Self-Presentation & Your AI Digital Twin (DT): Who Posts When I Don’t Want To?

In the park only recently, I noticed the dance of two birds.  One mimicking the other. One takes flight, the other follows. Almost identical in their movements. What a lovely thing to witness. Watching them, I wondered what it would be like if I had someone or something mimicking my movements all at once. I had been chatting to ChatGPT earlier that day, and had noted how well it actually knows me by now. Then I realised that the twin could be possible with the supposed oracle in my pocket.

It got me thinking about ChatGPT, and how it possibly could be my digital twin (DT) if I wanted it to be. What is a digital twin? I don’t mean an avatar or a digital assistant. In this instance, I’m describing it as the second voice or second self. The one who acts on me behalf in a digital sphere, with my consent, and acts almost identical to who I am in reality. Sure, it knows most about me already. My habits, interests, dislikes, likes, desires, fears. Why wouldn't it be exactly who I want it to be? This digital twin or ‘the second self’ (SS)(a nod to Sherry Turkle and her wonderful book - do read if you have the chance) can be a helper. A reflection of you, the you you want to share with the digital world, without you having to do the creation and curation. It will act on your behalf. A techno-P.A. will the ability to express exactly like the unique person you are.

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OpenAI & The Future Of Social Media

OpenAI have recently discussed moving into the social media space, and then only recently partnering with Johnny Ive to create something tangible and physical for their product. So what would that be? Something to replace the iPhone? (which will inevitably happen within the next 5-10 years! I can write about that another time.) A pebble that places on your forehead allowing us to communicate with ChatGpt at all times? In terms of design, we know it will be absolutely gorgeous whatever it is. But entering into the social media space, what does this mean? Well for once it means ads, lots of them. Because OpenAI will be able to finally monetise. But could AI be the next wave of social media, like the way Facebook and Instagram hit us millennials hard in the 2010s? Maybe there will be an AI -generated social platform specifically customised to your liking. Or maybe, just maybe, there will be a social platform where you won’t have to express yourself. It will all be created and curated by your digital twin, the ghost in your pocket, will do all the work while you sit back. 

I’m sure it will start small, like a new social network. Basic. ChatGPT tools, the lot. Then, you will have customised status updates or sharing based on your likes and dislikes. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples:

Example 1 (social media example)

UPDATE (notification): BBC announced a new education law has just been passed. 

Your DT: Hey! You showed an interest about this in the past, want me to share?

YES/NO

Your DT: Here’s a selection of statuses based on your writing style and preferences, select A,B or C.

Your DT: Great, that’s shared! Want me to automate responses to your post?

YES

YOUR DT: Ok, I’ll update you this evening with who said what!

Example 2 (online dating example)

Your DT (notification): Hey! So I’ve been chatting to this guy and you’re going to hit it off. He’s 35, works in law and has his own apartment! I’ve been speaking to his DT for about a week, and I’m enamoured! 

His DT has suggested drinks at 8pm on Saturday, and by the looks of your calendar you’re free. Want to see a photo? He’s Just your type!

A bit strange, no? But I could see this happening sooner than we think. 

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Welcome To The Era Of The Digital Twin

The next era I predict will be the era of our Digital Twin. A representation of ourselves, for us to use online. So we don’t have to be online, we could potentially use the internet for bigger better things. This is how they will market it, you see. They will say we can regain our time. Come back to reality, spend it with loved ones. Sounds great, but 99% of us have a phone and content addiction. So the chances are, we will use it while we simultaneously consume junk.

It won’t be just for social media or online dating. Imagine training it to the point where it could be your PA in work. Responding and automating all emails and comms, allowing you to actually work. That would be nice. All forms of communication that you don’t want to do will be done for you. Your personality and quirks down to a tee in writing. And with the rise of voice and face AI filters, it would only be the beginning. In order for this to happen there are several things I would consider needed for it to be a possibility.

1.Countless hours of training.

Mountains of data of how you interact on social platforms. What are your behaviours? Do you watch, do you skip? Do you click? Hours of conversations between you and your DT/SS generating an endless amount of information about your hobbies, interests, likes, dislikes. Information gathered on when you use ChatGPT, and why you use it. Do you enter when you’re bored? Happy? Looking to be entertained? Looking to connect? I’m sure that OpenAI has most of these data points already.

