The impact of digital forms of communication on people’s identity

Impact of Digital Communication on Personal Identity

Individual Self-Identity

Digital communication allows for new ways of self-expression and the presentation of self. Through social media, people can now carefully curate their identities according to the ways they want to be seen.
Social networks offer a platform for identity experimentation. People can alter and manipulate their identities, create new personas, or live out fantasies, all from behind a screen.
Anonymity offered by certain digital platforms can lead to the exploration of alternative identities and create a pluralistic identity. It can be liberating and allows for more honest expressions.

Identity and Social Relationships

Online communities and digital communication can influence personal identity. People’s participation in certain online communities or their use of specific digital communication practices can form part of their identity – for example, being a ‘gamer’ or a ‘WhatsApp user’.
Digital communication shapes how we interact with others. People can maintain 24/7 contact with others, which changes typical relationship dynamics and contributes to the development of a communal identity.
Likes, shares, and comments can increase self-worth and self-esteem, bolstering personal identity. However, these may also contribute to one’s reliance on social validation to feel secure in their identity.

Identity and Digital Divides

Limited access to digital technology may result in digital divides. These can create social divides that may limit identity expression and development.
Identity may be shaped or limited by one’s digital literacy skills. Those with better skills will be able to navigate the digital world more effectively, including more expressive and complex identity presentation.
Your geographical location in the world can impact your identity via digital communication. Different regions have different internet regulations, censorship, and digital norms, which impact how people can express and even perceive themselves online.

Identity and the Commercialisation of Digital Spaces

The commercial nature of digital spaces can play a role in shaping identity. Advertisements and online consumer culture can influence people’s self-perceptions and aspirations.
The use of data analytics by marketers can reinforce consumer identity. Tailored ads contribute to the belief that certain products or services are integral to an individual’s identity.
Influence of social media influencers and celebrities shapes many people’s identities, especially among younger people. They may mimic their behaviours, styles, or choices, reflecting an identity informed by these digital interactions.