The document discusses how social media allows people to curate idealized versions of themselves that do not entirely reflect reality. It explores how people portray carefully edited highlights on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to gain approval from peers. This disconnect between one's virtual persona and true self can negatively impact identity and relationships.

1. The Virtual Me Isn’t The Real Me
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Heather Brownlee

2. Digital sharing allows individuals to create ideal personas that
glorify the good and hide the bad, allowing users to ultimately
share a virtual representation of themselves that is not
entirely accurate.
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3. “Texting and e-mail and
posting let us present the
self we want to be. This
means we can edit. And if
we wish to, we can delete.
Or retouch: the voice, the
flesh, the face, the body.
Not too much, not too
little -- just right.” (11)
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4. Reassurance that we are
conforming to peers is
the reward that we seek
for digital maintenance
since for many, self
worth is based on public
approval and esteem. (6)
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5. “like painters constantly updating
their work, we alter, update and
tweak our online self portraits;
but as digital objects they are far
more ephemeral than oil on
canvas” (6)

6. It seems as though people only feel like themselves
when they are sharing a thought or feeling through
media, even if it is shared before clear in their mind.
Building the thought “I share, therefore I am”. (10)
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7. Unfortunately, social
media cites such as
Instagram, Facebook, and
Snapchat push millennials
to alter their identities in
order to showcase a
version of themselves that
is not completely
accurate. (12)

8. <a href='http://www.freepik.com/free-photo/handsome-young-man-using-his-mobile-phone-in-the-office_1139724.htm'>Designed by Freepik</a>
As humans we are not perfect, but social media gives us an
opportunity to portray ourselves as though we are.

9. <a href='http://www.freepik.com/free-vector/facebook-like-background_1140564.htm'>Designed by Freepik</a>
Social media changes
the way we think.
They encourage us to
alter our real and
virtual selves in order
to get more ‘likes’. (2)

10. <a href='http://www.freepik.com/free-vector/silver-coins-collection_802564.htm'>Designed by Freepik</a>
“ ’Likes’ are the new currency” (1)

12. We try to shape our lives online into
aesthetically pleasing facades that even effects
what we eat. (8)
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13. When individuals food blog they
often only post the pretty and
healthy foods, leaving out what
they truly may eat, like oatmeal,
because it is unappealing visually
or simply does not align with
their image. (8)
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14. Social media use
may also
subconsciously effect
our personalities in
negative ways.
Scientists find that
envy increases due
to Facebook use. (5)
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15. Our virtual selves may be changing our true selves…
As we live in a time of multicommunicating, no one person gets full
attention anymore. This makes us appear rude and untrustworthy when our
smart phones appear to be more interesting than the person speaking in
front of us. (4)
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16. “When people
use their
phones in
social
interactions it
actually hurts
the
conversation.”
(7)
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17. If it is easy to fake an entire Facebook
profile, it is extremely easy to fake
small aspects of a profile.
"Facebook admits that a
mind-boggling 83 million
Facebook profiles - 8.7
percent of all profiles - are
fakes or dupes.” (9)
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18. <a href='http://www.freepik.com/free-photo/smiling-schoolboy-holding-a-blank-placard_913579.htm'>Designed by Freepik</a>
Parents who post about their child may be unintentionally
creating their child’s permanent digital identity. (3)

19. It is important to be mindful
when creating our digital
identities.
1. Remember that every
post is permanently on
the web
2. The Internet is not always
a truthful place
3. Your self value is more
than just a virtual “like”
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20. <a href='http://www.freepik.com/free-photo/two-beautiful-young-woman-friends-using-digital-tablet-at-home_1139832.htm'>Designed by Freepik</a>
Always remember, your virtual self is never as
important as the real-life you.

21. Works Cited
1) Anderssen, Erin. "This Is Sabrina". The Globe and Mail 2017. Web. 1 June 2017.
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24. Image Citation
All images are from freepik
"Freepik - Free Graphic Resources For Everyone". Freepik. N.p., 2017.
Web. 1 June 2017. http://www.citethisforme.com