Online identities

A class member has an interesting set of online identities which is not same as mine. She has about 10 online identities, include forums, facebook, blogs, Twitter, msn and online games etc. These identities can be different to their personal identities in the reality. She added some fake personal datum or created certain different online identities. For some online games, she created a figure with fake gender, appearance as well as adding some features that she does not have in the reality. Pet Society is a famous online game on facebook. It is a funny online game for players to make a figure with an animal face and body. She can pretend to be a dog or bear with a pretty face inside this game as well as doing something impossible. For example, buying a lot of stuff and dressing up with different styles.


The fake identity on the Interent can conceal the real identity in the real world. My classmates  mostly purpose to make a joke to others, such as using a forum identity to express some anti-social comments or pretending someone to chat with others. These hidden identities can show different sides of themself. Also, they can exploit these identities to show-off themself, like exaggerating their success and ability.


Besides, having online identity has to burden certain risks. Some people may put their real identity or data on the Internet. Such as facebook or some online bank account. User's personal data could be stolen by cracker, and then to be used for criminal  act. As a matter of fact, it exposes the disadvantage of online identity. It cannot be totally safe and protect each user's privacy. In the net world, almost every data can be searched as long as typing the key words on google, all relevant data can be found. So that, it is easy to reveal user's real identity to strangers. User should bear these risks and make a serious decision before creating an online identtity.