In this online world we are stripped of almost every non-verbal method of communication; facial expressions, tone of voice and gestures are just a few of the ways in which we, often subconsciously, analyse people and decide whether to believe them, whether to trust them… When typed words are your only guide it can be much easier to be misled or to mislead.

Whilst taking on alternative personalities and playing out new roles online can be seen as harmless fun and a way of exploring different aspects of our personalities, there is a serious question as to the potential consequences; what about the other people, the ones who are being misled? Can you still call it ‘role-play’, or is it deceit?

When news stories report individuals using a virtual personality to enable them to make contact with children and lure them into meeting, the question about deceit is easily answered with a resounding ‘yes’. But do such stories show up an underlying truth, that ‘virtual personalities’ are fundamentally wrong, or are there situations where it really can truly merit the phrase ‘role-play’..?

The Open University course Social Science In Action teaches the fundamentals of social science research, based around the topic of the Information Society, including the concept of Online Identities.