This chapter draft for Chapter 2 of Routledge book “Communities in Cyberspace” examines the dynamics of identity performance and deception in digital communities, emphasizing how online environments enable individuals to control and curate their presented personas. Donath distinguishes between different types of identity cues—visual, behavioral, and textual—and how their absence or manipulation online influences social interaction. The analysis includes examples from MUDs, MOOs, and early Usenet forums, showing that identity deception can be playful, experimental, or malicious. The work raises concerns about trust formation, social accountability, and community governance in disembodied online contexts, while also considering the creative potential of fluid identity practices in cyberspace.
From Routledge, MIT SMG Media, and ResearchGate