I’ve noticed a rash of these kinds of profile photos and avatars lately. I’m sure this technique has been around for some time, but I never took much notice of it until recently after being on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc. It started me thinking about perceived “uniqueness” and the so-called “global community.”

To me, the increasing number of these types of photos are another in a long line of methods to make oneself feel “unique” across the internet. Which makes me laugh right away, seeing as how one of the higher purposes of the internet is to connect people across cultures. “Social Media,” as it is called nowadays, is on the forefront of this culture-mashing trend. Creating a global community is the higher goal, but, as usual, the manic desire of people to differentiate themselves from others by any means necessary is the dominant theme. Showing up to work or school with pink hair is no longer necessary now that everyone connects online: “I want to be different online” is now the cry. … Continue Reading