Multiple Identities

Many connected kids have more than one "identity" that they use in cyber space. Some teens create several different addresses or screen names that they give to only a very few friends. Kids explain these different addresses and screen names help them experiment with different personas of themselves, or totally different personas from who they really are.

• 56% of online teens have more than one e-mail address or screen name;

• 61% of boys have more than one e-mail address - almost a quarter have four or more;

• Half of online girls have more than one screen name or e-mail account and nearly one in five girls has more than four identities.

• Almost 25% of connected kids have pretended to be someone else when they e-mailed or IM'ed someone.

• The most active Internet users are the most likely to have multiple addresses.