Author: asiataryn (Page 1 of 2)

This video is a the final project for this course where my group and I discussed Instagram and LinkedIn in relation to PLN building in a professional context.

-Reflect on your experience in this course, your development of PLN, your use of social media platforms and networked publics, any changes in your perspective of social media use in professional and private settings. –

Through this course, I have gained invaluable knowledge about how social media platforms can be utilized to build digital identity and PLNs to facilitate professional and personal connections. I discovered how to successfully create my digital identity in public networks through presenting myself as a product of my interests and actively interacting with others online. This is a continual process of constructing my PLN to aid in professional opportunities, rather than a way to connect personally. It is clear that in the current environment of technological advancement, professionals must utilize networks in positive, communication-based ways. This ability has the potential to create a global community of like-minded people and sustain professional development. I have learned that social media use also requires a critical analysis of the information available and use policies to reap the many benefits. I have also come to understand that social media presents challenges and pitfalls to self-disclosure, meaningful communication, and security. As a result, it is increasingly important to build a PLN of trusted professionals and personal contacts. As a whole, this course increased my awareness of how social media can be utilized across settings to become an integral tool for learning.

Can your PLN be relied upon to open professional opportunities? Can your PLN be used to help professional development post-course?

As of right now, my PLN cannot be relied upon to open professional opportunities, and this is something I must actively work on. I think there are two main reasons for this, one of which being the lack of effort I had previously put into building a professional PLN. I have built my digital identity and PLN around who I am as a person, my friends, and interests outside of education. This allows my PLN to successfully foster interpersonal relationships, but does not facilitate professional opportunities. As many of my friends are still currently in school, or not in school at all I have very few connections to others in my field. However, in the next few years as my personal contacts graduate and embark upon professional careers, the number of opportunities will increase. For example, I have many friends who are about to graduate and become teachers, thereby creating a bi-directional professional relationship. As I will soon graduate and enter into the field of psychology, we will be able to further foster our connection from simply personal to include professional. Another main reason for the lack of professional opportunity within my PLN as of right now is the lack of education around making this possible. Perhaps I have not been seeking this information out, but prior to this course, I had no idea how social media and my PLN could be used in a professional context. In my psychology degree, we are taught the concepts, and diagnoses, and treatment but we are not taught how to navigate the professional world. The fact is that the majority of professional opportunities will come from connections built upon social media, but we are not given the tools to do so. Through this course however, I have learned just how integral social media can be in facilitating professional connections and how to utilize one’s PLN in this context. This work is something I aim to continue post-course, and hope to have a PLN that truly can help my professional development.

What is media literacy?

Media literacy is the ability to understand the information shared via social media and related digital technology, and to be able to distinguish between the message and effect. It is the ability to critically interpret content on social media and determine whether it is fact, opinion, or persuasion.

Why is it important?

Media literacy is incredibly important, for users of all ages. Again, this is how social media presents harm and benefit through providing a platform for any individual to share information. The problem becomes apparent when people do not know how to separate information into fact, experience, opinion, bias, intent, and purpose. Another issue is that information shared often exists as a combination of all these factors. Moreover, most users tend to take such information as inherently truthful, rather than critically analyzing it. As discussed in the video with Julie Smith on media literacy, we are currently in an environment with essentially infinite information, so much so that it becomes highly challenging to separate the complex network of fact. With unprecedented opportunity to share information online, it is logical that misinformation is highly prevalent. There are a multitude of examples that demonstrate this, but perhaps the most divisive and recent is the anti-vaccine rhetoric that occurred during the COVID pandemic. Anti-vaccine individuals utilized the lack of media literacy skills among the general population to spread misinformation, fear, and hate. Thus, it became a highly politicized and dangerous belief system that many people took as truth. I recall, back in 2021, talking to my aunt about getting my vaccine when she became angry and defiant; following the same misinformed rhetoric spread by anti-vaccine content creators. I explained how the information she took as truth has countless studies and scientific evidence disproving it, but she chose to ignore it. She didn’t have the media literacy skills to understand how to interpret information on social media, and used that information to build a belief system that disallowed contradicting views. In this way, building media literacy is a crucial piece of media usage and protection, because once embedded as fact, it becomes difficult to dissuade. This relates to a psychological concept called confirmation bias, wherein people tend to seek out information that confirms their pre-existing views and reject information that contradicts them. Thus, without adequate media literacy skills, the information found online is believed, ingrained, and confirmed in an iterative cycle. As demonstrated by this example, the lack of media literacy can have significant consequences on politics, family, public health, and employment. Therefore, media literacy is an important tool to develop when interacting with social media.

