In this paper I will discuss several problems concerning the question of identity in anonymous computer-mediated communication. Internet should enable the individual to discover new viewpoints of his/her own personality. The potential of virtual reality lies actually in the very process of redefinition of identity itself, which is very typical for this reality.
The first problem concerns the fact that virtual persons are still “the same” persons. As far as identity construction is concerned, meta-message “this is only a game” can have productively a very successful function. This meta-message – especially if we take into account the inherent anonymity of the user – enables the individual to articulate various hidden truths about himself, because he is aware that he “is only playing” a game on the screen. We must point out that inherent playfulness can enable and project very real feelings because individuals also show themselves without the “mask”.U članku se obrađuju različiti problemi koji se dodiru pitanja identiteta u anonimnoj kompjutorski posredovanoj komunikaciji. Internet bi morao omogućiti pojedincima i pojedinkama da otkriju nove aspekte svojega vlastitog identiteta. Potencijal virtualne realnosti nalazi se upravo u samom procesu redefiniranja samog identiteta; taj proces redefiniranja po nekim je teorijama tipičan element virtualne realnosti.
Prvi problem nalazi se u činjenici, da su virtualne osobe još uvijek “iste osobe”. Što se tiče same konstrukcije identiteta, sama metaporuka “to je samo igra” može imati vrlo produktivnu funkciju. Ta metaporuka naime, i pogotovo ako uzmemo u obzir inherentnu anonimnost, koju imaju on-line osobe, omogućuje pojedincima i pojedinkama, da artikuliraju različite skrivene istine o njima samima, jer znaju da “samo igraju” igru na kompjutorskom ekranu. Moramo upozoriti da inherentna “igrarija” omogućuje da pojedinci i pojedinke sami sebe prezentiraju bez obične “maske” koju nose u svakidašnjem životu
