Virtual Communities and Identities in the Digital AgeName:Institutional Affiliation:Virtual Communities and Identities in the Digital AgeIntroductionThe digital age allows users to express their identities in social contexts such as virtual communities. Although the exact definition varies across platforms, core social identities expressed online are more comprehensive and deliberate than those expressed in real life. This makes them complex depictions of the real people behind the masks and further complicates the legal and social processes involved. Social Capital and DisinhibitionSocial capital normally associated with non-virtual relationships has declined significantly as society has become more computerized. It is now possible for individuals to form multiple relationships simultaneously and on the same platforms, and for these connections to remain purely virtual without offering less social capital than if they were non-virtual. Timms (2011) argues that online identities allow individuals to hide behind masks to commit heinous crimes like cyberbullying, cyber-rape, stalking and provide a platform to select victims. On online dating sites, gender swapping is a common experience in which individuals experiment with posing as members of the opposite sex. Although Dennen (2009) highlights the relative infrequency of social interaction and argues that recipients should always obtain contextual cues in virtual communication, this is not always so straightforward. The importance of deception and discovery depends on the actions involved and the level of social interaction. emotional importance between individuals. Although crimes such as virtual rape are rare, the relative anonymity of the online world...... middle of paper ...... internet freedom and the demand for real identities are dedicated to canceling out the gains made on social platforms. This would constitute a violation of the right of expression and, if not limited, would further lead to the erosion of human rights. Virtual communities provide individuals in the digital age with the opportunity to interact without the problems of living or interacting in the real world. For example, because individuals design their own online personas and choose their virtual communities, it is less likely that group dynamics will promote blatant persecution. The extensive effort put into designing an online identity increases the risk that individuals will offer unreliable information. The online mask gives a glimpse of the person behind it; even in cases where the identity is entirely fictitious, we can still learn that the person behind it lacks self-esteem.