A Phenomenological Study on the Practice of Identity Deception of Filipinos on Omegle.Com

Abstract

Social media has made interaction and communication more complex, and with anonymity even more so. Using semi-structured interviews, the researcher explored why Filipinos practiced identity deception on Omegle.com. Initially, the participants were persuaded by external influences but they continued to do so even without these influences. The participants changed aspects of their identities for the following purposes: entertainment, detachment, extended conversations, self-discovery, and curiosity. Their reasons for practicing identity deception on Omegle are in line with current studies on anonymity and its effects on behavior. However, these findings raise more questions about the individual's identity online.