Constructing and Managing Online Identities

Research Essay
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Research Essay
How do you construct and manage your identities online?
I construct my online identity by creating an account that would be safe for family and friends. “Some people maintain multiple accounts: one "safe for work" and one more personal” (Marwick). Such an identity helps protect close friends and family from being subjected to bullying due to the things I post on social media platforms. For instance, I love commenting on other people's posts on Facebook. In some cases, these comments might involve a topic that I would not feel comfortable having my closest friends or family members read. Such content might make virtual friends judge them wrongly. Therefore, I have to ensure that my identities protect the privacy of other people.
Once I have constructed an online identity, I manage it by being careful about the content I post. If I am using an identity that reveals my real-life personality, I ensure not to post something that might compromise my wellbeing. Social media platforms are some of the online platforms where people can be subjected to bullying. Cases have been reported where people committed suicide due to the bullying they face from virtual friends (Massing-Schaffer & Nesi, 2020). Such cases can happen to any person depending on the kind of information they post on such platforms. Therefore, I always ensure to post information that will not subject me to harm. Whenever a post or comment I made evokes negative feelings from other users, I always delete it immediately. Such has helped me construct and maintain an online identity that does not harm my feelings. Posting pictures of Avatars on Facebook has helped me protect my real identity. It has also helped me evade the bullying that people get when they post their real pictures.
Another way I maintain my online identity, especially on Instagram, is by deleting the pictures that do not fit in the public domain. In some cases, I might post a picture without giving it a second thought online to realize later that I should not have posted the particular picture. An example is the case of parties where many people get tempted to post pictures they could not have posted when sober. Such pictures might create the wrong impression about a person. Therefore, it is best to occasionally review the pictures that I have posted on my Instagram account to ensure they do not give a wrong impression about my personality. I also check to ensure that people's comments on my Instagram pictures do not present hateful messages.
What are some of the key differences in your online identities?
One of the key differences in my online identities is the kind of pictures I post. For instance, my Instagram account is filled with real-life pictures, while on Facebook, I prefer using avatars. I think the Facebook identity allows me to interact with people without the fear of being judged. A substantial number of people on online platforms tend to judge other people, and these judgments can be harmful to the identity’s owner. An example is a case where an individual presents themselves as a member of the LGBTQ group. Such a person...