The seemingly exponential growth of social network sites over the past decade can be explained through fundamental neoclassical economics; that is, a significant growth in demand. Does this substantial demand reflect a desire to connect and converse with ones "friends" or is it part of a larger scope of contemporary projection of multiple personae on the Internet? The presentation of self and the online personae cannot be exactly the same, nor can they be exactly different. The plausibly of both indicates that we must introduce a spectrum to the argument.
A common difference among one's presentation of self and their online persona is the prospect of choosing one's interactions and what one shares to the world. Along the spectrum we make choices. Social networks are the quintessential example of such choices; we decide what information about ourselves to display; we decide how we interact with others; and we decide how to best utilize all other aspects of the sites. We don't have to include details we do not desire to divulge; we can even blatantly lie. However, to suggest this changes one into a different person seems too mystical an idea.
A healthy balance between ourselves and our online personae can contribute constructively and reflectively to our development as heteronomous beings, separate from technology.
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