In recent years, we’ve witnessed a rise in the use of social platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and virtual reality games. Many individuals now use social media to portray the person they wish to be, rather than who they truly are—a phenomenon I refer to as “Faking It Til You Make It.” This shift became apparent as more users began showcasing their achievements or as celebrities started flaunting their lifestyles online. Originally, social media was intended to create a global space for connection, allowing people to explore new cultures and traditions. The idea was to share moments like a simple birthday post, where a user might post a picture with a caption like “It’s my birthday,” and their followers would like it and move on. However, today, social media has evolved into something far more complex, with some people struggling to distinguish between online personas and reality.
The line between physical and digital identity has become increasingly blurred, making the concept of “self” more fluid than ever. Social media isn’t the only place where new identities are crafted; video games also play a role. For instance, in the game SIMS, users create characters and dictate their life stories. Researchers suggest that the integration of information technologies into people’s social roles and relationships offers new insights into human behavior. They also explore how IT has become deeply embedded in social routines, shaping new expectations for how individuals perform roles and maintain social networks, ultimately influencing their self-conceptions.
As we live in an era where social media and gaming are endless tunnels of trendy aesthetics, I’ve observed how these platforms can impact relationships and even careers. Many people lose their sense of identity as they try to conform to the “digital” persona they’ve created, only to find that their real lives don’t align with this constructed image.
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