I found an article at TechCrunch.com that takes an interesting look at online identity. The article is entitled "Wipe The Slate Clean For 2010, Commit Web 2.0 Suicide." Besides sounding extremely morbid this article talks about a new Web 2.0 suicide machine that will permanently delete your online identity on social networks. The article even cautions "Warning: This will really delete your online presence and is irrevocable." The article continues and assures the reader that "Unplugging from your social life online will leave you more time for your real life, which you’ve probably been neglecting." According to the article, which was written on December 31st, only 321 people so far have committed online suicide.
At first I wondered why anyone would want to commit "online suicide" so to speak. I am aware that some college students' online identities can very well be more important than their real life identities. I know many college students who have online identities that make them seem more popular, glamorous, and important than they really are. I myself enjoy an online identity that I feel is more humorous and lighthearted than I tend to be on a typical day. So why would you want to destroy a version of yourself that you have taken the time to painstakingly create? Of course there is the common fear of having an online identity viewed by potential employers, current employers, professors and parents. We have all heard the warnings, "Be careful what you post online!" I have personally been stalked by an over-involved aunt who believes it is her moral duty to report to my parents any questionable photos. So I could understand the reasons why someone who was applying for a professional job or was in the public eye would want to permanently delete all less than professional records of themselves.
The article gives a different reason for committing online suicide. It seems to imply that people are so obsessed with their online identity that they don't have time for a real life anymore. I would have to say that I believe they have a valid point. I think that people usually create an online identity as an escape from an otherwise mundane life. The more I analyze the Facebooks and Twitters of my fellow students, the more I realize that the people who have the most pictures, status updates, comments and appear popular are actually not. It is really the people I know who have relatively boring Facebooks and Twitters that have better grades, jobs, relationships, and they still go out and have fun. These people just pay more attention to the conversation than trying to get in as many pictures as they can. For me, working an average of twenty-five hours a week, going to school, and maintaining a relationship is enough. I can't imagine having to worry about a whole other identity. Maybe if I were unhappy with aspects of my life it would be a relief to turn to my computer which leads me to believe that those people with a strong online presence are either bored or not as happy.
Also, maintaining and online identity can be exhausting. You have to be constantly uploading photos, or updating your status to keep up your image. With the internet connected to your phone you can never be free of the comments which you must reply to. An online identity could actually be a lot of pressure. I blogged constantly over the summer and obtained a lot of followers. I had horrible feelings of guilt when I stopped blogging because school started. I'm scared to visit my blog and get comments asking where I've gone. Web suicide would have sounded like a relatively good option. At least, maybe the creation of the Web 2.0 suicide machine is showing a shift in number of people that think updating their status every two seconds is cool. I'm not ready to commit Web 2.0 suicide yet but it is certainly something I will consider for the future.
Here is a creepy video about online suicide. It is long and moves slowly.
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