I love this book. I post online regularly. I write blog posts. I host livestreams. I'm unaware of it having a negative effect on my life but I believe in the insights of this 2011 book. What should I monitor to avoid the dangerous powers of the e-personality?
ChatGPT: If you take Virtually You seriously but you’re not feeling obvious harm, you can think of it like keeping an early-warning dashboard for your own psychology. Based on Aboujaoude’s model and later research, here are the main “red-flag zones” to monitor:
1. Narcissism creep
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Notice if you start framing experiences in terms of how they’ll play online instead of how they actually feel in the moment.
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Check if you crave affirmation metrics (likes, views, comments) more than real-world appreciation.
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Ask: “Would I still say/do this if nobody could see it?”
2. Impulsivity and disinhibition
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Watch for faster, less-considered posting—particularly when emotional.
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Pay attention if your threshold for sharing private info drops.
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Use a pause rule: post after a set delay, not in the first wave of adrenaline.
3. Polarization and moral over-certainty
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Track whether online debates leave you feeling more certain and morally righteous than before.
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Note if you’re losing empathy for those who disagree, especially people you know offline.
4. Aggression leakage
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Monitor tone shift: are your online comments snappier, more sarcastic, or harsher than your face-to-face speech?
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Look for the “snark hangover”—regret after a post you thought was witty in the moment.
5. Reality filtering
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Watch for the “blog/livestream lens” shaping how you experience life—seeking only what’s content-worthy.
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Check that you still have private joys, unposted thoughts, and experiences you don’t package for public view.
6. Time displacement
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Audit whether your most alert, creative hours are spent producing for the feed instead of doing things that feed you.
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See if your offline friendships or physical hobbies are thinning out.
7. Identity rigidity
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Ask if your online persona is locking you into a narrower, more exaggerated version of yourself—making it harder to grow or change your mind publicly.
Monthly E-Personality Health Audit
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Private vs. Public
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Did I have meaningful experiences this month that I didn’t post about?
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Did I keep any opinions to myself without feeling pressure to share?
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Metrics vs. Meaning
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Did I measure my satisfaction mainly by likes, views, or comments?
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Would I still have created this piece if no one could see it?
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Impulse Control
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How many posts did I make in the heat of emotion?
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Any regrets about tone or content after posting?
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Tone Check
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Would my offline friends or family be surprised by the way I spoke online?
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Did my language get sharper or more dismissive than in real life?
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Empathy & Flexibility
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Did I engage with people I disagree with without caricaturing them?
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Did I change my mind about anything publicly or privately?
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Time Balance
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Are my peak-energy hours still going to offline relationships and pursuits?
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Did I miss any important offline events because I was streaming or posting?
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Identity Breadth
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Does my online persona still feel like me or just a narrow performance?
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Do I feel free to experiment with topics or styles without fear of losing audience approval?
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You can run through this in 10–15 minutes at the end of each month. If you start noticing the same “yes” answers to the red-flag questions two or three months in a row, it’s time to adjust posting habits.
