#5 Identities in Cyberculture

People have the ability to share their identities and portray who they want to be as a result of cyberculture. Individuals use cyberculture as a source of communication with friends or family, work, or entertainment. The Internet has created a place where people care about their identities online. For example, someone who is quiet and does not have a bunch of friends can make themselves look like they are outgoing, and have the best lives. Many people want to feel like they have value and want others to perceive them like they have a good life. Mostly women and some men want to look good in pictures, have a lot of friends, or have a fun looking life on social media websites.  Cyberspace has allowed people to put up their resumes online through LinkedIn, so employers can view them. This is another way people care about their identities because it is important to have a lot of good connections, and have a great looking resume with internships and jobs. On the other hand, cyberculture has created a place where mostly males can play virtual games online. Gamers can socialize from their chair or on their couch. Again, if you are not very outgoing you can make other gamers believe that you are. You do not have to have face-to-face interactions; it is purely over the Internet. People have also used cyberspace to have virtual sex. David Bell states, “People of all sexual orientations have used the Internet for ‘cybersex’ which involves people telling each other what they are doing to each other…” (Bell, 127). People who are having cybersex are portraying their identity through these websites. You are not only looked at in face-to-face actions, but your identity is constantly being valued over cyberculture.