How To Be Yourself Online
Might as well, you'll be here a while
You’ve probably found comfort in the internet—a place where social interaction feels a bit more manageable, a little less overwhelming. It’s where you’ve learned to navigate Discord servers, group chats, Reddit threads, and Instagram stories in ways that help you feel safe. There’s a structure to it, a way to engage without dealing with the heavy, unpredictable energy of real-life socializing. You control how much to share, when to engage, and when to step back.
But have you ever wondered—what if the internet could be even more than that? What if it could become a place where you don’t just manage interactions but enjoy them? What if you could feel completely yourself online without worrying about how you come across or if you fit in?
That’s where unmasking comes in. And I promise—it doesn’t mean you need to disclose everything, radically change how you interact, or suddenly drop all your boundaries.
It’s about making the internet a place that feels fun again—a place where you show up, as you are, without the stress of managing multiple personas.
What Unmasking Really Is (And What It Isn’t)
You might feel that unmasking means you’d have to tell everyone, “Hey, I’m autistic,” or start explaining all your neurodivergent quirks. But that’s not it. Unmasking isn’t the same as disclosure. Disclosure is when you make a conscious choice to share your diagnosis with someone, and while that can be powerful, it’s not required for unmasking.
Unmasking is about letting the real you show up online, little by little. You don’t have to explain why you’re sharing the meme that resonates with your hyperfixation. You don’t need to justify why you’re avoiding the group chat today because the sound of notifications makes your skin crawl. You get to just…be. The amazing part? You can do this without having to tell anyone that you’re neurodivergent if that’s not something you feel ready or comfortable with. You can still maintain control of what you share and when.
Imagine this: you're on Discord, and instead of worrying if your comment about hating loud bars will make you stand out, you just say it. "I’m not into loud places, they’re too much for me." You don’t need to explain the why—you just let your preference be known. No need for a full disclosure, just you being honest about what you feel.
You Don’t Have to Keep Fragmenting Yourself
Think about how you show up in different spaces online. Maybe on Twitter, you’re witty and quick to retweet jokes, while in your Discord gaming group, you keep things purely focused on strategy. On Instagram, maybe it’s all about a curated feed that doesn’t really reflect the more quirky or detailed parts of your personality. This fragmentation can feel like a way to keep things controlled, but it’s also exhausting.
What if you didn’t have to keep splitting yourself into pieces? What if you could be the same person across all of these platforms? Unmasking is about bringing together those fragmented identities. You stop being "Twitter You" and "Instagram You" and "Gaming Discord You." You just get to be you everywhere.
Imagine posting on your meme page without worrying if your humor is "too niche" or letting your favorite hyperfixation slide into a group chat conversation without worrying that people won’t get it. You don’t have to compartmentalize anymore, and the beauty is that it doesn’t feel like a big reveal—it feels like a relief. You’re finally being yourself everywhere you go.
Rediscovering Joy in Group Chats, Twitter Circles, and Meme Pages
Let’s talk about group chats for a second. You’ve probably been in chats where you feel like you have to dial yourself back—whether it’s toning down your excitement over a specific topic or avoiding personal insights that might feel out of place. Maybe you’ve kept your replies short and vague, sticking to what feels safe. But with unmasking, it’s about letting more of your authentic thoughts slip through.
It doesn’t mean oversharing or spilling everything, but imagine feeling comfortable enough to let your real self emerge bit by bit. Maybe you stop editing your Twitter DMs so much or let yourself post that meme you actually find hilarious. You’ll start noticing that conversations feel easier—like you’re not constantly filtering what you say, but you’re still in control of what you reveal.
If you’re someone who runs or follows meme pages, unmasking makes those spaces even more enjoyable. Instead of focusing on what will get the most likes or laughs, you can post about what truly makes you laugh or feel seen. There’s joy in knowing you’re posting from a place of authenticity, not just trying to fit the group’s vibe.
It’s Not About Dropping Your Guard Completely
Here’s something you need to know: unmasking doesn’t mean you have to let your guard down entirely. You still get to keep the layers of detachment that make the internet manageable. If you prefer to lurk in a Reddit thread without engaging, that’s still an option. If you like staying emotionally neutral in your Discord server, that doesn’t have to change. Unmasking isn’t about vulnerability all the time—it’s about finding those moments where it feels right to be a little more you.
You don’t lose your boundaries; you just gain the ability to choose when to be more open. You might feel like letting your guard down a bit in a smaller, supportive Discord community, but still keep things surface-level in your large public Twitter feed. That balance makes unmasking feel safe—it’s about freedom, not exposure.
Unmasking Without Losing Anonymity
If the idea of unmasking feels like you’d have to give up your anonymity, let me assure you—that’s not the case. You can still keep your anonymous accounts, your pseudonyms, and your privacy in places where that’s important to you. Unmasking doesn’t mean giving up the protection of anonymity; it just means that in the spaces where you feel safe, you let more of your authentic self come through.
Let’s say you’re in a Twitch chat. You’re still anonymous, but maybe now, instead of just talking about the game’s mechanics, you throw in a comment about how one of the game’s sound effects triggers a sensory response for you. You don’t have to explain why or even say that you’re neurodivergent. You’re just being real about your experience in a way that feels good to you.
The Internet Can Be Fun Again
Unmasking is about taking off a little of that pressure you’ve been carrying—not all at once, but in bits and pieces. The internet becomes fun again because you’re not constantly calculating how to fit in, how to edit yourself, how to perform. You’re just you, and that makes every platform richer, more connected, and more enjoyable. Whether you’re chatting in group texts, hanging out on Discord, or scrolling through Twitter, unmasking can bring so much more ease and fun into your digital life.
So here’s my suggestion: try it. Just a little at first. Maybe in one space. Share a thought without over-editing. Post a meme that resonates with your real experience. Slowly, bit by bit, you’ll find that unmasking makes the internet a place that’s not just safe—but a place that feels like it’s yours.