Write a blog post about being in two places at once in the digital age. How has this “virtuality” changed our ideas of self, society and community? How might VR social media impact our embodied relationships? If you were going to design a VR social media platform what would it be like? What concerns and/or hopes do you have about the future of a virtual social life?
I believe that virtuality has made people more comfortable to express themselves and be themselves than ever before. The Second Life documentary showed us that many people often view their online personalities or personas are an extension of themselves and they can create just as meaningful of relationships online as they can in person. Many people find it easier to open up to strangers online than people in real life and as a result, virtuality has allowed connections that have influenced millions of people which would not have otherwise occurred. Today, the word community can take on many meanings which are not exclusive to physical locations. Online forums, games, podcasts or talk shows all have their own communities where people can connect just as substantially as pre-internet communities.
That being said, I am concerned as technology advances that deepfake videos have the potential to ruin the trust people put into their online communities and groups. Thankfully it seems that there has been research put towards detecting deepfakes but it still should be something that people should be wary about especially since many deepfakes are created with the intent to spread misinformation or slander others.
Watch this 30 second video about misinformation