What does “identity” mean in Web3? It’s a query that throws open the metaverse’s can of worms. Is your online persona a true representation of who you are? Or is it just a persona you’ve made up in place of your true self? It can be challenging to believe that people are their true selves while they are hiding behind a screen, given how simple it is for users to conceal their IRL existence behind a cartoon PFP. The “Looking In” web3 project is all about the disguised persona.

However, when we start to distinguish between digital identity and real-life “meatspace” identity, things become much more confusing. Identity is actually fluid and dependent on how each person feels about themselves. But depending on their perspective, circumstances, and physical environment, a person will definitely provide a different account of their identity at any time. Maybe this explains why the idea of Soulbound Tokens feels so gloomy.

Identity is generally a difficult subject to understand. This is particularly true in settings (like Web3 and the NFT sector) where pseudonymous and anonymous people frequently rule. One creator is attempting to learn. Do those who live in the metaverse actually know who they are? Are you who you claim to be? Or are you really who you claim to be? Or are you who people think you are?” is the current question posed by multidisciplinary artist Snuffy to Web3 users.

Identity, snuffy, and mental health

There has been a significant shift in the way that society approaches and understands mental health. While some had said that one of the reasons why preceding generations (Generation X and before) learned to “conceal, don’t feel,” mental health is a big concern in 2022. It’s not surprising that some people view their mental health (or mental disease) as a part of their identity, given the student mental health crisis and the rapidly rising demand for medicine that are fueling the conversation over accessibility to mental health treatments.

But for Snuffy, real name Julius Margulies, identity and mental health have always been intertwined. He has combined mental health (often trauma) and the written word over his tattooing career to produce an original body of physical and digital work. He gets information by having his clients write about a personal experience and then transforms the written testimonies into one-of-a-kind artworks that he tattoos on his customers. Margulies now wants to expand this cathartic client experience into Web3 and make it available to everyone.

self discovery and mental health are the backbone of my upcoming project pic.twitter.com/j02nh2noij

— snuffy.eth (@SnuffyNyc) April 24, 2022

“Through examining my practice of tattooing people and interacting with them, I’ve found that people view the tattoo as therapy. But in reality, them writing me their story is the therapy,” Margulies said in an interview with nft now. “Through that process, they identify themselves in what is usually a traumatic experience. So I realized that my unique value to my clients is self-discovery. From there, I thought, ‘Okay, I have this long client waitlist, and I only have two hands. How can I give this experience of self-discovery to as many people as possible in one shot?’”

Margulies wants to provide Web3 and NFT people with more insight into themselves with his new project, Looking In. Margulies has unraveled the Big Five personality qualities and created an NFT gaming experience to add to the trend of self-discovery, much as how Myers-Briggs types have grown in popularity as a tool for people to relate to one another over the past decade or so.

The purpose of “Looking In.”

Although Margulies does not identify as a psychiatrist or any qualified mental health professional, his most recent project has been influenced by his personal experiences with mental illness, extensive research on the subject, his ongoing work as a sort of tattoo therapist, and other factors. He thinks that by highlighting the flexible aspect of identity in Web3, people would pause and engage in some self-reflection, using his new initiative as a roadmap.

The Big Five personality traits are extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. Users of Looking In can participate in a casual, sliding scale test designed to give them a basic understanding of where they fall within the spectrum of these traits. The test is intended to offer a provisional feeling of self and is accompanied by a collage of art by Margulies that aims to combine personality qualities as a reflection of a user’s test outcome.

The test also serves as a fun way for people to connect with their close friends and communities. In order to compare the user’s perception of their own personality with that of those who know them best, users are advised to have their close friends and family complete the same exam after finishing their own and viewing their findings. The inquiry, “Are you who you think you are? Or are you not who they believe you to be?

“In order for individuals to be completely honest with themselves, we designed this feedback loop. To discover their identity and how others view them. Then you’ll be able to notice that your immediate circle’s perception of you is either the same as or different from your own. Most people come to the realization that they are a blend of who they think they are and how others see them when Margulies poses this [question].

Although consumers can join up now and Look In, a smart service developed by Transient Labs is scheduled to start on December 15 at LookingIn.nyc, pricing information has not yet been disclosed. However, Margulies claims that individuals who are interested won’t need to be concerned about token gating or high mint costs, which are frequently connected to massive NFT initiatives. He wants this initiative to be a casual, shared, and fun approach for everyone to be able to “gaze inward” in light of the growing mental health issue in Web3.

“I’m pricing my project reasonably because I’d love to see it taken up by the general public. I want as many people as possible to better understand who they are and find solace in discussing topics like depression and mental illness that are sometimes taboo to discuss, said Margulies. “Honestly, I think self-awareness, even for like five minutes, can make the world a better place just for the good of humanity.”