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DIGITAL SELF
The self that is created online is commonly called the digital self or online identity.
According to Dr. Tamara Hicks a well-known psychologist, digital self is a mask that
we put on to engage in the technological world. Donald Winnicott, psychoanalyst and
physician expounded the idea about identity he claimed that there is a "true self" that
is the instinctive core of our personality and must be nurtured and realized. This is in
contrast to the "false self" which could be in essence our digital self that is created to
protect the "true self" from insult and danger. The takeaway is, we all have a "true
self" that is complex and fragile, but ultimately, is our essence. In an attempt to share
that self with the world, we engage our decoy selves to manage the day-to-day
anxieties and challenges that come before us.
B. REAL IDENTITY VERSUS ONLINE
Life without technology is worthless in today’s dynamic world. As such people

created their own digital self to survive. As McLuhan (2011) asserted, “media is a
technological extension of the body” and the need for the computer and the internet
has become a necessary tool for people to actively engage in life. It has likewise
become a platform for personal and collective expression, collaboration, and sharing.
Technology, which brings together tools to promote progress, uses information

exchange, has as its main goal of making tasks easier in solving of many problems of
mankind.
Creating an online identity and a digital profile is a choice for each individual.
Accordingly, digital profile classifies numerous components of the self through the
structures of online platforms. For this reason, social media acts as a standardizing
mechanism requiring a certain amount of information to participate on that social
media platforms hence an online identity is developed. This is classified as our digital
self which constitutes of collections of information’s that are similar or different to
our real identities. In the digital world, actions are recorded and content is advocated
for different kinds of online profile
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Bayombong Campus
DEGREE PROGRAM COURSE NO. GE SELF
SPECIALIZATION COURSE TITLE UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
YEAR LEVEL FIRST YEAR TIME FRAME 6 HRS WK NO. 6 IM NO. 3

based on experiences and associations with other individuals in the past. The internet
holds bits of information on boundless amounts of servers throughout the world that is
why the information we shared about ourselves has a digital permanence, it will still
exist even after deletion. Hence a digital profile may live forever. Arguably, people
creates multiple identities because the ability to be who you want online does not stop
at actuality. These identities may be formed for a number of usages such as a bogus
email account used for promotional offers rather than a personal email account being
bogged down with spam
Research studies revealed that adolescents construct their identities online in order to
create another venue for self-construction. Some adolescents present themselves in 5
various ways using social networking site by disclosing their personal information,
creating several accounts of the various aspects of their true selves, experimenting on
a fictitious self, and forming their identity affiliations (Barker, 2009; Krämer &
Winter, 2008; Livingstone, 2008; Mehdizadeh, 2010; Williams & Merten, 2008
Moreover, Maczewski (2002) found in his study with nine adolescent that online and
on ground or real life identities of these youth were aspects of their true selves and
these realities served different purposes and needs and one was not necessarily better
than the other. The virtual world was just one more aspect of youth’s lives in which
they could have fun, create, and explore activities, ideas, and identities. According to
him, the youth becomes used to seeing multiple perspectives, engaging in multiple
interactions and experiencing multiple ways of being. Online and on ground were
considered aspects of their daily lived experiences which influenced each other.
The Self in the Age of Technology
Social media is defined as the websites and applications that make it easier to create
and share information, ideas, and interests. It also allows people to create other forms
of self-expression via virtual communities and networks.
Through the use of social media, people may act differently since interaction in social
media do not happen face-to-face and there is no physical presence required. This is
called online disembodiment. With this, people are less likely to display their real
“selves” to others, especially to strangers.
Digital Identity
People generally have role identities. These are the characters and roles an individual
creates as a member of a particular social group. Following this definition, “self” is
composed of identities ranked by importance. The greater the commitment of an
individual to a particular identity, the greater the importance of this identity.
In an online environment, one’s role identity is vitally important in order for him/her
to project himself/herself in the said environment. Amidst the technological tools and
channels surrounding individuals and online activities that people engage in, one’s
online identity enables him/her to participate in a virtual society.
However, participation in virtual environments may entail changes that may affect a
person’s sense of self. In some cases, people present themselves differently in online
interactions as compared to the face-to-face interactions they engage in.
Online Disinhibition Effect
When people afopt fake identities, they are likely to engage in behaviors that they
would not do in real life interactions, known as online disinhibition.
There are 2 main categories of behaviors that fall under online disinhibition:
Benign disinhibition. It occurs when people tend to self-disclose more on the internet
than they would in real life or go out of their way to help someone or show kindness.
Toxic disinhibition. People take part of this when they use rude language, bully or
threaten others on online platforms, and go to websites with contents of violence,
crime, and pronography.

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A.

B. REAL IDENTITY VERSUS ONLINE

Life without technology is worthless in today’s dynamic world. As such people

Technology, which brings together tools to promote progress, uses information

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Bayombong Campus

DEGREE PROGRAM COURSE NO. GE SELF

SPECIALIZATION COURSE TITLE UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

YEAR LEVEL FIRST YEAR TIME FRAME 6 HRS WK NO. 6 IM NO. 3

The Self in the Age of Technology

Online Disinhibition Effect

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