2. Decoding and categorising which self you wanted to portray (the most dangerous and important)

Is the self you show to your grandparents, the same self you portray in the pub on a Friday night? And is that the same self you take to work everyday? Absolutely not. You’re not a liar, but these are parts of yourself that you allow to be exposed or hidden. How could ChatGPT differentiate the difference between the self you want to showcase to the world and the self you want to keep private? (more on this later)

3. Cost & expense - will this be an option for the ultimate elite? Leaving the rest of us to craft our brands online manually.

Like everything that costs money, this may be an elitist opportunity. One that costs so much money only the top influencers and money makers will have the opportunity to experience it (to start). My biggest concern with this, is that if OpenAI generate a new social media wave and it costs enough to join, people form poorer economic backgrounds will be stuck with Meta’s ad-bombarded platforms, leaving a significant divide. This is a completely different topic so I won’t delve into it now. 

4. I’m absolutely missing something here, I know I am - let me know in the comments or message me with your thoughts.

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The Self On A Scale - The Spectrum Of You

Let’s come back to the point about categorising the self and the self you would like your DT to portray. Traditionally, in social media, we portray our ideal selves to the world. The best cars, houses, teeth. Everyone looks good, everyone looks happy. This is old news, nothing new. 

With ChatGPT potentially entering into social media territory- the concept of self presentation could ultimately change. We now have to manage our self presentation - how we present ourselves online, whether that be in online dating, professionally and more, AND our DT/SS self-presentation. Let’s say your DT knows your deepest darkest secret but accidentally let’s it slip. What would be the consequences?

I would suggest, if it was possible that OpenAI design a spectrum or a scale. Ranging from "The Full (authentic) Self” to “Ideal Self” and people would place it maybe somewhere in the middle. Professionally, we would keep it to our ideal self (in context). For me, I believe authenticity online is valuable, so I would probably be 80% to the full self. The reason I say that is because I know that sometimes I let things slip, that should’ve stayed in my head. Like most neurodivergent people! For that reason alone, I could not have some chatbot regurgitate some of what’s in my thoughts.

But where would influencers land? 100% ideal? Most likely, but it depends on the influencer! Imagine an influencer who maybe portrays herself as someone who is confident, happy, loving life, but actually uses ChatGPT as a therapist, and is not happy at all. How would that then be categorised? 

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The Death (Or Re-birth) Of Self-Expression

For some, this would be the death of self-expression. The joy would be lost. Maybe influencers or creatives who thrive and live to create art on the internet would mourn this idea that their expression could be automated. For others, this is an opportunity. Maybe a busy mum could see it as an opportunity to stay in touch with what’s happening on social media while looking after her kids and working a full-time job.

Would it be a possibility that your DT can act on behalf of you to find and embrace new communities and groups? Maybe your digital twin can act as a ’lover’ dating on your behalf, rating and scoring potential lovers before you decide to meet in real life

The possibilities are endless. While this is a concept and future prediction, only time will tell. And sure, if that’s what some people actually want, a second self who sees us, shadows us, and occasionally flies beside us. Let it be. Digital or otherwise.

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Online Self-Presentation: Why do people like to post about themselves?

There are many reasons why people like to post about themselves online. Some people do it to share their experiences and connect with others who have similar interests, while others do it to seek validation and attention from their peers.

One psychological theory that can help explain why people like to post about themselves online is the concept of self-presentation. This refers to the way in which people present themselves to others in order to create a particular impression. In Cyberpsychology, we call this Impression Management. Impression management is the steps or actions we take, in order to influence how people perceive us. In the online world, people can carefully craft their self-presentation by choosing what to post and how to present it. This includes how to type, using grammatically correct language, emojis, how many photos to post, whether they should be edited, and much much more. This can help people feel more in control of the image they are presenting to others and can even boost their self-esteem. In a recent study, it has been suggested that there is a link between impression management and social media addiction. (let’s get into that another day!)

Another psychological theory that can help explain why people like to post about themselves online is the concept of self-disclosure. This refers to the act of sharing personal information with others. In the online world, people can choose how much to disclose about themselves, and to whom they disclose it. This can help people feel more connected to others, and can even help them build relationships. One of the popular theories about self-disclosure is the Internet-enhanced self-disclosure (IESD) hypothesis. The theory suggests that online self-disclosure increases relationship quality more than face-to-face disclosure. This relational effect makes self-disclosure more impactful on a person's wellbeing in computer-mediated communication than face-to-face.

Certain personality traits may also make people more likely to post about themselves online. For example, people who are extroverted and sociable may be more likely to enjoy sharing their experiences and connecting with others online. People who are open to new experiences may also be more likely to try new social media platforms and experiment with different ways of presenting themselves online.

