Proteus
An Avatar is common term for a character or image used for online gaming, forums and chat rooms. They can range from complex 3D characters to low resolution 2D images. Games that use avatars include Xbox360, Second Life and World of Warcraft.
The Proteus effect is used to describe the concept of an individual behaviour conforming to their online digital avatar. The terminology derives from the Greek god ‘Proteus’ and the relation with protean - the ability to take on many different self-representations.