Eng 1

Nathan Eng

Ms. Morley

ENG 3U

July 25, 2019

Identity in Cyber Reality

Technology continues to grow and gain a stronger grasp upon humans. In the poem,

Cyber Real,​ the author details how the convenience of technology has captured humankind from

reality. The author explains that technology has taken control of people’s lives as they focus on

how they are portrayed online. The poem, ​Cyber Real​ by Kelly Crenshaw, demonstrates how

technology creates a new yet addicting identity for people. Technology and social media causes

people to behave quite differently compared to how they act in person. Yet, this behaviour is

very addictive as people find themselves stuck in the reality they have created; not being able to

escape their online identity and life that they have created.

People behave very differently when using technology compared to their behaviour in

person. This new behaviour is caused by social media as the author states that the “Clever

hashtags and Instagram / Will shape your image and gain more friends” (Crenshaw). People’s

focus on how they are portrayed online displays how they act completely different to gain more

friends and maintain their image. They acquire a more desirable identity which is visibly

different than their identity in person. Their online persona is usually very negative compared to

their normal behaviour. This distinct difference is seen as the author, like many others, wonders

if “the you you’ve shaped in cyberspace / The same you I’d see face to face?” (Crenshaw). This
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thought displays how people behave differently compared to the image projected through social

media and technology. However the behaviour of this new image is often negative as people are

able to “hide behind our computer screens / And criticize with brutal ease” (Crenshaw). The

ability to easily yet brutally criticize others displays that people often behave negatively towards

others as they can just hide behind technology with little to no immediate repercussions for their

actions. This encourages terrible behaviour which leads to an identity that is completely different

and negative.

This completely different and negative behaviour is very addictive as people become

stuck in this technological reality; unable to escape their online identity. People lose themselves

in their conquest of creating a desirable online identity as they wonder “Which reality is true? /

Cyber me / Or cyber you?” (Crenshaw). Their thoughts in this poem displays how they can only

think of their cyberspace identity. This cyberspace identity becomes their new reality; a virtual

reality that “Is buying souls of men you see / And robbing the ability to dream real dreams”

(Crenshaw). People are stuck in this virtual reality as their very essence and thoughts are

captured in this online identity. They no longer have the ability to think of their actual morals

and values as they only want to continue to develop their desired identity.

The poem, ​Cyber Real,​ clearly illustrates how technology creates a desirable yet

addictive identity for people. This desirable identity that people acquire has distinct behavioural

traits compared to how people behave in person. Their new behaviour usually contains a more

negative nature however, people do not mind as they become addicted to their online identity;

unable to escape their own creation. The media and technology is an ever evolving element

however, people should never let it take control of them.