To what extent can you say that there are many people who engage in an online erotic lifestyle that is completely different from their personal life? In this essay, I will explore whether the creation of digital identities affects one's sense of self and how they cope with it mentally.
There have been many studies done that show that people often lead double lives where they behave differently in public than they do at home. Some even create entirely separate personas to suit various situations and social circles. This phenomenon has been named "identity fragmentation" by psychologists and sociologists. Identity fragmentation occurs when someone feels like they need to be different depending on the situation, but those differences contradict each other.
One person may act more extroverted around friends than they do at work. Another person may be very outgoing in real life but shy online. These contradictory behaviors can cause tension within the individual as they try to reconcile both sides of themselves.
The same thing happens for people with digital identities. Someone might post pictures or videos of them being very sexual or kinky on social media platforms such as TikTok or OnlyFans while maintaining a much more conservative image in real life. This discrepancy between their private relational self and their online persona can cause identity fragmentation because these two parts of their lives don't mesh well together. It becomes difficult to keep up appearances in both worlds and leads to feelings of guilt and shame, confusion about who they really are, and anxiety over how others perceive them.
Some creators deal with this by compartmentalizing their lives into separate boxes. They only think about their erotic persona when they're creating content or engaging with fans online. When they step away from the computer or phone, they pretend that side of themselves doesn't exist anymore until it's time to resume again. Others cope by talking to therapists or support groups who understand what they're going through and can help them process their feelings. Still, others distract themselves with activities that take up too much energy so that they don't have time to focus on their inner turmoil.
I hope you found my article helpful! It is important to remember that everyone has different coping mechanisms based on their unique circumstances, but understanding why people do things like create an erotic persona online can provide insight into our culture today where technology plays such an integral role in our everyday lives.
To what extent do creators experience identity fragmentation when their erotic persona online is radically different from their private relational self, and what psychological coping mechanisms emerge?
Creators may feel like they are leading double lives when their erotic persona online is very different from their private relational self, which can lead to identity fragmentation. It is common for individuals to create multiple personas online that reflect different aspects of themselves, but if there is a significant difference between the two, it can be challenging to reconcile them.