UNDERSTANDING THE SELF  They show unusual act of kindness and

generosity, sometimes going out of

Lesson 6: The Digital Self
their way to help others.
-With the influx of technology, a new  Indicates an attempt to understand
version of self is formed, the Digital Self. and explore oneself.
 Enhance self-esteem and self-
STATISTICS
confidence.
 Philippines is the fastest-growing
2. Toxic Disinhibition
market of smartphones in the
ASEAN.  Rude language, harsh criticism, anger,
 Currently, 30% of all Filipinos are hatred, and threats online.
smartphone users and that is  Pornography, crime and other forms
projected to increase in the next of violence online.
years.  Cyberbullying- bullying that takes
SELF AND OTHER IN CYBERSPACE place using electronic technology.
Example: Cyber Harassment
Digital Literacy- defined as those
capabilities possessed by individuals who are Cyber Harassment- the use of Information
living, learning, and working in a digital and Communication Technology (ICT) to
society. harass, control, manipulate or habitually
disparage a child, adult, business or group
Online Disinhibition- The lack of restraint without a direct or implied threat of
one feels when communicating online in
physical harm.
comparison to communicating in-person.
I, ME, MYSELF AND MY USER ID
 People are more willing to speak out
ONLINE IDENTITY
and misbehave
 Authority is minimized Digital Identity (DI)- anything that
 People are more relaxed, less describes a persona as an individual presents
restrained, and tend to express across all the digital spaces that he/she is
themselves more openly. represented in.

Two Categories of Disinhibition Symbolic Markers- express one’s identity

to others and help them to make sense of it
1. Benign Disinhibition (positive) themselves.
 Sometimes, people share very
Internet Disembodiment- refers to the
personal things about themselves. identity, soul or spirit separate from
physical body.
  What goes online, stays online. They
are permanent digital footprints.
Dissociative Imagination- a belief that one’s
online persona along with the online others
live in a make-believe dimension, separate
and apart from the demands
responsibilities of the real world.
Solipsistic Introjection- a notion that it is
only in their heads or minds. Reading
another’s message might be experienced as a
voice within one’s head as if that person’s
psychological presence and influence have
been introjected into one’s psyche.
Dissociative Anonimity- people can hide
some or all of their identities
separate the in-person identity and virtual
identity.
SELF-PRESENTATION AND
IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT
Self-presentation- A range of strategies
that people adopt to shape what others
think of them.
1. Self promotion- the person is trying to
show that he/she is competent, effective or
a winner. This person expects RESPECT.
2. Ingratiation- The person using this in
presenting oneself to others has a desire to
be likeable. They expect AFFECTION.
3. Exemplification- The person has an
intention to achieve worth from others. This
person expects others to feel GUILTY by
their actions.
4. Intimidation- the person tries to appear
dangerous or ruthless. This person expects
others to be AFRAID of them.
5. Supplication- the person would like to
appear helpless. This person aims to achieve
and
NURTURANCE from others.
Self-enhancement- the tendency to think of
oneself in a favourable light.
Impression management- a deliberate
attempt to distort one’ reponses in order to
create a favourable impression with others.
IMPACT OF ONLINE INTERACTIONS
ON THE SELF
which
 Due to insufficient amount of real life
encounters, one’s facial expression,
body language, eye contact, and
conversation skills suffer.
 Studies showed that ‘others’ on the
internet constitute a distinctive
“looking glass” that produces a digital
self that differs from the self
formed offline.
 Abuse of technology always lead to
negative consequences.
BOUNDARIES OF THE SELF ONLINE
Personal boundaries- set of guidelines,
rules, or limits that a person creates to
identify reasonable, safe and permissible
ways for people to behave towards them and
how they respond in case someone oversteps
the limit.
Asynchronicity- not having to cope with  SHERRY TURKLE pointed out that
someone’s immediate reaction people have different roles in
DISINHIBITS people. different settings.
 In sociology, IDENTITY THEORY
explained that individuals have ROLE
PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC IDENTITIES.

 In the public mode, the post (of

-Role identity is the character and the
someone) will be treated as an OPEN
role an individual devises as an
BOOK.
occupant of a particular position.
 Because of security, many online users
-Self is hierarchical ordering of
are using the private mode.
identities by SALIENCE.
Anonymity (You Do Not Know Me) - His/her
identity is unknown to other users online.

Invisibility (You Cannot See Me)- In virtual

interactions, people cannot always be sure
when and where someone is present.

Anonymity and Invisibility can be a gauge to

misrepresent oneself (gender, age, status).
These two give the users courage to do
things which cannot be done in face-to-face
conversation.

PERSONAL/INDIVIDUAL VS. SOCIAL

IDENTITY ONLINE

 Identity is made up of both personal

and social identity.
 In the modern era (enlightenment
through 20th century)- IDENTITY is
FIXED, STABLE, and UNITARY.
 In post-modern era (present)-
IDENTITY is FLUID, MULTIPLE, and
SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED.