sigselfing

Sigselfing is a term that emerged from online communities, particularly those discussing identity and self-perception. It refers to the act of a person engaging with their own digital footprint or online presence in a way that feels detached, observational, or even like encountering a different person. This can manifest as browsing through old social media posts, reading past comments, or looking at previous online interactions with a sense of unfamiliarity.

The feeling associated with sigselfing is often described as a disconnect between one's current self and the persona presented online in the past. Users might feel like they are observing a stranger who happens to share their name and history, rather than a direct extension of their current identity. This can be a result of personal growth, changes in perspective, or simply the passage of time leading to a divergence between past and present selves.

While sometimes a neutral or even amusing experience, sigselfing can also evoke feelings of nostalgia, mild embarrassment, or even a sense of loss for a past version of oneself. It highlights the transient nature of identity and how online presences, once created, can become distinct artifacts of past selves that are later revisited. The term is not widely recognized in academic or psychological literature but is a common vernacular within certain internet subcultures.