Why people disguise their identities with avatars on social media sites

Twinky Avatar is one of the sites where people can create their own avatars and use them on social media sites

The move of folks to have avatars to represent themselves has taken over Facebook with more and more people using cartoons or pictures of shrubs or flowers as representing their images.  It's one thing to take on a persona as a real cartoon or new character for fun, but some say it's for their personal security, while others use it as a way to increase their social connections without disclosing who they really are.

 Facebook is not alone in the practice of individuals using avatars rather than pictures of themselves for identification.  Zing.com began with some hoopla, where people could build their own pages, with posts, pictures, full articles and a range of possibilities, but it did not have the momentum Facebook has now.  Furthermore a site called Second Life has used avatars where people can build a second self that can be and do almost anything.  The imaginary world becomes more comfortable than one's own in some instances, as the avatar is able to disguise what the real person looks like and how he or she really behaves.

This is a different process than creating a Mary Poppins character or a Peter Pan who flies with children or an Uncle Remus who tells children stories.  The new way is to use a picture to hide one's own image for some just for fun but for others because of anxiety about security and safety issues.  As Facebook expands its reach, how much more risk is caused by what it does vs. the entire Internet process that is being abused ?

While some people are concerned about Facebook's expansion and believe in having restrictions, many of these same people support people like Julian Assange who exposes everything right down to the government's underwear with the Wikileaks business, that many people believe is the practice of free speech.  Some people also use violent speech, epithets and insults, and those who see their page find only the word "ask" in relationship to their location, relationships or anything that would identify them even as a known person.  The lack of openness  people say they don't like is found acceptable on social media which is in some ways hypocritical in that what people want from others and from their government is often not practiced individually.

Melanie, a 50-something executive  says, "I use a flower as my image because I don't want people to see how I really look.  I'm getting a little overweight, and to tell you the truth I'm a little embarrassed about it."

Yet Melanie sees many people daily in the course of her business.  She has also been featured in several brochures, picture included.  Still she resists showing herself as she really looks on social media.  "Is there a lack of honesty in this approach," she is asked.

Melanie admits to worries that might be unrealistic.  Part of it is vanity, she admits.  "I just can't find the picture of me I like," she says, adding, "Besides I don't like people following me.  Perhaps these reasons are true for many people.  But for others it is a disguise that serves special social needs as well.

Many people worry about their personal security and therefore reduce information that might lead to people knowing really who they are, where they live and what they do.   At the same time they want other people to identify themselves.

But how often does it occur that Facebook users seek personal information in order to be abusive?  Sometimes the one who states they use an avatar to protect their security may in fact be doing it in order to elevate themselves in some area as having expertise in a fashion where it cannot be verified.  Then those who are duped into believing the personality behind the mask is indeed an expert become the protectors of that identity so that anyone questioning the identity of the person, or the expertise, is overcome with abuse for daring to doubt.

This is particularly true when the avatar is a sexy image that can be used to entice the unsuspecting users into believing the person behind the image is truly as beautiful as portrayed.

The facts really are that the Internet provides the best and worst of times for users and abusers alike.  Social media is part of our world and in many ways a world apart.  We are able to create social groups, expand those groups in areas of special interests and even use our groups to build ideas or to protest.  And there are those who fear their personal involvement in a social media group may be discovered by an employer, a spouse or any other significant individual who may be opposed to that involvement.

Avatars are fun for most people who use them.  It is, however, the fact they are misused that can create issues for everyone when face to face contact is absent and only a cartoon takes its place.