Root
Exploring virtual environments and self-identity
to design a better digital self-representation
Master's Degree Thesis
Master's Degree Thesis
An exploration of the psycological elements that characterize the human identity analyzed in relation to the behaviours on the digital world.Â
How can we promote the exchange of ideas, knowledge and skills to develop innovative and valuable projects?
Problem Understanding
There is a discrepancy between the theory of the metaverse and its reality, with multiple realities competing, leading to a lack of a unified space for identities.
This problem highlights the broader issue of self-representation in the digital world and the need for a better solution for digital identity management that promotes privacy, digital equality, and freedom of representation.
Scenario
The market recognizes the problem of connecting digital platforms and the need to map the digital footprint. Still, it acts only on the linking issue without reflecting on the identity aspect behind the accounts.
Goal
Understand self-representation and identity and explore whether there is a space for designing a better digital self-representation solution in the crowded world of virtual environments.
Research Question
How do virtual environments impact self-identity and behavior, and how can this inform the design of interventions for an improved experience in digital identities?
Meet individuals’ basic needs for them to fully develop their identity.
(Maslow, 1968)
Acting on identity impacts on individuals at different stages of life, with a particular focus on adolescence.
(Erikson, 1968)
Philosophy emphasizes the need to foster psychological connections among people and to promote long-term well-being.
(Parfit, 1984)
Adopt a positive humanistic psychological approach. Self-concept theory, self-esteem, group membership, and personal characteristics are crucial components of self-identity.
(Kožnjak, 2016; Lewis, 1990; Rodrigues et al., 2015; Rogers, 1946)
Modern literature notes the potential for stereotyping, privacy concerns, and digital inequalities and emphasizes the need for inclusivity and accessibility.
(Robinson, 2017; Hochschild, 1979)
Primary Research
The survey and interviews underline the importance of people being perceived as they are in real life. This is considered a possibility but should not limit people’s expression.
Relevant consideration
Even if acting on virtual identity has a possibility of helping personal growth, the negative impact of judgments from people and external environments on self-representation and identity is highly damaging.
It is crucial to develop a system that ensures freedom of expression, protection, and the absence of stereotyping.Consider roles, groups, and values to avoid discrimination and bias while creating a sense of community.
It is also essential to respect privacy and design environments that allow better privacy management, respecting private spaces, and managing old content.
Concept
A virtual environments connector platform to make people with high usage of virtual environments experiencing a more authentic and balanced virtual life.
Avatar
Focus: authentic representation of the self.
Tests generated a debate regarding the limitation on uploading photos, but they positively validate the benefits of avoiding discrimination and freedom of representation.
The look can be declined in different avatars. People prefer to resemble their authentic selves, with enhanced attractiveness. Users tend to be consistent with their offline identity while occasionally creating a platform-specific self-representation.
(Freeman & Maloney, 2021; Messinger et al., 2018; Morgan et al., 2020)
Different bios, names, passions and pronouns
Test suggests the ability to add pronouns to address sensitivity issues. Users positively reviewed the ability to appear in different ways and consider adding a link to support people.
Personalization and a more diverse range of customizable pronouns and identities outside the binary are crucial for reflecting and solidifying gender identity through avatars
(Freeman & Maloney, 2021; Messinger et al., 2018; Morgan et al., 2020)
Ensure freedom of representation
Users with a technical background saw it as proof of extreme safety for the entire service, while those with a more superficial knowledge of privacy expressed skepticism.
Users accepted that the service could be used without certification, with some limitation.
Users are becoming more aware of their privacy settings and taking active steps. Privacy control significantly affects social privacy concerns, not institutional ones. There is a growing need to focus on the privacy implications on mobile apps, to practice transparency and provide adequate protecting measures.
(Freeman & Maloney, 2021; Messinger et al., 2018; Morgan et al., 2020)
Creation and Management of Social Groups
Add people, share different info and platforms, represent as you are.
Users appreciated the possibility to see common platforms with others and the double view of groups. They suggested improvements on possibility to filter and find users esilly to improve the quality of the interactions.
Connections Management
Users appreciated the simple and honest approach to suggesting reviewing central content and found it helpful and promising for its possible evolutions.
Interaction with others
Users appreciated the profile overview and espressed the nice opportunity to promote new connections from real life.
They were concerned about the visualization of locked environments and suggested overhauling it to avoid discrimination.
Users saw high potential for the service to help connect with new people and desired a QR code or scanning feature.
There is a need to foster positive psychological connections and to promote long-term well-being.
(Parfit, 1984)
Chat
Users wanted a more complete and rich interactive experience with others, leading to the review and empowerment of the main tab previously related to instant messaging.
Exclusive feature for verified IDs.
Possibility to see the other’s pronouns.
There is a need to foster positive psychological connections and to promote long-term well-being.
(Parfit, 1984)
Concept Validation
Feedback showed that users found the service exciting and desirable for personal and professional contexts, as it provided control on their digital footprint and security in online environments.
Users compared it favorably to other services, including LinkTree, and praised its carefulness regarding sensitive topics.
Sustainability and Ethic
Gender inclusivity is essential,
as labeling can limit self-expression.
Avatars promote inclusivity and avoid competition over physical appearance.
Avatar can facilitate the consolidation of gender identity.
(Freeman & Maloney, 2021; Messinger et al., 2018; Morgan et al., 2020)
Sustainability and Ethic
Promoting healthier and more coscious use of virtual environments can end in a reduction of energy consumption, thanks also to features like the content overview. The app is designed to not be used massively, making the managment of virtual platform lighter and healthier. Dark mode can also impact.
Future Developments
The reliability of findings should be verified with more exhaustive studies
Quantitative data collected needs to be more statistically reliable
Translate the concept into a high-fidelity prototype and test it across a wider range.
Accessibility guidelines need to be tested and developed
Develop functionalities for younger people to help them gain awareness of their digital footprint
Consider the opportunities of the after-life digital-self management
Next Project
