Egocentrism is a key feature of immature learners. Piaget and others have demonstrated that young learners are highly egocentric -- not in the sinister form of narcissism, but in the simple fact of children not realizing that others may think or feel differently.

Even at the collegiate level, the emphasis on multiculturalism and diversity within a liberal arts education is based on the belief that most students need to decentrate and develop the perspective to understand the differences among cultures and ethnic experiences.

How will the multiple online persona change this? Will students be more open to exploring different cultural experiences through becoming a virtual member of that culture? Will this prove a mirage, as students simply play out their stereotypes of how that culture should think and act?