In our era of internet and social networking, individual identity is
pushed further and further into obscurity. One of the culprits is digital
image cultivation, which allows us to present ourselves to the world
in just the way we would like be seen. This makes it easy to smooth-
over the idiosyncrasies and flaws we possess as human beings. It’s
all about the image, while the identity behind it subtly changes.
The individual turns into a farce.
Psychology defines identity as an integral unity experienced by an
individual, the basic self-image of who we are, who we believe to be.
It contains the entirety of our being, our deepest core values and our
mission in life. So while identity is a product of what we would want
and wish for, an image is a representation of how we wish to be
perceived outwardly.
What does this mean for us as we become part of digital networks?
Are we really turning into mockeries of ourselves as soon as we hold
multiple digital identities? Are we losing parts of our personality in
the process? What is the upside of moving through cyberspace as
split personalities, and does the definition of identity even retain
its validity in this space?
What we need— is an answer to these questions.
Writer: A. Ritschel
Editor: SimpleNYC
