Virtual self

What is virtual self?

Virtual self or the virtual represention of an individual over a new media, particularly the internet that is
being used by an individual to traverse a virtual common space. It can also be considered as the avatar
of an individual, which is a graphical or visual representation of the virtual user.

Examples of the virtual self are

MMORPG ( Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game – is an online role-playing video game in
which a very large number of people participate

Examples

- Adventure quest worlds

- Monster hunter

- Overlord
 -Sword art online

Avatar – is defined as a manifestation or appearance. In terms of social media in todays world, your
Avatar is your identity and you can make your avatar whatever you want it to be. It is what project to
others

- Example of an avatar in MMORPG

Emoji – is one of the most useful shorthand communication tools of the 21st century. An emoji can be
used to express personality

- examples of emoji

Dangers of the internet

What are the dangers of the internet? There are several dangers in the internet and one of those are
Media gatekeepers, cyberbullying and internet and computer addiction.

Gate keepers – they are the one that affect or control information that is transmitted to their audience.
Why is it so dangerous? Because lets say we have a mayor that is doing drugs or corruption and the
media create a story about that but before the news spread it would go through the process in gate
keepers and since the gate keepers are paid, they could just change the text and pretty much make the
mayor innocent.

Cyberbullying – is a form of bullying using social media, by sending threats, or criticizing about their
looks, and pretty much making fun of them or hurting their feelings.

Internet and computer addiction - is where a person gets addicted and making it not to stop using the
internet. Why is it so dangerous? Because sometimes some people stayed up allday just playing the
computer or browsing the internet and could lead to health problems and also could affect their
academics and also some people may use it as self medication, where it gives them temporary pleasure
rather than deeper qualities of “normal” intimate relationship, in which could lead to loss of self-
esteem, fueling the need to escape from reality.