Identity practices in communities and networks may differ from one to another due to the influence of the context. In this particular form, context refers to the different communities and networks that surround a digital body. For example, different social network publics will influence the identity practice of an individual as all network spaces operate differently. Identities on offline communities may differ in comparison to online social networks as individuals may manipulate and exaggerate their digital bodies on networks but unable to allow this in communities. However, every networked public space shares a common purpose of how it allows publics to gather. Boyd (2007, p. 8) describes how “the types of publics that gather on social network sites are deeply affected by the mediated nature of interaction” this is because identity practices in communities and networks are challenged from traditional practices. Traditional practices include individuals who sought to program their information online without being biased nor providing fake information in pursue to focus on mainly interaction of peers. “Social network sites are based around profiles, a form of an individual home page, which offers a description of each member” (Boyd, 2007, p. 6) therefore profiles that are constructed online will have plenty of room for them to manipulate the profiles to express themselves. Within the networks online, people have ware control over identity online and could easily manipulate and exaggerate while constructing their digital bodies. Similarly, Turkle (1997) also explains that “ in the text based virtual realities that exist today, people are exploring, constructing and reconstructing identities” (p. 166). Therefore, in this conference paper, I will discuss the influence of different types of social networked publics on shaping identity practices and the different behavioral identities in communities and networks. 

From the literature of Akmam and Huq (2016) they raise the concerns of the digital age becoming a part of the existence of human life and a form of an extension of self by stating “with the marketing of the digital age, all forms of digital technologies become part of the existence of human life, thereby, an extension of self” (Akmam & Huq, 2016, p. 230). From this quote, it simply comprehends the other literatures as it raises the concern of digital age becoming part of human life. Akmam and Huq explains by stating the ever increasing popularity of cyberspace has become a great concern for critics because of the effects they generate on human behaviour and relationships where both Akmam and Huq furthers by saying “cyberspace has come to affect human life” (2016, p. 231). In this circumstance, cyberspace refers to the environment in which communication occurs over the computer. It has also been noticed that the type of social networked public site influences the behaviour of an online individual. Where the literature explains that “the online and offline world are two separate ones, and there are marked differences in their mechanism and interaction with self” (Akmam & Huq, 2016, p. 232) from this we can say that people behave differently in the virtual world from the real world this is because the people online have a much greater control on what other people see of them therefore creating and exaggerating an identity into something they want others to see them as.

In regards to identity practices, demographic factors may also influence the interaction of digital bodies on network public spaces as characteristics of an individual may influence the actions of ones online. Identity practices may differ in networked publics due to demographic features of the accessibility one has to the Internet that may influence the construction of a digital body. Boyd (2007, p. 3) explains that “when it comes to social network sites, there appears to be a far greater participatory divide than an access divide” which comes to conclusion that access of network public spaces can be reached by every individual as most social class plays a small role in terms of access. However the participatory divide is the main concern of Boyd’s (2007) literature, looking at demographic factors, gender appears to influence participation on social media sites. Boyd (2007) concludes that younger boys are more likely to participate in the online culture however as age increases the participation rate decreases among the boys. Which then leaves the females to significantly rise on participation when they are older where we can see the change of identity practices among different networks. Identity misinterpretation is common among the online networks as Boyd suggests “digital bodies are fundamentally courses, making it easier to misinterpret what someone is expressing” (2007, p. 12). In addition, the younger generation is more exposed to the digital age more than ever which raises concerns of the behavioral attitudes that surrounds these social sites. By being exposed to these social sites at a very young age will encourage them to participate sooner and adapt to behavioral attitudes commonly used on the network space. By adapting to the digital era, the younger generation is oblivious to strict authentication of an individual’s personal profile. Therefore, these young generation users may have conducted misinterpretation of identities online as they are oblivious to the purpose and privacy laws introduced.

The rise of Internet has impacted many users in the contemporary society as they are oblivious to their behavior online as majority of the users are spending too much of their time online and challenges the traditional roles of interaction and communication. In this particular form, MUDs refers to a Multi User Dungeon which commonly is the routine of playing, then becomes a part of their players everyday lives. This typically challenges a traditional form of identity in a community as individuals are devoted to their digital bodies making their everyday lives to revolve around their social networked publics interaction. Traditional social interactions between people is declining as individuals adapted to the behavior of the digital era where meeting people offline are not everyday lives. Traditional social interaction have declined because people feel more comfortable and a bigger sense of superiority when present online.  Therefore, people in the contemporary society that has been affected by the digital era has relied on networked public spaces to meet people and interact. In the contemporary society, the rise of the use of the Internet has significantly impacted individuals as an increasing participation rate are clear to be seen among the users in the virtual world as Turkle mentions “from all over the world, people use their individual machines to access a program which presents them with a game space- in the high tech world such spaces have come to be called “virtual” (1997, p. 159).  Turkle (1997) also raises the response of “today’s life on the screen dramatizes and concretizes larger cultural trends that encourage thinking about identity” (1997, pg. 72) where online experiences have challenged what stereotypically traditional people may have called identity. Identities in the virtual community has become significant in people’s everyday lives as being their real community as some are highly devoted to their digital bodies constructed on networked publics like MUDs. The rise of the use of the Internet has impacted many in the contemporary society as they are oblivious to their behavior online as majority of the users are spending too much of their time online therefore it challenges traditional practices. The sense of superiority and control that people have online has influence the declined of traditional interaction. “Virtual communities like MUDs are the most dramatic example of the way culture of simulation challenges traditional notions of human identity” (1997, p. 164) this literature can be explained as social practices in virtual communities has become adapted by this contemporary generation where interaction of peers are more common online rather than in traditional communities where face to face interaction happens. This can be explained by Turkle’s literature where she believes that “individuals use computers to work through identity issues that center around control, second where computer used as communication medium for intimacy” (1997, p. 159). Therefore, social interaction between people in the community has declined in the digital era as people are relying on online practices on networked publics as interaction because users have more control on the situation and a sense of superiority when online.

