Roberto Luongo on Twitter? a lesson in social media profiling from the man behind the mask/screen

Photo Source: Matt Boulton (CC-BY-SA)

Many of us who use social media struggle with finding the balance between being both anonymous and authentic online. Some of us are too anonymous; refusing to take ownership for the things we say and do. And yet some of us are too authentic, giving away too much of our regular, everyday lives. It brings us the question—is it possible for such contrasting concepts of anonymity and authenticity to co-exist?

Apparently so.

If you’re a Canuck fan and on Twitter, you’ve most likely heard of @strombone1, the alleged secret account of our starting goaltender, Roberto Luongo. Lu has dominated the post-season discussion, in part due to trade rumours, but also because he is believed to be running, as the Vancouver Sun’s Pass It To Bulis calls it, ‘one of the best athlete Twitter accounts in the history of the world … pretty much everything you want an athlete Twitter account to be: hilarious, interactive, topical, you name it. The only thing it isn’t… is verified.”

Now, Canuck fans may claim that on the ice, Lu isn’t nearly as ‘Quick’ as we’d like him to be. But what Canuck fans can’t disagree with is how @strombone1, Luongo or not, in finding and embracing the balance between anonymity and authenticity, has managed to utilize the powers of social media and his digital identity to entice and charm an ever-critical, Cup-less city.

A report by The Province puts together a comprehensive argument to suggest that @strombone1 is indeed our very own Bobby Lu. But at the end of the day, the mystery remains unsolved.

@strombone1 could very well be Luongo. But he also might not be. Whichever it is, he remains a testament to the digital community we live in today. When we post things, people are going to make assumptions about our regular life, whether or not they align with the truth or not. @strombone1 has been able to provide a glimpse into a hilariously witty and self-aware side of an athlete that on TV, has frequently appeared nervous and shaky. Likewise, our digital identity can make or break us, revealing a side of ourselves that will either improve or disprove the way we are perceived.

Last night, the LA Kings may have been crowned Stanley Cup champions, but when it comes to the dictating offense in the digital arena, I’d say @strombone1 deserves the throne.