The recent rise of social media in China has seen many people choose the same account with an avatar to prevent leakage of personal information, thus increasing the individual's "freedom of speech" on social media (because no one knows who you are).
This phenomenon has led us to think about the uniqueness, ownership and privacy of virtual identities. Can we become our ideal selves in the virtual world without any repercussions? Can virtual identities be copied? Can forged virtual identities effectively protect personal privacy?
Based on the above questions, we conceptualise a future world that responds to these challenges. In such a world, virtual identity becomes a commodity that can be bought and sold. However, these virtual products may be at risk of being copied or stolen. We will delve into the specific nature of virtual identities and explore their impact on social media and the digital world.
Our project will focus on the following areas:
The Malleability of Virtual Identities: Investigating the malleability of virtual identities in the future, and the implications of this malleability for personal privacy and social experiences.
Virtual Identity Markets: Investigating the workings of the market for buying and selling virtual identities, and understanding the impact of this market on individual's freedom and privacy.
Virtual Identity Security: Explore the issue of virtual identity security, including copying, theft and other potential risks, as well as possible solutions and precautions.
By delving into these aspects, we hope to provide insights into the future of virtual identities in social media and digital societies, and explore possible solutions to safeguard the rights of individuals and the healthy development of society.