The concept of the representation of self raises concerns in the contemporary society as individuals creating their identities online have full responsibilities to portray their real self however some may be exaggerated by creating fake profiles leaving the online community with multiple identities. In Donath’s literature she mentions that “in communication which is the primary activity, knowing the identity of those whom you communicate is essential for understanding and evaluating an interaction” she raises this concern as the more digital bodies are constructed online the higher the risk of fraud identities therefore risking personal privacy on these virtual communities. Knowing the identity of whom you connect with is highly important in the contemporary society as many fake profiles and accounts are around. Fake profiles and accounts are fairly common in the contemporary society as people are so easily accessed to the Internet and social media and therefore increases fraud and raises concerns of authentication. “The option of not using real names online allows people to control what they reveal about themselves and who they reveal it to, opening up possibilities for identity exploration, exhibitionism and connections with people who share different interests without being limited to social factors” (Van Der Nagel & Frith, 2015) concludes that even with multiple identities online the benefits of seeking opportunities are much rather thought about than fake profiles. In the statement from the literature, concludes that there are much greater opportunities online in the virtual reality for communication with others than in the real world. It is much easier to communicate online and form a relationship with another individual as the identity of an individual may be exaggerated and come across the way the user prefers. With the ability for heightened and exaggerated identities online, raises the concerns of pseudonymity and anonymity (Van Der Nagel & Frith, 2015). “Researchers have recognised the value in the identity construction enabled by social practices of pseudonyms and anonymity” (Van Der Nagel & Frith, 2015). The concept of the presentation of self raises concerns in the contemporary society as individuals creating their identities online have full responsibilities to portray their real self however some may be exaggerated. “Taken together, anonymity and pseudonymity with criminality and chaos, perpetrating mistrust of those who do not reveal their real identity” (Van Der Nagel & Frith, 2015) concludes that it should be a major crime of not revealing your true self online as a community in the virtual world should reflect the same as the real world where real identities cannot be hidden. The literature then points out that “when anonymous Internet users are the subject of mainstream news article, it is often in the context of either large scale political protests, or abusing others on Internet through inflammatory posts”. In this circumstance, majority of online identities construct their profiles as either a pseudonymity or anonymity so that when an argument takes place, there is no blaming on a user as there are no traces of their real identity. However, Van Der Nagel and Frith’s (2015) and Boyd’s (2007) literatures may comprehend one another as Boyd summarizes that people have more control online and able to control what information they put online. Where Van Der Nagel and Frith’s explains how “social media sites vary as to whether their users are allowed to communicate through an identity not including their real information” (2015). Take for example, Facebook requires legal name and only one identity online however dating sites like OkCupid does not allow real names for privacy purposes. With the fact stated, it is clear that an increase in multiple identities are majority found on dating sites because these sites are not strict on authentication. In conclusion, the different social sites that requires different levels of personal authentication influences the behavior of a digital body and their representation of their online self.

In conclusion, identity practices do change through the influence of different social networked public sites as an individual behaviour differs from one to another in the virtual world. Boyd (2007) concludes that identities in communities may differ with identities in networks as individuals may manipulate and exaggerate their digital bodies on networks but unable to allow this in communities where similarly demographic factors may also influence the interaction of digital bodies on network public spaces as characteristics of an individual may influence the actions of ones online. As Turkle (1997) covers that different networks construct online communities for digital bodies to interact and communicate to generate an ongoing community but also influencing their identity practices such like on MUDs. Where Van Der Nagel and Frith’s (2015) concludes that the concept of the presentation of self raises concerns in the contemporary society as individuals creating their identities online have full responsibilities to portray their real self however some may be exaggerated as pseudonymity and anonymity. Finally Akmam and Huq summarizing the concerns of the digital age becoming part of the existence of human life. In conclusion, this conference paper covers the topic on how identity practices are shaped by the context which in this case are the different social networked public sites.

References

Akmam, J & Huq, N. (2016). Living Parallel-ly in Real and Virtual: Internet as an Extension Self. Defining Identity and the Changing Scope of Culture in the Digital Age.  Retrieved from https://www-igi-global-com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/gateway/book/142208

Boyd, D. (2007). Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life. In D. Buckingham (Ed.), MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Learning Youth, Identity, and Digital Media Volume. Cambridge, MA.: MIT Press.

Donath, J. (1999). Identity and Deception in the Virtual Community. In P. Kollock, & M. A. Smith (Eds.), Communities in Cyberspace (pp. 29-59). New York: Routledge.

Pearson, E. (2009). All the World Wide Web’s a stage: The performance of identity in online social networks. First Monday, 14(3). Retrieved from: https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2162

Turkle, S. (1997). Constructions and Reconstructions of Self in Virtual Reality. In S. Kiesler (Ed.), Culture of the Internet. Hilldale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Turkle, S. (1997). Multiple Subjectivity and Virtual Community at the End of the Freudian Century. Sociological Inquiry, 67(1).

Van Der Nagel, E. and Frith, J. (2015). Anonymity, pseudonymity, and the agency of online identity: Examining the social practices of r/Gonewild. First Monday, 20(3), Retrieved from http://www.ojphi.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/5615/4346