DIGITAL SELF

(JOHN SULER, Ph. D)

Discussant: Faith B. Galang, LPT

DIGITAL LITERACIES
• define those capabilities
which fit an individual for
living, learning and working in
a digital society.
 IDENTITY
• consists of personal identity plus (+)
social identity
Paradigm shift in conceptions of identity:
• Modern- fixed, stable and unitary
• Post- modern- fluid, multiple, socially
constructed
 IDENTITY
THEORY
(SOCIOLOGY)
 IDENTITY THEORY (SOCIOLOGY)
• Individuals have role identities: character and the role an
individual devise as an occupant of a particular social position
• Self is hierarchical ordering of identities by salience. The
greater the commitment on an identity, the greater the
salience of identity.
• Salience of identity influences behavioral choices in a
situation
 SOCIAL MEDIA
• allows us to adopt identities independent from our
bodies (and the markers they contain)
• Turkle (1995) On the internet you can be
whoever you want to be. You can
completely redefine yourself if you want.
People don’t look at your body and makes
assumptions. They don’t hear your accent
and make assumptions. All they see are
your words.
DIGITAL IDENTITIES
 DIGITAL IDENTITIES
• what goes online stays online
– Permanent digital footprints
– Describe the persona an individual presents across all the
digital spaces that he/ she is represented in
SYMBOLIC MARKERS
• express our identity to others and it
helps us make sense of ourselves
 IDENTITY
• socially constructed and informed by our relations with
others- what they think of us, what we think of them, how
we think of ourselves
ONLINE DISINHIBITION
• every person behaves differently
in virtual spaces than they would
in face- to- face interactions
DISSOCIATIVE ANONYMITY
“Who Am I?”
 DISSOCIATIVE ANONYMITY
“Who Am I?”
• My virtual behaviors aren’t really me
• In virtual interactions, we can hide some or
all of our identity- creating a separation
between our in- person and virtual identity
 INVISIBILITY
“You Can’t See Me”
 INVISIBILITY
“You Can’t See Me”
• In virtual interactions, we cannot always
be sure where/ when someone is present
• Physical invisibility also means less
inhibited expressions
ASYNCHRONICITY
“The Emotional Hit
and Run”
 ASYNCHRONICITY
“The Emotional Hit and Run”
• Not immediately coping with a person’s
reaction disinhibits
• There is safety when posting something
personal, emotional, or hostile and then
“running away”
SOLIPSISTIC INTROJECTION
“It’s All In My Head”
• When we don’t know what a virtual
person looks/ sounds like, we tend SOLIPSISTIC
to assign traits to those individuals
• Interactions with this interjected INTROJECTION
character feel more imaginary
• We also may treat a virtual “It’s All in My Head”
companion as ourselves, which can
lead to greater disinhibition
DISASSOCIATIVE IMAGINATION
“It’s Just A Game”
 DISASSOCIATIVE IMAGINATION
“It’s Just A Game”
• Virtual life can then be viewed more as
a game versus as a real world
interaction
• How we act in “fantasy games” is not
always how we act in the real world
MINIMIZED AUTHORITY
“We’re Equals”
 MINIMIZED AUTHORITY
“We’re Equals”
• We are more willing to speak out and
misbehave without possible disapproval
and punishment from authority figures
• In the real world, authority and status are
expressed by clothing, body language, etc.
 PERSONALITY
• Individuals can be predisposed to being more disinhibited
based on personality
• The intensity of a person’s underlying feelings, needs,
drives, etc. affects susceptibility to online disinhibition as
well
 BENIGN DISINHIBITION
• not all disinhibition is a bad thing
• Can be a very cathartic experience
• We can be extremely generous and kind to others in the virtual world
• Combat loneliness and depression through online social interactions
• Moderate negative moods through online social interactions
• Using the internet to find satisfying relationship to provide emotional
support
• Individuals with low self- esteem are more comfortable with online
interactions
 VIRTUAL GAMING
• allows players to express themselves differently than in
real life due to appearance, gender, sexuality, age, etc.
 TOXIC DISINHIBITION
• causes individuals to occupy virtual spaces that they would
not explore otherwise
• Rude language, harsh criticisms, anger, hatred, threats, etc
are all toxic disinhibition
 CYBER BULLYING
• Willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of
computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.
MANAGING ONLINE
DISINHIBITION
MANAGING ONLINE DISINHIBITION
• Don’t post or send anything you would be
embarrassed for certain others see
• Do be careful about over- sharing
• Don’t hang out with the “ wrong crowd”
online
• Don’t hang out with the “ wrong crowd”
offline
MANAGING ONLINE DISINHIBITION
• Do consider your emotional state before
virtually posting or responding to
anything
– Do consider the reaction individuals are
expecting from toxic disinhibition
– Do search for yourself online
 IN A WORLD
WHERE EVERYONE IS OVER EXPOSED,
THE COOLEST THING YOU CAN DO IS
MAINTAIN YOUR MYSTERY.