COM 305 post #1: Online Identity

 

On Facebook, Bullies"Like"if you hate by Emily Layden, is the current events article that i chose. This article was about how online bullying is basically taking over our society today. A little boy went to school one day and when he got there he over heard how some other kid in his class posted a Facebook status about him that said "hit like if you hate this kid." Online identity is something that a lot of not only children but also adults struggle with today in every day life. When you are online it gives you the opportunity to be whoever you want to be because you can hide behind the computer screen and know one has to know who you really are, basically it is like putting on a virtual mask. In a way it is sad but then again it gives people hope that there are people out there that respect them or that there are other people going through the same thing that they are going through. So it gives them an opportunity to ask for advice or just have someone to talk to about there particular problem or whatever it is they are dealing with.

A commonly discussed topic regarding to online identity is that of gender and sexual identity. Although there is a growing tolerance for and acceptance of different sexualities in society, sexual prejudice is still present in some societies today. In the online world, users have the opportunity to enter different types of groups that give them the opportunity to be who they want to be. The people who live in small towns who know that there is no way they will be able to face this obstacle alone go to these groups online that range from online video games to online chat rooms where they can talk freely about what they happen to be going through. Because of many emotional and psychological dynamics, people can feel comfortable to interact online. By creating a mask of identity a person can create a safety net almost, to protect them from who they really are. One of the great fears of online identity is having one's identity stolen or abused, others just create a fake identity to be who they truly are without being judged. By making the mask available, people can interact with some degree of confidence without fear.

Online identity is something that many people rely on. It gives them a sense of direction to where they can be themselves and not have to worry about the consequences that they may have to deal with if they were to be who they really are in real life.