The Human Identity: Authenticity or Algorithmic Performance?

The Human Identity: Authenticity or Algorithmic Performance?

Author: Gareth King October 18, 2025 Duration: 41:24

It promised a world of self-expression and connection. But has the internet instead encouraged us to create performative versions of ourselves; curated by algorithms and validated by likes?

To help us find the reality, we’re joined by Colin Corby, Digital Detox Coach, Technologist, and CEO of Technology Wellbeing.

⁠https://thedigitaldetoxcoach.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/the_digital_detox_coach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thedigitaldetoxcoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/colincorby

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

Follow the show, let us know what else to look into at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or support us at ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Colin joins us to explore the complex relationship between technology and the human identity. We discuss how online personas are curated, the psychological effects of social media, and the role of influencers in shaping self-worth.

We also look the implications of AI on identity, the psychological toll of a permanent online record and the diminishing empathy in digital interactions - ultimately contemplating the future of human identity in a technology-driven world.

00:00 The Impact of the Internet on Human Identity

02:49 Curating Online vs. Offline Selves

05:46 The Psychological Effects of Social Media

08:51 The Role of Influencers in Identity Formation

11:57 The Stress of Online Performance

14:44 AI and the Future of Human Identity

17:46 The Need for Digital Detox

21:00 The Psychological Toll of a Permanent Online Record

24:05 Empathy in the Digital Age

27:00 AI's Role in the Workplace and Identity

30:07 The Future of Human Identity in a Tech-Driven World


It’s a question that nags at anyone who’s ever felt a pang of nostalgia or a wave of digital fatigue: are we better or worse off because of our constant connection? Hosted by Gareth King, Ruined By The Internet? digs into that uneasy feeling, moving beyond simple headlines to explore how our online world actively moulds society, culture, and the texture of daily life. This isn’t about reviewing apps or gadgets; it’s about treating the digital realm as the pervasive environment it has become. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leading thinkers and researchers from around the world, dissecting the real evidence behind our shared anxieties and hopes. You’ll hear nuanced discussions that ask whether the casualties we often blame on technology are inevitable, or if we’re simply misdiagnosing deeper societal shifts. This podcast provides a space for considered reflection, offering listeners a clearer lens through which to view their own place in a world that is, for better or worse, thoroughly wired.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 26

Ruined By The Internet? - Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
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Duration: 0:33
Is the internet actually ruining everything, or are we just looking at it wrong?Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.Through…