Identity and Digital Self-Representation in the Metaverse

Rapid digitization, the impact of social media and the phenomenal growth of the Metaverse has met with both positive and negative responses. Along with optimism about the possibilities and efficiencies created via AI, there have also been concerns. Many fields are now using the Metaverse in commercial applications, leading to new ways of increasing revenues and enhancing sustainability. Central to this concept are avatars, which serve as digital embodiments of users, facilitating interactions and the representation of self within this virtual environment. This paper underscores the profound implications of virtual identity, combined with the psychological and sociocultural dimensions of avatar selection, highlighting the complex motivations behind avatar customization. The potential for avatars to influence user behavior, facilitate escapism, and impact psychological well-being is significant, and this emphasizes the need for ethical considerations and protective measures for users navigating these virtual spaces. This paper is about the potentials and pitfalls regarding the use of avatars as digital representations of people, and the impact of such developments on an individual's personal identity conceptions.