Tech as the Self

In the digital age, the self is shaped by the social self described by James. Even in the days of Marshall McLuhan, technology was seen as an extension of the self. In the TedTalks, Saving the Self in the Age of the Selfie and Connected but Alone, both speakers saw technology as a necessity in life. It has become so engrained in our daily lives that it has become a part of us, a part of our self.

Technology has expanded on our life experiences and gives access to an entire new set of selves. For example, we are not who we are online, it is an entirely new self, yet even across platforms and groups of people, we are still different. In a way, it makes people question who we truly are. Take cyberbullying for example, someone could be vocal and vicious online, but be shy and calm in person. Additionally, the cyber bully could act entirely different to a friend or family member online than they would be with their victim, even how they acted between friends and relatives could be different. Further, societal rules and regulations of the Internet seem to be taken far less seriously online. People don’t seem to realize the consequences of their actions as much as they do in real life, and therefore may behave in an entirely different manner online than in person.

Not to mention, our selves are effected by the media we see daily. We are unique because we think for ourselves, but advertisements, for example are intended to sway and guide our thinking. Therefore, if our self is composed of our own thoughts, isn’t media manipulating our individual selves in a way?

In regard to the ship, regardless of how technology or media effects us, we are still ourselves because of our history, perhaps even more-so because of our inescapable digital footprint. Extending that concept to William James, John J. McGraw wrote “…experiences don’t create the self, but the self makes the experiences his owned history.” Basically, everything experienced through these mediums has become a part of our history and our self. The way I see it, life in the digital age has extended our number of selves and become an extension of our being.