The digital self refers to a person's online persona and identity, which may differ from their real-world identity. An individual's online identity is shaped by how they present themselves across various websites and interactions. People often engage in selective self-presentation and impression management online in order to control how others perceive their digital self. It is important for one to find a balance between authentic representation and tactical impression management when constructing an online identity.

1. D I G I T A L S E L F
D I G I T A L S E L F
D I G I T A L S E L F

2. DIGITAL SELF
+ The digital self is the
persona you use when you’re
online. Some people maintain
one or more online identities
that are distinct from their
“real-world” selves; others
have a single online self that’s
more or less the same as the
one they inhabit in the real
world.

3. Key Concepts:
+ Personal Identity - the interpersonal level of self which
differentiates the individual as unique from others
+ Social Identity - the level of self whereby the individual
is identified by his or her group memberships
+ Online Identity - Using the internet, it is the sum of
your characteristics and interactions
represented. Results from different interactions with
each website visited, showing a different picture of who
you are and what you do.

4. + “Your online identity is not the same as your
real-world identity because the characteristic
you represent online differ from the
characteristics you represent in the physical
world.”

5. How do you build your Online
Identity?
+ Every website that you interact with will
collect its own version of who you are, based
on the information that you have shared.
Thus, it is up to you how you will represent
yourself as closely as who you are and what
you do in real life or selectively, to create a
representation far from your real life.

6. In the Cyberspace...
+People are more willing to speak out and
misbehave.
+Authority is minimized.
+Online Disinhibition - lack of restraint one feels
when communicating online.

8. Managing Toxic Disinhibition
Be careful
about sharing
1
Do not hang
with the
wrong crowd
online
2
Consider your
emotional
state before
posting
3
Consider
other's
possible
reaction
4

9. Selective Presentation and Impression Managemen
+Our behaviors can change if we notice that we are
being watched or observed. We select only what we
want to present and impress to others, what we
view beneficial to our personality, especially when
we create a digital self.
+Most often we try to impress others – to put our best
foot forward, to try to look good and always into
new trends, and to always get people to like us
even if it means we need to lie, to pretend and to
create fictitious self of ours.

10. Selective Presentation and Impression Managemen
+Self-presentation refers to how people attempt to
present themselves to control or shape how others
(called the audience) view them. It involves expressing
oneself and behaving in ways that create a desired
impression. Self-presentation is part of a broader set of
behaviors called impression management.
+Impression management refers to the controlled
presentation of information about all sorts of things,
including information about other people or events.

11. Types of Self-Presentation
1. Authentic - This type of self-presentation aims to create an
image consistent with the way we view ourselves.
2. Ideal – This type of self-presentation aims to establish an
image consistent with what we wish we were.
3. Tactical - This type of self-presentation aims to establish a
public image consistent with what others want or expect us to
be.

12. Selective Presentation and Impression Managemen
+Selective self-presentation and impression management is
very important in the development and maintenance of your
social relationships, and it is critically important for you to
gain self-confidence and pride.
+But your success in social relationships and your triumph as
a person requires a delicate balance of self-presentation and
impression management. It is with this reason that you need
to monitor and control how you appear to others. But never
forget that you also need to be straightforward and
‘authentic’.