What is Digital Identity?
Digital identity is our online footprint that we leave and the identity we create for ourselves digitally, through all of our online actions and interactions, such as liked posts/videos, shared media, direct messages, etc. According to Spracklen (2015), our identity then starts to form based on our leisurely activities such as the content we like, the people we engage with, the music we are listening to. However, it is important to note that our digital identity is often shaped to be looked at through a certain perspective and aesthetic based on the context that we wish others to view our identity as.
How do personal versus professional approaches to digital identity affect social media usage?
When using social media, people often present themselves differently when using it for personal reasons vs for professional reasons. For example, when using social media for personal reasons, people often share photos of themselves, their friends and families, events, etc. I like to think of it as certain shared parts of your life that you may not want professionals to see. For example, if I am out drinking with my friends, I would not want anybody I am connected to professionally to see, such as my mentor teachers and families of the students that I teach. Professional digital identities are used for networking, learning, and building skills such as leadership and communication, while also developing mentorship relationships (Jawed et al., 2019). Therefore, when using social media for professional reasons, such as in my teaching career, I ensure that all my personal accounts are private so that if I ever get looked up, nothing I do not want everyone to see will be visible. As for my professional social media, I like to think of this as my place of networking and essentially job hunting for the future, therefore, I use apps such as LinkedIn and keep it very professional, where I share my work places and experience. I also ensure that my profile photo also represents my professional self, such as good portrait photos with professional clothing and backgrounds, rather than a selfie that I use for my personal accounts.
How do digital identities converge in networked publics – what are the impacts and/or benefits?
When our digital identities come together in networked publics, it allows for the continuous growth of both our networking and our learnings. When this convergence occurs, people are able to build and grow communities with people who share similar interests with them, ultimately, allowing people to learn from one another within their digital identities and new-formed networks. As the world is rapidly evolving digitally, we know the importance that digital identities have on our lives in networked publics. For example, when Covid-19 first hit, we relied on our digital identities in networked publics to feel a sense of connection with other beings as we lacked that face-to-face time, we relied on our digital identities for school, work, and more. So, while digital identities converging has many benefits such as forming communities and continuous learning growth, it also comes with challenges such as keeping information private which could result to a breach in confidentiality. This also means that people may struggle in having trust with people who they meet online due to the fact that digital identities are created based on what the user wants people to hear and see. As technology is continuously evolving, I recognize and understand the importance of building our digital identities in networked publics for our digital future. However, I am also aware of the uncertainty and possible dangers that come with it because of how easy it is to access information and photos online and for information to be leaked. Therefore, with this knowledge, I hope to bring my learnings of this into my future classroom and teach my future students the importance of being fully aware of how our digital identity can be formed and the things that we do and do not have control of when using networked publics.
References
Jawed, S., Mahboob, U., & Yasmeen, R. (2019). Digital professional identity: Dear Internet! Who am I? Education for Health, 32(1), 33. https://doi.org/10.4103/efh.efh_232_17
October 2, 2023 at 10:00 pm
It was great to read your post, and your insights into how digital identities converge with the online public highlight the benefits of building community and promoting continuous learning. The ability to connect, work, and learn remotely has been made possible by the digital world in trying times like the COVID-19 pandemic. However, you correctly highlight the difficulties with privacy and trust that arise from online interactions.