PBS recently aired the Frontline documentary Growing Up Online. What an entertaining and thought-provoking watch.

I’m sure much of the content came as a shock to many parent viewers unaware of how and why young people use social networks, MSN and online communications in general. Old news to us educators. We know how wired students are to the online world.

However, I was quite disturbed to view the segment dealing with a female high school student, so ostracized because she choose a Goth look as her form of self expressi9on, that she created an online alter ego. Her alter ego posed for saucy pictures in the privacy of her own bedroom then posted them online.

Her alter ego received hundreds of e-mail messages of support and encouragement. This boosted her sense of self, the messages telling her she was “better than okay.” No longer a loser, she was suddenly hot and desired.

Inevitably, a parent stumbled upon the site, notified the school principal who notified her parents who forced her to remove the site. Lots of tears. Lots of pain for the young woman. As she talked about it on camera, it was as if she’d lost a limb.

I felt sad for this young woman, sad that she couldn’t be herself in her everyday, high school type life. But, at the same time, I was fascinated by her reactions to her “amputation” from her online persona. I didn’t quite get this.

I’d be interested to know what the fascination is with creating alter egos on line.