In this day and age when it comes to social networking and social interaction online, almost anyone can play. Similar to the old fashioned board game “Guess Who” social networking has become a game to numerous online users. This is evident as the internet can be described as a vast ocean where millions of participants are free to create identities that are either true or false.Therefore guessing identities today proven to be much more of a struggle compared to the “The Mystery Face Game” we played as children.
However regardless of the identity portrayed there is no denying performing any identity can impact and influence an individual. Goffman (1959) said that identity –as- performance links to social interaction as some often create identity performances similar to personal background/environment. Thus when one individual is connecting with another individual online it is probably because of the comparable characteristics and attributes they each have in common. Boyd’s (2006) theory of identity as performance in both the front stage and back stage explores why individuals would rather talk in a front stage atmosphere (public) or a back stage atmosphere (public).
The best way to convey the differences between a public and a private stage would be to use the glass bedroom metaphor -a fantasy mirrored bedroom where intimate online conversations take place. Inside this room each of the four walls are completely glass and symbolize the following; a private place where one person can play different versions of themselves eg the reflections in the mirror, and also a public place as each reflections represent a endless virtual solar system (the internet) where everything is recorded. So all in all it is true that the board game “Guess Who” has become a reality in the online world. Moreover, the power of identity- as -performance can either be negatively used to deceive other or positively to network, bond and connect socially.
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