Topic 2

Topic 2: Reflection

Posted on by Vanessa Li

After browsing through and commenting on Kelly’s and Novina’s blogs, I noticed the running trend among my peers.

When discussing online identities. Many people tend to worry about digital crimes and scams. It is a justifiable concern. As Dr Cristina Costa mentioned in today’s Google Hangout, with a computer screen as a shield, users tend to let go of their social ethics.

Taken from: tumblr.com

How does Mr. Security Camera determine if Mr Kitty is good or bad?

Many of us also discussed the use of social as a professional advancement tool. For example, Rochelle mentions the need for connectivity with potential employers. Much like what Kelly had wrote regarding the need for consistency with her personal LinkedIn and Facebook account as examples.

Below is a pictograph on how employers screen potential employees based on social media platforms.

Taken from: Pinterest - CAFNR Career Services

Taken from: Pinterest – CAFNR Career Services

As many of my classmates had mentioned, having multiple identities is common. We have also established that digital footprints are important as Angie had explained.

The need to control it could allow the user to navigate easily in terms of professional work.  It is the way the owner uses their identities that defines the internet’s honesty. The ongoing argument of whether multiple online identities would, in my opinion, never be solved. identity

I do feel that there is a need to have a personal life away from my professional persona in the digital world. I have been keeping my personal Facebook profiles and such extremely private, never linking the social media platforms to each other.

However I do agree with today’s Google Hangout that social media for work is important and that a central hub that links up the various platforms would be helpful. I do intend to create that for my Digital Portfolio.

In conclusion, as a community, it is everybody’s duty to prevent cyber crimes. As individuals, we should maintain our integrity and social ethics online.

It doesn’t matter if we have one or two online identities. What really matters is the way we manage them.

Topic 2: Online Identity

Posted on by Vanessa Li

Question: Discuss the arguments for and against having more than one online identity.

Facebook Signup Page

Does this page look familiar? If it does, then welcome to the hustle and bustle of the online world. Hit sign up to create your first online identity!

Online identities have been defined as who you are and the amount or type of information you release in cyberspace. This can be done through a screen name, an online profile etc.

Before the ubiquity of social media platforms, online identities could and would remain hidden at the owner’s discretion. However with digital advancement and the ever increasing need for online awareness, identity became essential in forming digital communities. The obligation for accountability and privacy led to the pursuit of online authenticity.

And as we know it, employers are checking potential employee’s Facebook profile for racy photos before hiring them. There are even articles on how to hide your various online identities, as people scramble to erase all forms of derogatory evidence.

Multiple Identities (Pros)

The perks of having multiple online identities are wonderful.

One can specifically craft an identity to create a image of what others want to see. Sounds sinister? Yes. But I feel that such methods are necessary.

We are in the marketing industry whereby multiple personalities are used to promote and communicate brands and people.

We also have ultimate control of what people see. If I used a picture of my mother as my avatar, readers would be none the wiser, unless of course, you are my classmate.

People online are forced to adapt to different networks. Naturally, what you see on my blog may not be what you see on my Instagram account because of the subconscious need to appear balanced in our ability to communicate online.

Multiple Identities (Cons)

However, there are cons as well.

Readers are unsure of identities. The are so many internet frauds going on around the world that it has marred the trust people place in the internet. To extend it even further, people has control over their various identities, coupled with biasness, how sure are you that this is truly the person you are trying to make friends with.

There is also the disconnection between the offline and online personas. When you are splitting yourself up into different aspects to suit different audience, you tend to lose yourself. Hence online, you are person A, B or C. But offline there’s only you.

In terms of privacy, well… Do we even have privacy online? Allow this video to exemplify what I mean.

In conclusion, there are pros and cons to having multiple online identities. It is how you navigate and control them that defines its usefulness and validity.

As mentioned by Dave Vronay “It is about controlling which subsets of true facets of a person are relevant in different social contexts.”

References

Carnegiecyberacademy.com, (2014). Cyberspace Communications – Managing Your Online Identity – The Carnegie Cyber Academy – An Online Safety site and Games for Kids. [online] Available at: http://www.carnegiecyberacademy.com/facultyPages/communication/identity.html [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].

Casserly, M. (2011). Multiple Personalities And Social Media: The Many Faces of Me. [online] Forbes. Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2011/01/26/multiple-personalities-and-social-media-the-many-faces-of-me/ [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].

Krotoski, A. (2012). Online identity: is authenticity or anonymity more important?. [online] the Guardian. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/apr/19/online-identity-authenticity-anonymity [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].