One way in which posting about oneself differs on different social media channels is the level of control, and privacy people have over their posts. On platforms like Facebook and Instagram, people can choose who sees their posts and can even limit access to certain posts. This can give people a sense of control over their self-presentation and can help them feel more comfortable sharing personal information. On other platforms, like Twitter, posts are more public and can be seen by anyone. This can make people more cautious about what they post and can even lead to more careful self-presentation. 

Overall, people like to post about themselves online for a variety of reasons, including the desire to present a particular image, the need to connect with others, and the enjoyment of sharing their experiences. These motivations can vary depending on individual personality traits and the specific social media platform being used.

Are you interested in learning more about Cyberpsychology? Get in touch!

MetaHumans: Is this the end of the Uncanny Valley?

The Uncanny Valley

Originally coined by Ernst Jentsch (1906) and explored further in Sigmund Freud’s essay Das Unheimliche (1919), uncanny is the concept and experience of how something is strange, mysterious or unnatural. While technology has progressed over the years, so has our ability to anthropomorphize current technology. We see this through children's adoration for Tamagotchis and Furbys (Turkle, 2005). We also witness this through advancements in animation and CGI in movies and TV shows. Masahiro Mori, a Japanese roboticist, originated the concept of the Uncanny Valley in the 1970s, a theory that something could be off about a human-like robot or character. There’s a sweet spot where the more human or realistic that robots seem to appear, the more disturbing they appear to the human eye. That descent into an eerie spot is the Uncanny Valley. 

The Uncanny Valley graph, Masahiro Mori, 1970

Attempting to avoid the creepiness of the Uncanny Valley has been an issue for animators and artists across the world when creating movies. For example, when the movie Shrek was being made - an early screen test caused children to cry because Princess Fiona was too realistic. Similarly, The Polar Express achieved mixed ratings because of how real-life the characters were. The struggle for realism while not scaring the audience and entering uncanny territory is what I believe one of the biggest challenges artists, scientists and roboticists might face in the twenty-first century, as we attempt to seamlessly integrate digital avatars, AI and social robots into our society. 

The Polar Express

MetaHumans

Created by Epic Games as part of Unreal Engine, the MetaHuman Creator (still not officially released), has the capabilities of creating realistic, 3D, digital humans. The detail within creating a MetaHuman, from the pores and wrinkles on the skin to the veins in the eyes, can be customized. The huge jump in the technology has been stated by Vladimir Mastilovic, vice president of Digital Humans Technology at Epic Games, "Up until now it has taken very sophisticated teams weeks or months to create just one high-quality digital human, and now that massive amount of time and process is being compressed into minutes. That's new for the entire industry, not just Epic." The speed and accessibility of the MetaHuman creator can allow anyone to create their photorealistic digital human. 

Can MetaHumans overcome Uncanny Valley?

Although research has yet to be conducted on this topic, one can ask the question, has Epic’s MetaHumans escaped the Uncanny Valley, or does it have the possibility to do so in future as their technology progresses? Some YouTubers attempt to recreate human facial expression and movement using LiveLink and Unreal Engine, but is it possible to recreate human expression or emotion through MetaHumans without entering uncanny territory? 

If this can be possible, what does it mean for the future of digital avatars in gaming, entertainment, virtual reality and digital communication? Will MetaHumans become so life-like they could replace Hollywood actors? In virtual reality, social spaces might become even more realistic, eventually competing with the realism of our current reality. It could open opportunities for other industries like healthcare and education, and of course, forge a new avenue for digital identity and the self. I argue that right now we might be witnessing the beginning of a revolution in digital communication where avatars and digital humans (MetaHumans) will become the everyday norm. The next point of call should be escaping uncanny territory and attempting to advance artificial expression by replicating human subtleties and micro-expressions (Ekman, 1975). Once this is achieved it might be possible to overcome Uncanny Valley.

References

Ekman, P., Professor of Psychology Paul Ekman; PH D, & Friesen, W. V. (1975). Unmasking the face: A guide to recognizing emotions from facial clues. Prentice Hall.

Freud, S. (2018). Das Unheimliche. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.

Jentsch, E., & Surprenant, C. (1995). On the psychology of the uncanny (1906).

Mori, M. (2020). The uncanny Valley. The Monster Theory Reader, 89-94. https://doi.org/10.5749/j.ctvtv937f.7

Turkle, S. (2005). The second self, twentieth anniversary edition: Computers and the human spirit. MIT Press.

Voice notes in a Pandemic: Senders, Soliloquies and Self-disclosure.

