“Young People, Ethics, and the New Digital Media: A Synthesis from the Good Play Project” argues that five key issues are at stake in the new media, including identity, privacy, ownership and authorship, credibility, and participation.  While all issues contain validity, the one that intrigues me the most is “identity.”

According to the article, identity online can be a perception, misconception, and/or deception.  My first blatant comment on this topic stands that if someone posts on the internet, then they need to expect that their perceived audience and terms of use may be exploited.  But, let’s start from the beginning.

At the get go, what you see is very unlikely to be what you get.  Firstly, online is inherently asynchronous.  Truth wanes from the moment someone signs on to the internet and comes in contact with a virtual personality.  It just ain’t real.  Even in the most honest attempt for sincerity, communication, or expectation becomes skewed.

Identity online is just that, identity.  The internet “stage” allows everyone and anyone to be who they want or don’t want to be allowing them to walk away if they like, no harm done; well, at least in theory.  For Zoe, she had an outlet for free expression, but got caught up in her unforeseen consequences.

Possibly, that is the issue here.  Users need to consider the consequences or outcome of their online mask.  It may meet their personal needs, but perhaps, an unselfish entity needs to be inserted here in speculating on the “what if’s?”  Do we want to disappoint or hurt our audience?