The Reliability of Online Identity and the "Mask"Effect Social networking services and online avatars have made the notion of identity far more complex, because the identities that people define in the social media are not necessarily the identities that they actually have. For example,several studies have shown that people lie about themselves in online dating profiles or in communication with potential partners. A person may feel that she is able to lie about her identity on theyinternet because it creates a "mask" effect where no one can see her "true self:Social theorists believe that whenever an individual interacts with others online, she portrays a mask of her identity, not her true identity This is partly due to the fact that in some online contexts, such as Facebook, she must answer specific questions to create an online profile. Further as she begins to interact with others, she adds more and more layers to her mask through the vocabulary she uses and the topics she writes about. [5] The kind of mask one chooses reveals at least something about the person who chooses it. While the online mask does not reveal the actual identity of the person, it does reveal an example of what lies behind the mask For instance, if a person chooses to act like a rock star online, this may mean that he or she has an interest in rock music.Even a person choosing to hide behind a totally false identity says something about the fear and lack of self-esteem he or she may be experiencing.(3) Why are online masks important? A They reveal what a person is truly like. B They hint at what a person values. C They are easier to see underneath over time. D They help people avoid liars online.