#2 The Definition

In this entry, I will be writing some points that define what virtual identity is.

According to Techopedia, virtual identity is part of an interface that represents the user in a virtual world such as a chat room, video game, or virtual common space. 

Nowadays, with virtual identities are meant the million of people around the world who interact through computers/smartphones and often use therefore personalities of their own creation.
 

- On the internet, nobody knows you're a dog.- 

Perhaps, virtual identity doesn't equal to real identity. According to Psychology Today, Adrian (2008) has referred to virtual worlds as “domains of liquid identity” because you will never know “who” the individual exactly is.

On the internet, we can't physically meet the person that we interact with. That's why we people create a virtual identity on the internet to represent us. In the virtual world, virtual identity is much more flexible than real identity as it can easily changes  in race, class, gender, age, socioeconomic background, and etc.

According to Robie Cooper, a photographer who has studied the relationship between gamers' real and online identities, the online identities people chose were 'less ordinary' than their real selves.' In the virtual world, they either had more powers or better looks. He go on and said that he hardly find someone who deliberately played a fat avatar although apparently they do exist. It does seem like in almost every case, the avatar is bigger, better, faster, it can fly, it has abilities the person doesn't have in the real world.'

Virtual identity is basically an identity that anyone can create (to be a better you?) and it is a perceived view of who you are when online, such as social media (Facebook, Twitter), games and etc. Of course, you can have many virtual identities on the internet.

 
In the following entry, I will be writing about virtual identity as a feature in Science Fiction Film.

Reference:

Indalecio, T. (2010) Exploring Identity in the Virtual World - Is that REALLY you? [Online] Available at: www.psychologytoday.com/blog/curious-media/201004/exploring-identity-in-the-virtual-world-is-really-you 

Chan, M.J. (2007) Identity in a virtual world [Online]
Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/06/07/virtual_identity/index.html?iref=allsearch

Further Reading:
http://www.academia.edu/4769210/Granting_Personality_to_a_Virtual_Identity_KOKSWIJK