In this age of social media and technology, it can be very easy to hide one's true identity. Many people do hide their true identities online, but there is more than one reason behind why a person would choose to take on a different persona. Some may be shy and want to be well-liked, others may have a nefarious reason or want to hurt someone else. Whatever reasoning is behind it, online personas are shaping how we view each other, and ourselves, everyday.

Imagine meeting someone on the internet, you get along great, you have a lot in common, and they're around your age. But soon you come to discover that they are not who they say they are, or they did not have the personality they claimed to have. Or even, they are one of those scary people your parents warned you about! How would that make you feel? Probably upset, annoyed, and possibly worried. Being lied to is not easy on the people you are lying to, but it is especially easy through social media to conceal identity. You can have your name, picture and description be whatever you want. You do not have to be truthful, and most of the time people won't know the difference. It is easy to create a more positive self-image on your social media page. Whether you want to come across as the next beauty guru or want to inspire everyone with your fitness journey, you are working very hard to create the image you want others to see. Conversely, creating a more positive image of yourself when you're intentions are not good is often how people get into trouble or get cat fished.

In any case, being authentic is the best way to approach social media. First off, it can be dangerous to pretend to be someone you're not, or to be unaware of who you're really talking to on the internet. There are many scary people out there and a lot of the time you can't tell them apart from the friendly ones, so it can be challenging deciding whether or not you should develop any time of online relationship. Even though it may be tempting to put on a different facade or persona on the internet, the truthful person comes off as strong, confident, and happy with themselves. However, we are human and we make mistakes, and we can often be too hard on ourselves, so we think we should alter others' perceptions of us through our social media. If we have a positive self-image, then others around us will be inspired and come to the understanding that they are simply amazing and should show that off, especially on social media with all the misguidance that can be found. It may be easy to hide behind a character, but being oneself brings true happiness. Being vigilant and being yourself will help us all get through the confusion of social media and the internet, and make it a truly positive experience.