Before the net, community was found at your local centre, restaurants, clubs, and schools. People gathered together to make connections with one another, building a social network. Now the meaning of digital identity is ever-evolving. A digital identity can be described as your digital footprint. How are you perceived online by content you have created, shared, posted and reposted? How can you verify you are who you say you are? 

What is a digital identity?

A digital identity is your online presence and how you are perceived online. Your digital footprint is how you showcase what you create, write, design, and who you are. It can almost be viewed as a ‘pre-interview’ with future employers or new friends (Stoller 2017). This includes profiles on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Tiktok, VSCO and LinkedIn. Each picture, follower and comment can be viewed as an impression of your identity. Additionally, both professional and personal pages make up our digital identities.

How do personal versus professional approaches to digital identity affect social media use?

Stoller notes that digital identities can be both a positive and negative image for future employers. We have seen the consequences that poor jokes or party images have had on someone’s career. Yet, we have also seen the overwhelmingly positive impact that a story, image or idea has boosted success. Even more so, with the recent popularity of TikTok, the ‘rags to riches’ storyline of influencers sharing their passions on social media have transformed career paths and created completely new ones. The question becomes, how do you balance personal versus professional approaches to digital identity? I’d like to personally share my unique approach to this question as my passions and career have collided into one. As a business student studying digital marketing, I am very present online. I currently work with companies and individuals to create digital identities for brands, creating video/digital content for social media platforms. I view my digital identity, much as Stoller points out, as a showcase of my work. My profiles on Instagram and Tiktok highlight my personal image, including images of my passions in fashion, lifestyle and more. This is an indicator of my work and my understanding of social media marketing. Additionally, I include my personal achievements, friendships and relationships on these platforms. Whereas my LinkedIn strictly remains professional, sharing only my academic and professional achievements. Because both of these remain visible to future employers, I must constantly ask myself ‘what impression will this give to someone who doesn’t know me?’ This has influenced the transparency or authenticity of my digital identity and how I use social media overall.

How do digital identities converge in networked publics – what are the impacts and/or benefits?

Every moment you spend online is tracked and analyzed, as the world continues to shift online, governments and commerce need a creative solution to this problem. What about your economical digital identity? With the appearance of constant transparency comes the risk of privacy and identity fraud. The 2019 Davos conference highlighted several innovative approaches several countries have taken to this problem. How to confirm the legitimacy of identification online? Estonia introduced a secure digital ID for its citizens. You are able to bank, register government documents, sign official contracts and refill prescriptions digitally. Providing efficacy, security and participation in the online economy. (Davos 2019) This benefit is also challenged the by risks of privacy. How can our private data remain private?

References:

Spracklen, K. (2015). Identity-Making and Social Media. In: Digital Leisure, the Internet and Popular Culture. Leisure Studies in a Global Era. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137405876_6

University of Derby. (2016, November 25). Eric Stoller – What is Digital Identity? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-V7lyxrOmw

World Economic Forum. (2019, February 5). Davos 2019 – Press Conference The Value of Digital Identity for the Global Economy and Society [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-V7lyxrOmw

Blog Post #1

Personal Learning Networks and Digital Identity

It is apparent that society has seemly logged permanently online. Now our work, school and personal lives revolve around social media. One could argue there is no separation between them as all identities can be accessed and found by anyone. Yet all three personal networks have different intentions, appearances and impressions of a single person. 

What does it mean to network using social media?

This leads to our first question, “what does it mean to network using social media?” Karl Spracklen points out that before social media  “people have always found a sense of community and belonging through social networks.” That continues to be the same although we have translated to an online format where connections can be made across the globe. Networking is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.” Networking using social media can be done with a variety of apps such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and Pinterest. We begin to create our own Personal Learning Networks to form online relationships with others in order to seek and develop new “knowledge and skills in a forever-changing world.” Following educators, influencers, and potential employers’ social media platforms is a form of networking new connections that wouldn’t have been possible offline. Slowing building a “communality layer (strong ties), a sociality layer (weak ties) and a connectivity layer (very weak ties)” online. I have found personal success networking on social media and ultimately landed a job because of it. Nicholas Fair excellently summarized that we should “consider ourselves networked individuals learning and living in a networked society.”

How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?

In short, social media is professionally motivating as it

• supports the development and growth of professionals’ careers

• allows you to find appropriate, constant support when the need arises

• links to new trusted partners when dealing with changing business priorities

Additionally, the personal aspect of community building and participation. It is extremely motivating to have the opportunity to make new friendships and celebrate them online. Having access to information about upcoming events, shops, and lectures. 

What are the risks & rewards of public communications?

With the understanding and power of social networking comes equal power of consequences. 

Rewards:

• Potential for collaboration.
  • The possibility of personal and professional relationships translating into future connections and opportunities. 
• Potential for learning. 
  • Expanding your knowledge by accessing educational platforms that would otherwise be inaccessible. (There are even online Harvard classes free to take to the public!!)

Risks:

• Privacy 
  • The constant tracking, posting and presence online lead to an obvious lack of privacy. Data is constantly collected from every platform you visit, how long you spend there, what you engage with and so on. Even more so, this data is sold off to third-party platforms which you have no control.

References:

Rajagopal, K., Joosten-ten Brinke, D., Van Bruggen, J., & Sloep. P. B. Understanding personal learning networks: Their structure, content and the networking skills needed to optimally use them. First Monday, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v17i1.3559

Spracklen, K. (2015). Identity-Making and Social Media. In: Digital Leisure, the Internet and Popular Culture. Leisure Studies in a Global Era. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137405876_6

What is a personal learning network (PLN)? FutureLearn. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/learning-network-age/0/steps/24644