When you connect through a screen, who are you?

SMU Vice President of Partnerships and Engagement and Professor of Communication & Technology Lim Sun Sun said that the main difference between online and offline relationships is that online communication often gives users more control. She said, “Online communication can be ‘synchronous’ and ‘asynchronous’, with asynchronous modes like texting giving users the ability to edit and present the best possible version of yourself.” She explained how this makes it possible for users to be less authentic in their online communication. Prof Lim also gave the example of the social networking app Bondee to explain how the asynchronicity of some modes of online communication may help some people be more authentic.