they are always in control of the situation. It gets, even more, abstract and multi-faceted in online role-playing games, which allow us to get in touch with other players through an avatar or a character. Users can choose an appearance that differs greatly from the real appearance and thus interact completely differently. When we roam through imaginary worlds as magicians, we can let our imaginations run wild and take on traits that we would never allow in a video chat.
Social Networks as Stages of Self-Presentation
On the subject of self-portrayal in digital space, social networks are of course of great importance. In the early days, social media was more of a way to get in touch with other people in an uncomplicated and informal way, but today the aspect of presentation dominates. Instagram, TikTok, and Co. have become veritable stages for staged self-presentation. In contrast to the role-playing game, the focus here is on the public perception of the real person behind the digital identity. Everyone who posts photos does so because they have something to say. It is not always just about the obvious content, but also about the self-image that we present to others. We decide what others see in our own lives. The platform itself often sets a framework for self-portrayal. In social media like LinkedIn, the focus is on the professional and we want to show ourselves as competent and successful. On Instagram, it can be more private and we show ourselves in our hobbies or in places we like to travel to.
A little piece of yourself and a lot of wishful thinking?
This leads to the question of whether we just present ourselves on social networks the way we would like to be. Or to put it another way: How much of us is in our digital identity? In psychology, one assumes, among other things, that identity is constituted as an act of self-empowerment in distancing oneself from our fellow human beings. And that's why we take on different roles in the physical world as well. Much of what we understand as our identity is also brought to us from outside. The scope of the virtual world gives us opportunities to get closer to ourselves. Instead of asking ourselves the question of authenticity, we can also see our digital identity as an opportunity to learn more about ourselves, our desires, and our longings.
Conclusion
Digital identity is becoming an increasingly important part of our lives. While our social media profiles, gaming avatars, and online game characters are amusements, they represent facets of ourselves that are unknown to us and others. By thinking about how we present ourselves on the internet, everyone can learn a lot about themselves. Digital identity represents an important part of our lived reality, which is more than a role play. Because even if we slip into other figures and characters, there is always a part of us in them.
COMMENTS