Do people behave differently when they are online?
By besweet
@besweet (9859)
Ireland
August 23, 2012 8:28am CST
Internet is very powerful and it connects people from all over the world. But it's also different from other communication media because it allows to people to keep their details personal. Sometimes people tend to have a different behaviour when they are online comparing to their actions in real life.
I think that there is a different kind of freedom that internet offers to its users, because they have unlimited possibilities while being anonymous. Some people might take advantage of this and purposely show a different character that's not the same when it's compared to their life. Others might just present themselves as something that doesn't really exists, or they pretend to be who they would like to be. Others, just feel free to show things that they are afraid to show in their life because they are afraid of social rejection for example.
Do you think that people behave in a different way when they are online, because they are offered with this "freedom"?
2 people like this
17 responses
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
24 Aug 12
No,I mean there are people online,especially on Facebook that I already know personally.I have made plans with some people that I do not know personally to meet in person.There are people that I do not know face to face,but I have known online for a long time, I have spoke to on the phone.
2 people like this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
24 Aug 12
Over the years I have been fortunate to meet quite a few of friends-met-online-first and all have been as real face-to-face as they were online. A few of these are really good friends now, online and offline.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
23 Aug 12
Hmm.. I've never actually met personally anyone that I've initially met online! I think that the base of the character might be the same, but the way every person express themslelves online might be completely different comparing to their offline personality. I guess the same happens with all the media as well! For example people that are exposed in tv, sometimes are totally different persons behind the cameras. Internet gives a different kind of exposure though because of the option to stay anonymous, but the acts and behaviour might change in both cases.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
23 Aug 12
I think that some people behave differently when they are online. If you are shy in real life it might be easier for you to express yourself online and your online personality might be more outgoing that your real personality. When I was a teenager I was very shy. There were no internet at that time, but if I had had the chance to communicate with people online I am pretty that it would have been a lot easier for me. Some people use the internet to create a kind of fantasy life and they pretend that they have the kind of lifestyle that they have always dreamed about. Some girl from a discussion site in my country created a fake profile and made up a life that she found more interesting that her own life. She carried on for months and she wrote a lot of discussions about her "life" (which never existed)
2 people like this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
23 Aug 12
I think that this happens all the time online, but we never find out about it! However I think it's good when people feel more comfortable to communicate and express themselves. It's just not right when the online profile of the person is based on a lie. But generally, finding a way to express genuine and real ideas online is good for a person that's too shy to do this offline. If he/she finds approval, then it's easier to become confident at offline life as well.
I didn't have internet as a teenager as well, but I think my character was similar to yours!
@cagampan1991 (364)
• Philippines
24 Aug 12
Yes I really believe that most people act differently when they are online. Some even use different names and photos just to impress. Yes, i believe that many people act differently when they are using social networking sites just to impress the viewers or other users. But I also believe that there are still at least, people who act who they really are when using the internet.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
24 Aug 12
Besweet, when we have internet at home, we are given the chance to get to know more people without meeting them face to face. So in short, people who are having shy character become more open to chat. They don't have to feel shy and scared to get to know more people. That's the way how internet able to change a person's behavior. I must said indeed people behave differently when they are online. Because i see myself had changed quite a lot since i joined this friendly site.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
24 Aug 12
Thank your for your comment! I also believe that the safety of our home makes us more open and social when we are online. When I first joined this site I wasn't so sure if I would be able to express myself and become a valuable member of this community. I was only responding to a few discussions but as the time passes, I realise that each member is accepted here for who they are and all opinions are respected.
@liuyh0619 (108)
• China
24 Aug 12
I think many people behave much differnt when they are online. In fact, they just try to boast about something which they lack of.For example, Some people arn't rich in the life, but they always show off their luxurios lives. Maybe they just act totally different way online compare with offline because they can stay anonymous.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
24 Aug 12
I guess that this might happen as well, but nothing stays hidden for too long. If someone is full of lies, it's too hard to keep up with inconsistencies and sooner or later the reality will be revealed! A reason that I don't like lying is because there is always a moment that you'll come to this position and have to admit that what you said was a lie. We shouldn't put ourselves in this difficult situation, therefore it's better to try and be honest and avoid lies.
@enjoythejourney (524)
• United States
24 Aug 12
I do think people act differently when they are online. I think this is especially true of people who are responding to discussions. When there is no face to fact contact, people form less first options as they can not see the person they are communicating with. Thus, I think we respond more to the discussion and less to the person.
Just my humble 2 cents.
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
24 Aug 12
Personal contact and eye contact can reveal so many things about us. That's why I appreciate people that look me in the eye when they speak!
This kind of contact doesn't happen when you are online and everyone feels more comfortable! I hadn't thought about who we respond to, but I guess you are right. When we have no idea about the other person, we respond to the discussion. But even in comunities like this one, we become familiar with each other, especially with the active member. So I guess that after some time we can also respond to the person and not only the discussion.
