Thank you Tony! Let me know if this translation is correct: “The future of authenticity may depend not on saying more, but on saying less.
Not on sharing everything, but on rediscovering silence.
In a world that demands revelation, the final act of freedom might be to remain unknown.”
This is really beautiful. I think you’re right, silence might be the last real form of honesty. In a world where everything’s shared and performed, staying unseen can feel like the only true way to exist. Maybe that’s what authenticity will mean next.
That’s a good point, maybe you’re right. The word “authenticity” has been stretched so far online it’s almost lost its meaning. Maybe what we’re describing isn’t authenticity anymore, but something new that doesn’t have a name yet.
Although I understand the premise, I think it misses the point of the definition of authenticity. What I see here is that it is become the word of the year and people apply it without understanding it. Kearns & Goldman defined authenticity as the “operation of one’s true self in their everyday endeavors” yet it is not something that is necessarily disclosed other than to close others and we may behave differently with different people and indifferent situations. The most widely accepted definition of Authentic Leadership is comprised of four domains: self-awareness, balanced processing, relational transparency, and positive moral perspective.
I think the idea of the mask is appropriate. We do show up differently at home than we do at work, and as we do in social outings. It does not mean that we are being inauthentic, there are appropriate times for deep revelation that is often reserved for those closest to us.
The dilemma of social media today and individuals who believe that they have to post extraordinary levels of detail and thereby claim that as they are authentic. That itself is in authentic.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment Dr Horwitz! I see where you’re coming from, but I’d argue that the traditional definitions you’re citing are too narrow for the digital age. Authenticity today isn’t just about consistency or selective transparency, it’s about navigating visibility itself.
Online, the boundary between performance and self isn’t as clear as it used to be. People aren’t simply choosing when to reveal their “true self”; they’re forced to manage identity across constant public exposure. That tension is authenticity now, not the absence of masks, but the awareness of wearing them.
I’ll work on some this week
O futuro da autenticidade pode depender não de dizer mais, mas de dizer menos. Não de compartilhar tudo, mas de redescobrir o silêncio.
Num mundo que exige revelação, o último ato de liberdade pode ser permanecer desconhecido. Resumkj!
Thank you Tony! Let me know if this translation is correct: “The future of authenticity may depend not on saying more, but on saying less.
Not on sharing everything, but on rediscovering silence.
In a world that demands revelation, the final act of freedom might be to remain unknown.”
This is really beautiful. I think you’re right, silence might be the last real form of honesty. In a world where everything’s shared and performed, staying unseen can feel like the only true way to exist. Maybe that’s what authenticity will mean next.
Let’s create one!
I’m open to that! Go ahead if you have any ideas.
I understand your point yet the digital context should not have an effect on the definition. Maybe we really need a new word.
That’s a good point, maybe you’re right. The word “authenticity” has been stretched so far online it’s almost lost its meaning. Maybe what we’re describing isn’t authenticity anymore, but something new that doesn’t have a name yet.
Although I understand the premise, I think it misses the point of the definition of authenticity. What I see here is that it is become the word of the year and people apply it without understanding it. Kearns & Goldman defined authenticity as the “operation of one’s true self in their everyday endeavors” yet it is not something that is necessarily disclosed other than to close others and we may behave differently with different people and indifferent situations. The most widely accepted definition of Authentic Leadership is comprised of four domains: self-awareness, balanced processing, relational transparency, and positive moral perspective.
I think the idea of the mask is appropriate. We do show up differently at home than we do at work, and as we do in social outings. It does not mean that we are being inauthentic, there are appropriate times for deep revelation that is often reserved for those closest to us.
The dilemma of social media today and individuals who believe that they have to post extraordinary levels of detail and thereby claim that as they are authentic. That itself is in authentic.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment Dr Horwitz! I see where you’re coming from, but I’d argue that the traditional definitions you’re citing are too narrow for the digital age. Authenticity today isn’t just about consistency or selective transparency, it’s about navigating visibility itself.
Online, the boundary between performance and self isn’t as clear as it used to be. People aren’t simply choosing when to reveal their “true self”; they’re forced to manage identity across constant public exposure. That tension is authenticity now, not the absence of masks, but the awareness of wearing them.
Deep. Great perspective.
Thank you very much Nerdbrother!