IDENTITY AND THE INTERNETHow Vulnerable Are We?

INTRODUCTION Look at how the internet enhances self-identification

Look at how it erodes identity

Problem of Anonymity

The practical problem of identity theft

ENHANCING INDIVIDUAL IDENITY

Easily accessed information on individuals

Allows individuals to find new ways to construct their identity

A projection of our “front” persona eg. online dating

“NEW IDENTITIES” With the ability to access new material comes the power to construct new identity

Individual “role-play” has potential to take over real world identity

Real world companies supporting virtual society.

STATISTICS AND EXAMPLES “Wilde Cunningham” – Multiple personality

disorder in reverse

“More people reside in Lineage and Lineage II than reside in Ireland” (Tim Guest, 2002)

57% considered buying a real-life product as a result of a recommendation they received from someone in SecondLife (Mary Ellen Gordon, 2007, Virtual Worlds Conference)

THE PROBLEM OF ANONIMITY Physical separation via a screen

Race and ethnicity fall away online

Worst case scenario: “New Identity” used criminally- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/726904.stm

IDENTITY THEFT Major Practical Danger

As a consequence there is more response from websites, in terms of security

Operation Sterling, Metropolitan Police

CONCLUSION… To Early to tell?

What do you think?

Developments over time?

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/1117634/facebook-off

REFERENCES

De Mesa, A. (2009), “Brand Avatar: Translating Virtual World Branding Into Real World Success”, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Guest T. (2007), “Second Lives: A Journey Through Virtual Worlds”, London: Hutchinson.

Metropolitan Police Service (2011), ‘Specialist Crime: Economic and Specialist Crime’, accessed on 3rd November 2011 at http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/economic_specialist_crime.htm

Nakamura, L. (2002), “Cybertypes: Race, Ethnicity and Identity on the Internet”, London: Routledge