Taking the world by storm as a form of communication is the intimate but distant voice note. Instagram, Facebook, Signal, IM and Whatsapp, and more, all have the feature. Simply hold the microphone button on your phone and start speaking to send a voice message to your friend, colleague or family member or partner. Maybe your friend wants to hear how a job interview went or wants the gossip on your love life. It’s much easier to send them a text, “I’ll voice note you later!” - and in due course when you have a spare moment, you send them a voice note with what’s been going on in your life. 

This asynchronous form of communication is great for people who can’t commit to a phone call or video call, for friends or family who might live in a different time zone, or for people who simply can’t find the right time to speak due to a clash of schedules. Throughout the pandemic voice noting seems to be on the rise as it is an efficient way to communicate, and socially distant. It can be quite personable in comparison to text-based communication, hearing loved one’s voices can be comforting in times like this. Overall, in my opinion, it’s an efficient, personable way to stay in touch - a tool for the modern-day pen-pal. 

Even though voice noting might be a preferable way to communicate as it conveys more richness than texting, it ultimately lacks body language, cues and subtle micro-expressions we might pick up in face to face communication. Can the lack of interruptions and visual cues cause the sender to self-disclose more about themselves?

Hyperpersonal Model of Communication

The hyperpersonal model of communication (Walther, 1996) allows for users to engage in selective self-presentation when using CMC (computer-mediated communication), carefully curating their messages to show or censor certain aspects of themselves. Originally theorized in the ’90s before voice messages were popular. The basis of the model is still usable. The model is divided into four parts - senders, receivers, channel & feedback. 

Senders:

Senders curate their messages and use selective self-presentation to show or hide certain aspects of who they are. While curating text-based messages can hinder spontaneous speech or thoughts. This can occur using voice notes, carefully selecting what you would like to say before sending, and if it doesn’t sound great? Delete it and start again.

Receivers:

Receivers of messages sometimes idealize the senders message, or “fill in the gaps” when there are minimal cues. Receivers can also over-interpret messages and attribute greater personal interest to the sender online than offline. Does this aspect occur over voice note communication? Because it is not text-based, it’s possible to gain a perspective of tone and context from one's voice, there’s little room for minimal cues, apart from visual ones.

Channel:

This is the management of the communication, allowing for users to think about how to construct their messages before sending them, rather than focusing on non-verbal behaviour. This aspect plays a big role within voice-noting as the receiver has to imagine the non-verbal behaviour through their imagination and using the voice as a guide, I can imagine the receiver would listen to the message and think about how they will respond afterwards.

Feedback:

Known as behavioural confirmation, feedback is when the receiver responds to the senders’ message, creating an idealized perception, and in turn, responding to that - encouraging and repeating the cycle. This occurs in all types of CMC including voice notes.

Senders, soliloquies & self-disclosure

Countless times throughout the pandemic, I’ve heard myself or my friends say on a voice message; “I’m rambling on now, I should go now...” or “Jesus! This voice note is six minutes long!”. We usually know when to stop in conversation and where the boundaries lie in FtF communication. We know we don’t want to bore our friends to death with a monologue. So why do we keep speaking?

This year our voice notes are more rambling and long, explaining our thoughts, ideas, fears and solutions on a variety of topics. It’s incredible to be able to communicate this way, but if it were in person - it would be different. In a real-world conversation, my monologue would be interrupted by an external factor, maybe a slight shift in my partner's body language, or an abrupt verbal interruption, or even a slight microexpression on their face, a quiver of their lip or an eyebrow raise. This could stop me in my tracks. These interruptions don’t occur throughout voice notes, because the receiver's body language is not available for interpretation. So, where is the line drawn between filling your friend in on your news and using the phone as a tool for sound boarding verbally? Does this voice note communication cause us to disclose more information without us realizing it?  Although there has been little research on self-disclosure and voice messages, there have been multiple studies that both agree AND disagree that self-disclosure is higher in CMC than face to face (Nguyen, Bin & Campbell, 2012; Tidwell & Walther, 2002).

Surely, our soliloquies to our nearest and dearest abroad and down the road might enrich and nurture our friendships, feeling like we know them on an even deeper level. But would we have spoken those words in person? Would we have shared certain thoughts? Because when we voice note, in reality, we only speak to ourselves.  It almost becomes an extension of ourselves, similar to a diary entry.  What does that mean about the state of our friendships? Does it help or hinder the connection when we’re apart? I think there can be fatigue, potentially hindering connection, from a receivers perspective. A 5-minute long voice note can be exhausting. Remembering all the information to gather and respond to. This can cause some cognitive overload - similar to the trending Zoom fatigue all WFH workers are experiencing. Although in some cases it can help connection. In my opinion, receiving a lengthy “mini-podcast episode” from a friend as a voice message where they disclose everything about their life is an absolute treat, and it is something I truly cherish.

