Who Are You?

 A recent viral meme involves asking OpenAI's ChatGPT to scrutinise - or "roast" - our Instagram feeds. According to NBC, over 310,000 people have participated in the meme, which is shared through an Instagram Stories template...

It's pretty fun. Not too mean, but it doesn't go easy on you either.

The desire to be "roasted" online isn't totally new. We all want an unvarnished, un-sugar-coated opinion of who we really are, and the internet is one of the better places to search for answers.

Whether it's asking Reddit to roast us or taking personality quizzes, we're always looking for hidden aspects of our character.  With AI, it's like we finally have the opportunity to ask: "Do I look fat in this?" and receive what seems like an honest answer.

A Fat Man Pointing to a Woman with Her Hands Clasped
Pieter Huys (c. 1520-1581 (after)
Photo Credit: Wellcome Collection [Public Domain]

Personality quizzes, in particular, have long been a staple of online culture... They offer a sense of self-understanding and provide a convenient label to display on social media profiles, with varying levels of sincerity.

Their allure speaks to a broader trend in internet culture: our obsession with labels, categories and tags...

We're simultaneously invested in these digital representations of ourselves and are aware of their artificiality. By asking an AI to "roast" our feeds, we're acknowledging the performative nature of our online presence while seeking validation or insight.

Its a paradoxical desire to be seen authentically through a lens we know is inherently inauthentic.

The persistence of such trends mirrors the enduring appeal of astrology and other forms of personality classification. In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, these systems offer a sense of order and understanding.

They provide a language for discussing our traits, behaviours and relationships, even if their scientific validity is questionable...

(Katherine Dee, The i, 2024) 

We all want an unvarnished, un-sugar-coated opinion of who we really are - Really? News to me.

Whether it's asking Reddit to roast us or taking personality quizzes, we're always looking for hidden aspects of our character. - Is that right? I don't think I have been looking hard enough then. I must try harder.

With AI, it's like we finally have the opportunity to ask: "Do I look fat in this?" and receive what seems like an honest answer. - Do I look fat in this? You're having me on now aren't you?

Personality quizzes, in particular, have long been a staple of online culture... They offer a sense of self-understanding and provide a convenient label to display on social media profiles, with varying levels of sincerity. - Wow. These quizzes offer a sense of self-understanding. This is amazing. How could I have not known this?

our obsession with labels, categories and tags. I'm really going to have to up my game to get obsessed with labels and categories and (don't forget,) tags. 

We're simultaneously invested in these digital representations of ourselves and are aware of their artificiality. By asking an AI to "roast" our feeds, we're acknowledging the performative nature of our online presence while seeking validation or insight. I'm totally lost now and need some help - can you recommend a therapist?