Month: January 2023

What is a digital identity?

As defined in Stoller’s video, a digital identity can be thought of as one’s presence and footprint upon the internet; the ways in which one interacts with networked publics. This digital identity may be comprised of general activity, one’s posted content, or a combination of the two across both personal and professional domains. In terms of social media, the user’s digital identity is often a culmination of their posts, followers, likes, and accounts they follow. One’s digital identity on social media is often a reflection of reality, allowing others to view a snapshot of their true identity. However, social media is one of many networks which utilize digital identities. For example, even on Brightspace, we each have a digital identity that uses our personal information as well as university information to create a comprehensive and personalized page.

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

In the personal sphere, one’s digital identity can become increasingly unfiltered, allowing one to present a realistic version of the self through social media. For example, for personal use, an individual could post images of them at a bar, in their pajamas, or eating lunch. The personal use of media allows the user to decide what to post, like or comment; providing increased opportunity to engage with others in self-disclosure and open communication. Moreover, personal social media use is a key tool for social relationship building; as many of us today rely on social media as a way of maintaining and contributing to our relationships. However, in the professional sphere, one’s digital identity must be carefully curated to present a certain image within social media.  For example, the social media of someone who runs a small business must curate a different digital identity than their personal account. This professional identity must facilitate consumer engagement through marketing and advertisement tools. This account may provide valuable opportunities for financial gain, expanding the product range or collaboration with other brands, and thus should be specifically created for these purposes.

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

Just as with the general use of networks, digital identities share in both the benefits and drawbacks of privacy, communication, knowledge sharing, and misuse. Digital identities, particularly on social media, present ample opportunity for scams and fraud to occur. For example, on Instagram, I personally know many people who have had their accounts hacked or their images used to create fake identities masquerading as them. As our world today seems to revolve around social media, any one person can discover nearly everything about a person’s identity from their social media page. So, not only can individuals use other’s photos and names to create fake identities, but they can also use location and activity to stalk them. As a young woman, I personally never allow my location to be turned on or post a photo until after I have left the area. However, despite the potential risks, the creation and use of a digital identity can be quite beneficial. One’s digital identity is somewhat like a portfolio of who one is, or aspires to be, or wants to be seen as. It can be a way to creatively express one’s identity and facilitate social relationships based on mutual likeness. Sharing identities promotes open communication, self-disclosure, and knowledge sharing across domains. For example, sharing photos of myself can lead to comments from friends and businesses that provide the basis for further communication and collaboration. This is also one way that professional and personal digital identities can converge in networked publics. Professional accounts often use social media to find people who they feel represent their brand or product, leading to collaboration. Essentially, this is how influencer culture was created and maintained. Influencers are the epitome of merging professional and personal digital identities, as they use their pre-established identity to sell products. Overall, digital identities on social media have become a significant aspect of who we are, and thus present equal opportunity for risk and benefit.

– Can a digital wallet provide trust in networked publics?

This is an interesting question, because it depends upon to whom trust is provided. In the video showing the World Economic Forum’s conference on digital identity, the use of digital ID was heavily applauded by several members. The use of digital identification, and thus a digital wallet provides increased trust for both institutions and individuals; as a prevention for identity fraud. In particular, India’s government has rapidly increased the use of a digital ID, allowing vast numbers of people to obtain an identification, bank account, financial security and travel opportunities. This use of a digital wallet allows trust to grow between the government and its citizens, as they have been able protect against fraud and increase financial inclusion across sectors of the population. However, digital identities and wallets may not always be so protected. Digital wallets may not provide adequate trust within the community as they present a heightened risk for cyber criminals to hack into secure accounts and access personal and financial information. On the other hand, when ignoring the implications for potential fraud, the digital wallet can be a useful tool within networks and real world activities. For example, in my life, I feel secure knowing that as long as I have my phone with me, I am able to pay for anything easily. As a server, I have trust in my customers that even if they forget their physical wallet, they will still be able to pay with their digital wallet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital wallets and identification allowed trust that the people I interacted with were vaccinated. With any digital activity, the benefits and risks of use are inherently present, allowing the user to weigh utility against potential fraud.

Thank you for reading!

References:

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137405876_6

https://search.library.uvic.ca/permalink/01VIC_INST/1ohem39/cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_2289573754

In response to the questions posed, as well as our discussion, here are my thoughts regarding personal learning networks and the use of social media.

What does it mean to network using social media?

