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The notion of online identity has become a critical issue in the debate surrounding the social effects of the so-called “virtual world� offered by the Internet. Describing the identity one adopts when entering this “world�, online identity explores the complex issues of identity construction and virtual embodiment.
In a more general sense, identity refers to the construction of self, specifically how one perceives both themselves and their perception of how others view them. Identity defines how one behaves, interacts with others and performs certain characteristics that are associated to that person’s personality.
Online dictionary, Dictionary.com defines identity in the following ways:
Increasingly this explanation of identity as a singular notion for defining one’s ultimate social role, behaviour and personality is becoming scrutinised. Instead the idea of multiple identities, dependent upon social constraints and circumstances, is emerging.
In today’s Western world where the Internet has become a common tool for communication, traditional boundaries of socialisation and status, and their inflicted constraints, are increasingly obsolete. Where one’s perception by others is traditionally based on a wide variety of physical, mental and emotional criteria, the World Wide Web is primarily dependent on how and what one chooses to communicate about themself. Without the sometime physical boundaries of race, ethnicity, ability or disability, gender or sexuality, the Internet can become a place for construction of a new, alternate identity [see Development of Online Identity, often in stark contrast to that portrayed in the “real world�. As Jordan (1999, p.87) states, “cyberspace appears as a place in which individuals can put aside many of the inequalities of offline life…�.
Despite arguments that promote an open, judgement free forum in which people can feel liberated to express their true identity without fear of persecution, the Internet’s lack of physicality does present certain concerns. Along with the many questions and concerns raised about the Internet as a whole, such as the lack of censorship and lack of control [see Moral Panics and the Internet, identity in the virtual world has received particular scrutiny. Specifically, the opportunity for exaggerated, unreal portrayals of self lead many to question the validity of substantial, and truthful online interaction. As Jordan (1999: 88) argues, “…identity fluidity supports the masquerades and experiments of avatars…the ability to change gender, the ability to contact experts…�. In the physical world, such social experiments as playing with the alternation of gender or creating a completely different social background for the purpose of research, become far more complex and are less likely to occur. Alternatively, the Internet offers its users the potential to explore identity more easily and often most importantly, the ability to do so, anonymously.
One of the most commonly discussed topics regarding identity and the Internet is the exploration of gender and sexual identities. Despite the increase of social respect and equality for all genders and sexualities, a degree of discrimination, value judgement and preconceived notions still occur in the reality. The anonymity and inability for physical repercussions that are offered by the Internet have resulted in a steady increase in the number of users participating in gender and sexual identity construction. In the online world users have the opportunity to enter the popular world of MUDs (Multi-User Dimensions) which are defined by McRae (1997, p. 76) as “…text-based virtual worlds, interactive databases from which it is possible to craft highly complex, extremely vivid environments in which the user experiences a feeling of actual presence.� It is in such online communities where the opportunity to redefine sexual and gender identity are particularly prevalent, with a large portion of interaction dedicated towards relationship building.
The online world provides users with a choice to determine which sex, sexuality preference and sexual characteristics they would like to embody. In each online encounter, a user ultimately has the opportunity to interchange which identity they would like to portray. As McRae argues in Surkan (2000),
This issue of gender and sexual resignification raises the notion of disembodiment and its associated implications. Disembodiment refers to the idea that while one requires the use of the body to connect to the Internet, once the user is online, the need for the body is no longer required, and the user can participate completely separately to it. This ultimately alludes to a sense of detachment from the identity defined by the physical body. In cyberspace, one’s sexual prowess, dysfunctionality, confusion, genitalia and many more aspects, all become blurred and are only defined by the user. Herein again questions of truth are raised, particularly in reference to online dating and virtual sex. As McRae(1997, p. 75) states,
Ultimately online identity cannot be completely free from the social constraints that are imposed in the “real world�. As Westfall (2000, p.160) discusses, the idea of truly departing from social hierarchy and restriction does not occur on the Internet (as perhaps suggested by earlier research into the possibilities presented by the Internet) with identity construction still shaped by others. Westfall raises the important, yet rarely discussed, issue of the effects of literacy and communication skills of the online user. Indeed, these skills or lack of, shape one’s perception in the online community in a similar way to that of the physical body in the “real world�.
===Effects===
Online interaction and identity raise numerous social and physical issues in relation to:
[See more in Concerns vs Opportunities]
Online identity has ultimately raised the societal notions of identity fluidity and the human desire to experiment with the differing emotions, sensations, thoughts and experiences that are tied to specific genders, sexualities and sexual characteristics. The new media revolution of the Internet and its subsequent social issues are emerging, with online identity, and sexual and gender construction particularly, raising worldwide discussion over the potential to redefine how identity is perceived by society. The idea of a completely unique online identity to that of the “real world’ is unlikely. However, its opportunity to highlight the interplay between social circumstances and how people choose to construct their sexual and gender identity in response to this can be analysed via the online opportunities that the Internet presents.
Femke Mason 18:51, 9 Sep 2004 (EST)