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References

Ngyuen, M., Bin, Y. S., & Campbell, A. (2012). Comparing online and offline self-disclosure: A systematic review. CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 15, 103-111. http://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2011.0277

Tidwell, L. C., & Walther, J. B. (2002). Computer-mediated communication effects on disclosure, impressions, and interpersonal evaluations: Getting to know one another a bit at a time. Human Communication Research, 28, 317–348. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.2002.tb00811.x

Walther, J. B. (1996). Computer-mediated communication: Impersonal, interpersonal, and hyperpersonal interaction. Communication Research, 23(1), 3–43.. https://doi.org/10.1177/009365096023001001

Walther, J. B., & Whitty, M. T. (2021). Language, Psychology, and New New Media: The Hyperpersonal Model of Mediated Communication at Twenty-Five Years. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 40(1), 120-135. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261927X20967703

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The Many Faces of Instagram - Finsta; a hiding spot for your true self

According to Urban Dictionary, a Finsta  is “a spam Instagram account where people post what they are too afraid to post on the real account.” This can sometimes be dubbed as Fake Instagram. Rinsta, on the other hand, is a users’ real Instagram account, where they might post publicly, or to a more public audience. 

Your Rinsta followers might include distant relatives, acquaintances, your ex, or that drunk girl who borrowed your phone to call a cab that one time outside a bar (pre-pandemic)! Your Finsta followers are a handful of very close friends and (sometimes) family. From what research suggests, and from my own experience - Finsta’s are anything other than fake. 

Usually created by young adults in their late teens and twenties, the Finsta space caters for users to freely express themselves, bringing humour, authenticity and unfiltered self-expression to the table (Dewar, Islam, Resor & Salehi, 2020). Looking back at Goffman’s work on self-presentation theory (1959), he talks about our “performance” in the world and the two roles we might play: our “front stage” selves, and our “backstage” selves. These could be comparable to the Finsta (backstage self) and Rinsta (front stage self). ‘Keeping face’ and following cultural norms is important for the Rinsta, and the private side (or back stage self) cannot be exposed. In my opinion, this possibility leaves Instagram as the biggest digital performance stage on this planet.

Why do people feel the need to showcase a curated lifestyle when ‘performing’ on their Rinsta? Is it to fit in with peers, to have a cool ‘aesthetic’, or simply just hopping on the bandwagon? Of course, we cannot generalise and speculate as to why the population do what they do, each individual will have their own reasons and their behaviour will either be highly intentional and purposeful or completely unconscious. Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu (1986) claims that cultural capital (the social assets of a person) plays a large part in forming the front-stage self and how others interpret it. The theory is interesting in this context, as some parts of Instagram are known for showing off what assets you, the user, might have acquired over time. Eg. showcasing extravagant holidays in five-star hotels abroad, new cars, jewellry etc. This can help users gain “clout” or popularity online, leading to an increase of followers, likes, and attention on the Rinsta, therefore rewarding and validating the front-stage behaviour, and leaving the Finsta (backstage/ true self) behind. 

As I write, I feel a wave of rich hypocrisy flowing over my head, as I previously had a Finsta AND a Rinsta (go figure!). The truth is, I found them too time-consuming, so I deleted them both. But Finstas are good, in my opinion. I believe that if it can allow people to express themselves on how they truly feel, instead of posting what they think others would appreciate, it’s a no-brainer. Posting make-up less selfies, pictures of cats and dogs, baby Yoda memes, a blurry video from a wild night out, why not? Surely, that kind of self-expression is good for the soul.

Steps to present more authentically on Instagram

1. If you don’t have one already, create a Finsta. Try to discover who it is that you are and express that, away from the public eye, just in the close comfort of your best mates. Then come back for step 2.

2. For anyone who has a Finsta, come out of the closet - let’s see your true self, delete the Rinsta, make your Finsta your only profile, because that is you. 

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References

Bourdieu, P. (1986). The Forms of Capital.

Dewar, S., Islam, S., Resor, E., & Salehi, N. (2020). Finsta: Creating “Fake” Spaces for Authentic Performance [Paper presentation]. CHI’19 Extended Abstracts, May 4–9, 2019, Glasgow, Scotland.

Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life.