Why is it dismissed?

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, people have a tendency to take information on social media as truth and often do not see the need to critically analyze it. Moreover, the implications of confirmation bias demonstrate that people are often unwilling to analyze information that aligns with their viewpoints. As a result, media literacy is dismissed as unnecessary, useless, or inapplicable. We take the words of others as truthful, forgetting that most everyone has ulterior motives, whether good or bad. As mentioned in the video with Julie Smith, with such expansive information, it becomes the user’s problem to sort through, analyze, and develop literacy skills. This work defeats the purpose of mindlessly scrolling on TikTok or Twitter to create an environment that requires conscious effort. This is work that most people do not care to engage in, and thus reinforces the dismissal of media literacy skills. As a person who grew up with technology, I was never taught media literacy skills because they were never seen as important. I have media literacy skills as a result of my university education, which taught me how to critically analyze research. This skill has transferred to media literacy, but it was not intentional. Even now, when I search up media literacy, the articles are targeted towards parents of young children. Media literacy is viewed as a children’s tool, rather than an important skill for all. It is both assumed that information online is truth, and that we should be able to discriminate between fact and opinion easily without being taught.

Why should you aim for varied views but factual consensus in your PLN?

As social media is an excellent place to participate in learning from diverse perspectives, it is important to aim for a PLN that includes these voices. However, as mentioned, it is also important these perspectives have a factual basis. Within my PLN, I try to ensure the people I interact with are either personal friends, accredited professionals, or those who share personal experience. As well, I uphold my personal values of inclusivity and social justice in my PLN to further curate this. Factual information without the accreditation of research and/or scientific evidence is dismissed until I can properly research the claims. Social media is a powerful tool of global communication, but one must ensure that information is critically analyzed before integrating it into a belief system.

References:

https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/what-is-media-literacy

YouTube – EDCI 338 – MEDIA LITERACY with JULIE SMITH

How does social media engage communication?

Social media is a powerful tool of communication, as individual users can become influential voices of community and dissent across the globe. Despite the importance of digital identity and building one’s PLN, there remains an inherent anonymity of the internet and particularly social media. Communication is no longer necessitated by face to face conversation; allowing a sense of freedom of expression to flourish. Of course, this freedom and perceived anonymity has both negative and positive consequences, but I will focus on the positive. When individuals utilize social media to create conversation, it has the immense power of reaching millions of people instantly. For example, the MeToo movement that took centre stage on social media throughout 2017 demonstrated how social media can engage public communications. This global movement was created on the basis of open and free conversation from and for survivors of sexual abuse; a topic that is often hidden in public. The use of social media allowed millions of survivors to come forward, empowering truth and justice. This movement, and many others, effectively utilize social media as an integral space to engage global communication. This relates to the article by Clark & Auferdheide where the relationship between content and coordination was discussed. The MeToo movement reflects the power of high-quality, engaging content and the global coordination of the public communication system. With the numerous high-profile allegations that arose, the content effectively engaged the general public rapidly. With such content came the coordination of newspapers, talk shows, campaigns, and criminal cases. Within a single year, multiple prolific criminal trials were held, articles were released, names were blacklisted and defamed. Thus, the content and coordination of such content enabled the movement to further facilitate global communication. 

How does social media challenge communication?