@YamiKiba (937)
• United States
24 Aug 12
Yes there's no doubt about that a lot of people act a lot differently or at least slightly differently online that they do offline. It is easier to be more open online than it is offline certainly. At least when people criticize you online, they'll be criticizing your opinion rather than attacking your personal character because unless you get close to someone and start knowing them more on a personal level which you should be careful on who you get close to online. Online friendships tend to get serious so you should be wary on who you trust with real information or you might get some weird stalkers who might end up tracking your location lol.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
24 Aug 12
I tend to avoid giving very personal info online but I think that if someone has the knowledge and the tehnology it's easy to trace other people! That is because we give our info to multiple sites and we tend to share our location on facebook or the name of the places where we hang out.
We all feel more comfortable online, the fact that we are in our personal space and in front of our computer screen offers a feeling of safety. So we know that if we feel uncomfortable there is always the option to close the page and move on. This isn't the case in the offline relationships though that's why it's more difficult to work with them and keep them.
@angelkarah050182 (4980)
• Philippines
23 Aug 12
Yes, it's possible for people to behave in a different way. It's easy for them to express what they want especially in chatting with people all over the world or writing their ideas such as here in myLot. They have freedom to do what they want and to behave any way they want. Happy myLotting.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
23 Aug 12
Thank you for your comment! I'd like to belive that people are honest and show their real personality online. It's good when they express themselves through internet and feel comfortable enough to do that. But I don't appreciate it when internet users take advantage of this freedom and go beyond the limits. This is unacceptable in real life and I'd like to believe that the same rules apply online as well.
Happy mylotting!
@chookie1971 (2271)
• Australia
23 Aug 12
If you were to meet me in real life, I am a very shy person. I don't speak much until I start to feel comfortable. But online, I am loud and out going at times. Even a bit crazy. So the answer to your question if it is relating to me, yes, people do behave differently when they are online.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
23 Aug 12
Where do you think this change comes from? Is it because of the freedom that internet provides to the users?
I think it's good that you are more comfortable and express yourself better online, someday you should let this interesting and crazy personality come out at your everyday life as well!
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
24 Aug 12
I guess some are different online from offline, but not me. I am pretty much me wherever I am, online and offline. I am also pretty much an open book, inviting others to read me and write their own book review, so to speak. Online or off, others will get to know the pages of my life pretty quickly and they can decide for themselves whether to add me to their collection of good books--or not!
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
24 Aug 12
It looks like you have a good balance between your online and offline life! People that are open to others and easy to understant are also fun to hang out with! I like this kind of people because "you get what you see", and I won't be surprised one day from their behaviour. They also know who they are and they don't need to hide parts of their personality which means that they feel good about themselves and they have confidence! I admire this type of personality in people.
@swissheart (6482)
• Romania
23 Aug 12
yes...definitely. internet offers you the posibility to be whoever you want. there are people who are shy in the real life and feel more comfortable in front of the computer. plus internet also offers you the posibility to take another identity
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
24 Aug 12
Internet gives us many opportunities it is up to each one of us how we are going to use them! We can be honest and real, work with our character and gain more confidence through our online activities, or creat an imaginary character that we'd like to have, but at the end it's just based on imagination.
@Amandaputri1133 (140)
• Indonesia
24 Aug 12
well, mostly people act different from their character in cyber world. it's like an escape from real life and here, they feel accepted. this happened for people that spend most of their time in cyber world. but, for other people, they just be like they are because they use internet for special purpose only, example: for business or maintain long distance relationship with friends, so the friends/ colleagues already know their character in real life. but, for me, whatever the choice, as long as it's not disturbing others and can be positive, it's still Ok :)
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
24 Aug 12
It's nice to have a place where you can express yourself more easily. We'va all passed both stages I think, there are periods in my life when I spend a lot of time online and I stay at home a lot, and other times I just use the internet for research and work. It actually depends on how busy I am, because I always feel like communicating with other people in the online community, I find it educating to discuss with people from all over the world.
@freedang (320)
• China
24 Aug 12
of course they do.take myself for a example.i have a lots friends in the real world.but i dont think they can understand me everytime when i am upset.there are situations when i want to cry but i must pretend i am ok or happy beside them.so i will seek comfort through online ,just like MYLOT etc.what's more,someone maybe very interested in the noline tech.so they just feel excited when they are online.and they just find their advantagment in here
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
24 Aug 12
In some situations we can't show our real feelings to other people. And we feel the need to talk to someone, friends can give us valuable advice but they can't always understand us. Mylot offers me this comfort as well, I can share things that I keep inside in my life. Maybe only a few people know most of them, but everyone has a busy life and we don't always have time to share all of our problems with friends! Mylot is always here for us :)
@Dan_deadbones (61)
• Philippines
24 Aug 12
Seen the comments in most youtube videos? There couldn't be a video uploaded without mean comments from someone no matter what it is. I don't suppose (and I really hope I'm right) that people are that mean in the real world.
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
24 Aug 12
Yes, I'm sure it happen. I think it can also go the opposite way to what you said about people being someone they are not online. Even in real life people put on a front and are too afraid to say what they really want to. Those people might feel more at ease putting their true thoughts and selves online because they aren't with that person on the other end of the screen.
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
24 Aug 12
Hi friend, yes, most of the peoples don't show their real characters and behaviors in online, they are entirely different in online and real life, as you mentioned we have the ability to change our nature while using internet, some people take it as their advantage and show their fake face in online sites