Networking itself can be loosely defined as a process of forming connections with professionals, using skills to understand others work and value in relation to one’s own. Networking by nature is egocentric, as the individual systematically forms and maintains connections with those who are expected to further their professional activities. Likewise, the use of social media is inherently egocentric, as users build and interact with a community of ‘followers’ that they choose. So, to bring the practice of  networking and social media together, it is a process of expanding one’s digital identity to center around professional interests with the intention of forming strong or weak connections with others in an online space. This process is directed towards finding professional connections who can potentially stimulate further knowledge and professional success, or simply be individuals to learn from, teach, or otherwise engage with. Networking is not only sharing in the attitude and intention of forming professional connections, but requires the maintenance and activation of these connections. Thus, networking using social media is not a passive experience of hitting ‘follow’ and ‘follow back’ but an active iteration of searching, communicating, and collaborating with others in the network. 

How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?

In my experience, the motivation to participate in networks, particularly social media sites is to; belong, communicate, teach, learn, work and be known. Social media is the way of the world today, for it has become the central node in global information sharing and collaboration. In my short lifetime I have watched sites such as TikTok turn from a platform for silly videos to a place where I can gain health advice, learn from scientists, watch others travel the world, and receive news updates all in a few scrolls. Social media sites are irreplaceable in our economic, political, educational, professional, and personal worlds, thus creating a dependency upon the sites themselves. We are motivated to use social media and networks to impart some of our small existence upon a larger sphere. In this era of social media, we desire to share our lives, to be known, to exist. In the professional world of networking, this idea is expanded to include employment and collaboration opportunities. If a professional does not engage in some kind of public network, whether LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok or even Indeed.com, how can an employer know they exist? In my workplace, which is a locally owned restaurant, individuals who hand off physical resumes are almost never contacted and instead we tend to hire people who reply to our ads on Indeed.com. This is not an intention, nor consciously decided, but rather an example of how systemically we rely upon public networks even in a relatively low-tech environment. Networks have become an irreplaceable tool within our society, and thus there is an intrinsic motivation for their use across professional and personal worlds.

What are the risks & rewards of public communications?

Social media and networked public spaces are a double-edged sword that has the potential for great benefit, but also great danger. I’ll begin with the risks. First and foremost, personal privacy has little space within these networks. A common colloquialism is that the internet is forever, meaning that once something exists it will be almost always be traceable. This transparency is again a double-edged sword. On one hand, an individual could be denied an excellent professional job over an distasteful image they posted in college. On the other hand, a violent criminal could be caught through tracing their location or activity online. Moreover, when an individual has gained recognition in the public sphere, anything they say or do is observed and critiqued. One example of this is ‘cancel culture’ wherein people are socially ostracized for an event deemed morally wrong by the public, often as a result of posts made years earlier. Furthermore, the distance and relative anonymity of networked spaces provides users with the freedom to say whatever they wish to others, including comments of racism, sexism, fatphobia and homophobia. These comments and the online ridicule can be extremely damaging for users’ mental health as well as their reputation online. However, networked spaces allow users to benefit from existing as part of a global community. The boundaries of space and time do not exist, and thus we have the ability to communicate and learn from others in any corner of the world. The relative anonymity within networks facilitates greater self-disclosure and may allow deeper connections to form between individuals. Through using networks, we put our privacy and wellbeing at risk while simultaneously opening ourselves up to diverse knowledge and global engagement. 

What are the benefits of a PLN?

As previously mentioned, PLNs and networked communication can present multiple benefits which can facilitate greater knowledge acquisition. First and foremost, the usage of PLNs allow learners to control their own consumption and production of knowledge without boundaries of time and space. This can be incredibly important, as it allows diverse perspectives to flourish and the ability for several types of knowledge to be distributed easily.  This dissemination of time and space allows learners to form connections with a global community and facilitate greater opportunities for personal and professional development. Learners can build and interact with their PLN, creating a uniquely individual experience within that network. The personalization that comes with networks allows the individual to build a digital identity and strengthen their specific interests in relevant topics. In the article by the University of Southampton, they mention the impact of climate change on the use and importance of PLNs. I believe this is a profound example of the way in which PLNs have become an everyday tool. Not only are motivated to utilize PLNs for our everyday obligations, but we can use them for social justice causes, such as climate awareness and racial profiling. We can learn from people whom we have never met and hear their unfiltered experiences; gaining  new perspectives for ourselves.

Thank you for reading!

Hi and welcome to my blog, my name is Asia and I look forward to connecting to you through the EDCI community. I am in my 4th year of my psychology degree with a minor in Education here at UVic, where I feel lucky to live. I want to acknowledge these lands are the traditional territories of the Lekwungen, Songhees, Esquimalt, and the  W̱ SÁNEĆ  peoples whose historical relations to the land continue today. In my life, I use an interdisciplinary perspective to combine psychological concepts with education, primarily focusing on neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood and adolescence that significantly impact academic ability. In the future, I hope to work within the education system to create universal models of learning that can be applied for children with diverse needs. In this course, I hope to discover how social media can be adapted for specific learning contexts and applied ethically to facilitate educational pursuits. Outside of school, I love to travel and spend time outdoors; in the mountains or on the ocean. Thank you for reading!