Is it safer living in the real world, than in virtual space?

By Jaimi Kitchen

When the internet was first invented in the 1990’s, it was a new and exciting phrase that had everyone talking. Nowadays the internet is a mind field of cyber-attacks, cyber- bullying and cyber- hacking. Goodreads is one of the few virtual spaces that does not express any negative traits of the internet. Users feel safe enough to publish their personal thoughts on books and authors for other to review and comment on.

With the fast-growing demands of the internet also comes the invention of cyber-security. Billions of dollars are invested into cyber-security each year, ranging from military use to personal use. Over the years, there has been many discussions of personal online security and who has the right to access it. For insistence, Julian Assange the creator of WikiLeaks which actions lead to the publication of a series of classified, unclassified military and diplomatic documents. This global situation opened the eyes to many people about the easy accessibility to one’s own personal property and privacy when using the any technological device.

Society now feels more alarmed while online and this starts making people build fake personas in an attempt to hide their true selves in fear that personal information could be easily accessed by anyone. Sherry Turkle presents this attempt to hide in a Tedtalk, she starts by explaining the power of technology and how it psychologically changes us. Turkle (2012) “They don’t only change what we do, they change who we are”, the more society consumes technology, the more we as individuals lose our identity. 

Image credit; Natasha Lomas. (March 1, 2016). Strange sensations; HTC’s brave new virtual world.

In a completely different opinion this week’s lecture discussed the idea that stories can reflect the way in which seeing and knowing the world (Kuttainean, 2017). This notion is built on the several different opinions, for example Tuan (1991, p.686) quotes that “storytelling converts mere objects ‘out there’ into real presences”.

As we become more familiar with technology, as a society we lose that notion of ‘storytelling’ and originality. Storytelling reflects in way in which someone might try to interpret the world, with technology and the internet we lose all sense of originally and is replace with phoniness. With society becoming more addicted to technology it’s understandable to notice fake personas that are displayed and it becomes harder ourselves to make those constant decisions on whether we put our true identities online. Which brings to light why be the same person in real life and the virtual world, when both realities come with different risks and consequences?

Reference List:

  

Kuttainean, V. (2017). BA1002: Our space; Networks, narratives and the making of place, week four notes [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/execute/displayIndividualContent?mode=view&content_id=_2855360_1&course_id=_84764_1

Natasha Lomas. (March 1, 2016). Strange sensations; HTC’s brave new virtual world. [Image]. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2016/03/01/strange-sensations-htcs-brave-new-virtual-world/

Tuan, Y-F. (1991). ‘Language and the making of place’. Annals of the Association of American Geographers. (pp. 664-695)

Turkle, S. (March, 2012). Sherry Turkle: Connected, but alone? [Video File]. Retrieved from
https://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together/discussion