On anomynity and persona
So we live through the quotes in our bio, through the snapshots with a filter on our stories, through carefully edited highlight reels.
I saw this image just now, it reminds me of why I created my blog, FB page, or any social account (this one included). It’s for me to have any place to write my thoughts out, as authentically as possible, without an audience. An anonymous creative outlet, if you could call it that.
It’s not an easy thing to do, as I came to realize over the years. The minute anyone knew of my online presence and proceeded to follow me, I froze. It's almost as if I’m no longer able to be honest, whether I’m writing about something concerning my followers or not. I don’t mind judgment, or being notorious (one can never control what others think of them anyway).
A fear of being perceived, maybe.
A resistance against the possibility of expectations, probably.
A boundary to protect my real inner self, definitely.
Isn’t it funny? To be living in a time where people would share every minuscule detail of their lives for attention and admiration, yet all I wish for is to remain unknown, unseen, unnoticed. With every personal info we have used for an online presence and every platform connected to another, perhaps anonymity is the true privilege after all.
It is fascinating to observe, really, how people behave with the existence of social media. Almost like a magnification of societal (or personal) standards. We wish to be seen as good and kind, interesting and ambitious, attractive and intelligent. So we live through the quotes in our bio, through the snapshots with a filter on our stories, through carefully edited highlight reels. Go on someone’s socials and you could learn a lot about a person (or at least what they want you to know), sometimes more than if you meet them in real life.
What is the point of documenting your life online when your account is at the mercy of corporations and hackers? when your accounts are only as temporary as your mortality?
What is the meaning of exhibiting the supposedly “best moments of your life” when you will hide/delete everything if things turn sour or when you don’t get the happy-ever-after you were building upon? Would those “best moments” be not worthy of remembrance anymore? Or would you try and recreate similar moments with another person, another group of friends, in another city or country?
Learning about the reasons people come up with to justify their constant need for validation is interesting. Because we would not admit that attention and validation are part of the reason for this obsession with crafting this perfect persona on display. Because memories are multi-faceted and subjective, we must gain control of the narrative and label it as our own as soon as possible.
In that case, what can you infer about me (if you know my online presence by any chance)? Would I be lazy or mysterious if I didn’t post anything about my life? Would I be self-conscious or nonchalant if I only shared random glimpses of myself? Could you draw out my persona from bits and pieces of my online presence? If so, what purpose would that serve you? or me?