To begin, it important to underscore the idea that digital
technologies have a significant impact on the self. In order to do so, it is
useful to examine Mark Poster's essay "Postmodern Virtualities," where Poster
asserts that "a postmodern society is emerging which nurtures forms of identity
different from, even opposite to those of modernity." (Poster 612)
Certainly, Poster's words challenge the modern identity
and present an identity
that reflects the postmodern society emerging in the
21st century. Foremost, it is
important to underscore what qualities make up the 'modern'
notions of selfhood
in order to contrast the modern identity with the postmodern
identity. For Poster,
the modern identity possesses characteristics that include
RATIONALITY,
AUTONOMY,
and
stability.
For example, an educated citizen will abide by the laws
because
he/she is aware of the laws. More specifically, the
educated citizen will act in a
rational, logical way because he/she possesses the knowledge,
or education, that
facilitates rational thinking and behaving.
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However, in contrast to the modern identity,
Poster asserts that electronic
communications technologies (e.g., America
Online, electronic mail, chat rooms,
instant messenger, etc) nurture the development
of postmodern selves.
Moreover, electronic communications enable
individuals to develop new
identities that are characterized by INStaBILitY,
multiplicitymultiplicitymultiplicity, and d
i f f u s i o n.
Furthermore, Poster goes on to mention
that interactivity, in and of itself, is
responsible for the emerging postmodern
self. For example, the Internet is used
by countless numbers of people on a daily
basis in order to foster relationships
with other individuals around the globe.
In this way, the 'far reaching' aspect of
the Internet is quite appealing to a large
number of people.
Furthermore, the accessibility of the Internet permits
a wide variety of
individuals to utilize the service. In turn,
the Internet attracts more people and
enables communication for individuals who,
for example, are economically
unable to travel 
in order to communicate, or interact, with others.