Norton and the Internet Self

I saw this commercial and found it to be a fascinating commentary not only socially, but existentially. Watch and see how it hits you. 

Norton Commercial

Let's start with the tag line: "Because what are you without your stuff? Better yet, who are you?" This implies at least 2 points: 1) That our value is found in the value of our possessions; specifically our digital possessions and (2 That our internet selves are the truest depiction of our identity.  

I'll begin with the first question; a question of value. The internet has a huge amount of value to our society and without question has changed the world as we know it since it's inception. Credit cards, bank accounts, stocks, businesses, social spheres; all of these things are on the internet and do possess great monetary and and societal value. But when we break ourselves down to the core of our beings, do any of these determine our personal value? If facebook was deleted would the value of people on it lessen? If credit cards were wiped out, online business destroyed, and internet communication obliterated would we be worthless? Of course not, but that is what this marketing implies, though not in such calamity of course. 

This implication leaves us at a lack of importance if we do not have, or as the add forewarns, do not protect, our digital possessions. This ad strikes my every time I see it because of the blatant comparison of human value to our digital prowess and presence. Believe it or not the majority of the world's population does not have access to the internet. The value of these people is no less, not in intelligence or in aptitude, because of a lack of internet. Obviously, our value must then be found elsewhere. 

Now to the idea of digital identity. First, let me define the term as I will use it. The Internet Self; "our view of ourselves and/or how we want other people to perceive us as shown on the internet." The implication of the Norton commercial is that our truest selves is the self which we depict on the internet. This may not be far off the mark. On the internet we see the faux-smiles and most vicious sides of each other as well some encouragement and other niceties. It's much like driving alone and being stuck in traffic. That's when we feel in our seclusion that we can truly let go of social bounds and unleash our frustration because nobody knows what we say or do. The internet in the same way allows for us to remain anonymous so that we can do or say what we please. 

The commercial, however, implies that we are no one without these digital forms; thus why they need protecting. "Protect the stuff that matters," the commercial claims. The inference is that nothing but our digital equity matters. It implies that we have no meaning, no purpose, no name or family, no friends without our digital identities. It's dehumanizing. At the same time the marketing is brilliantly targeted because we do find so much of our identity and value on the internet. For instance, I'm writing this on a blog and thus portraying a version of myself. The importance about value and identity must come from something more than us, however. If it is purely in the digital media through which we live and depict our internet selves, then it fades when the signal fails or the battery dies or the screen brakes. Ever feel naked because you left your phone at home? This is a sign of a strong sense on digital identity. 

Perhaps we should take a break from media and our own internet selves. See who else we are. We must find our value and identity in something greater than the digital world or the internet self. It must be more than ourselves. Otherwise we die and that's it. There's no reason to live if all that awaits us is death and all forms of our selves, digital and otherwise, cease to exist. Try this. for a whole day, do not use the internet or a cell phone or digital communication of any sort. Get out of the house and try to answer the question: Who are you? Even if you don't want to or you don't believe in God, try praying. See what happens when you don't look to yourself for answers about you.