How do online identities actually form? Traditional psychology treats identity as something we carry in our heads—based on shared beliefs and group categories. But online, people often interact as strangers, categories are fluid, and identities seem to emerge in real time. This talk offers a new answer: identities are built through interaction. As people share opinions, respond, and align with each other, recognizable ways of speaking take shape. These patterns create “identity cocoons”—shared spaces where people know how to belong and act together. Digital media accelerate this process by making expressions visible, persistent, and easy to spread.
How do online identities form? - Guest Lecture by Prof. Kevin Durrheim
Join us for an exciting talk on how online identities are formed. In this talk, Kevin Durrheim, a Distinguished Professor of Psychology from University of Johannesburg, South Africa, will offer a new way of thinking about online identity formation.
Image: Veikko Somerpuro
Published Mar. 23, 2026 4:08 PM
- Last modified Mar. 23, 2026 4:14 PM