Online identity refers to a social identity that internet users establish over online websites and communities. This is also an active construction of one’s identity. People reveal their identity online in different ways. There are some people who prefer to use real names while others choose to use synonyms. This causes the variation in online identity for various people. Maintaining one’s identity with clean record defines concrete online ethnicity. Identity has been supported by various philosophers as concrete ethical issue in online communication. Online identity is defined by the status of one’s communication with colleagues and friends through written or oral messages.
Michael Froomkin who studied philosophy in his university education respects the seriousness of communication. He argues that one’s online identity is determined by the messages he puts up for his colleagues to read or listen to over the internet. It is true that any form of communication is defined by the willingness and ability of individuals engaged in communication to offer excellent platform for communication. The parties involved must be ready to ensure the content of their message is respectful to any individual who initiates a communication via the internet. Abusive messages will always create room for differences as well as shunning any chance of delivering concrete message (Kerr, 2009). However, friendly messages build one’s online identity and there is no way one can get into bad reputation.
Aristotle also argues that online identity attracts positively inclined individuals. In short, he meant that online identity will always determine the kind of friends will consistently interact with over the internet. There are various forces that may define this element. Aristotle argued that messages will always attract people of the same character. With this he meant that people of the same character will always be attracted to each other. This is because they will interact easily and information will always flow since there is purpose for communication. The interaction in online communication also builds the kind of group that follows an individual when it comes to online communication. People must be ready to control the kind of friends they interact with in online communication (McKeon, 1941). If one is willing to stand on concrete communication principles he or she must be ready to relate with positively inclined individuals.
There is a principle that has been analyzed by different philosophers over the internet with Brian Bix being one of them that states that one should never do anything that will make people unhappy. This is an extremely significant saying that has respect over the kind of messages that one should send. One can always maintain his online identity by making the individuals whom he or she communicates with happy all the time they listen or read what he or she has written (Bix, 2012). However, ill messages will always send people away and they would fear being associated to the individual. In this case, one’s online identity is ruined.
Online identity is built by an individual through the social relationship that he or she maintains in a communication with colleagues. During communication the message is extremely significant. Both positive and negative messages during communication have repercussions. This has been supported by a philosophical though posed by Michael Froomkin. According to Aristotle, the message that one posts to his friends defines the kind of friends that one is likely to get or interact with over the internet. Brian Bix being among several philosophers argued that any message over any online form of communication should make parties involved happy. Truly, online identity is defined by the status of one’s communication with colleagues and friends through written or oral messages.
Works Cited
Bix, Brian. Rights: concepts and contexts. Farnham (Surrey): Ashgate, 2012. Print.
Kerr, Ian. Lessons from the identity trail anonymity, privacy, and identity in a networked society. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.
McKeon, Richard. The basic works of Aristotle. New York: Random House, 1941. Print.