To build upon the previous paragraph, such effective communication comes with challenges. As mentioned, the origination of the MeToo movement came from a non-profit organization founded by African-American activist, Tarana Burke in 2006. Despite her use of social media to promote the same message, it was not until celebrities began using it that it gained power and influence. Now, American actress Alyssa Milano is credited for this movement, rather than Tarana Burke. This demonstrates that the use of social media to facilitate communication relies, not on the message itself, but the person posting it. Social media itself reflects systemic barriers to communication found in reality; two of which are race and class. The challenge comes in who is afforded the power of communicating to the public and who the public will listen to.

Is it inclusive?

With billions of people utilizing social media for communication, it must be viewed as inclusive. However, the definition of inclusivity in poorly defined and dependent upon how one interacts with social media. For example, on TikTok one can find communities of people of colour amplifying their experiences, facilitating anti-racist communication and diverse perspectives. You can also find communities of white supremacists, anti-LGBTQ+, criminals and many more. So, the short answer is yes, social media is inclusive of all viewpoints and values, but this also provides these individuals a platform on which they can converse. This is again where the double-edged sword of social media comes in; where the same platform can both amplify anti-racist and racist rhetoric.

Does your PLN amplify the views of others?

To extend the previous paragraph, the definition of inclusivity and amplification of diverse voices is a bi-direction relationship between the user and the platform. I personally value the presence of diverse perspectives, conversations around climate change, the promotion of BIPOC experiences, social justice movements, and the opportunity to reflect upon my privilege. Thus, my PLNs and social media feeds reflect this to create a network that represents these values. In this way, I am blind to the other sides of social media where these values are absent, just as I designed to be so.

The context of employer social media communication expectations.

To bring this discussion back to the politics of social media communication, the MeToo movement also showcased the effects of social media use within employment. In 2017, thousands of allegations from survivors became public knowledge. A vast majority of these allegations were against powerful men; CEOs, coaches, reporters, producers, and presidents. Many of those men faced the consequences, most often the loss of their job and status. Though these are minor repercussions in the face of the harm done, it does reflect the ways in which social media has become influential within the workplace and politics. Today, those same men whose names have been blacklisted on a public platform will carry that with them to future job opportunities. With the volatile and powerful nature of social media to tarnish reputations, whether deserved or not, employers now must consider employee’s presence online as an asset or issue. Within this one example, the survivors who have shared their stories are celebrated as strong individuals prepared to amplify the voices of others in a just cause. This kind of presence and use of communication is valued by most employers, whereas the abusers are seen as liabilities. It is clear that social media is by far the most powerful method of global communication, and it has consequences that extend into work, politics, and life.

References:

https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2019/10/8534374/a-metoo-timeline-to-show-how-far-weve-come-how-far-we-need-to-go

Media & Social Justice CHAPTER 4 A New Vision for Public Media Open, Dynamic, and Participatory Jessica Clark and Patricia Aufderheide http://ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/login?url=http://www.palgraveconnect.com/doifinder/10.1057/9780230119796

• Building a reputation and trust in a connected culture can be difficult; how are you building a network of individuals who are dynamic, reliable, & participatory?

• I have long since neglected the intended building of networks using social media. My network consists of high school and university friends, co-workers, and people I’ve met travelling. It is a space of safety and comfort within which I can post pictures of my life without the need of perfection or the threat of hate. I don’t seek out new followers or engage with people I don’t know personally and perhaps this is limiting the benefits of a PLN. However, the network I have created out of real-world friendships is a space where people are participatory and reliable. For example, if I post a photo of the beach on my Instagram, I will have friends comment on, like, or direct message me about the post. This kind of engagement allows further conversation and connection to flourish, and it is reciprocated. Though my network may be limited to those I trust, I also trust them to be dynamic and engaging within each context.

• Are you leveraging healthy relationships from your PLN for growth?

• To be honest, I would say no. Though I understand social media and PLNs are greatly important in both personal and professional domains, I tend to forget about using them. In an age where technology has made communication easier than ever, I am beginning to reject social media as a whole and I don’t particularly enjoy using it. I don’t particularly care to create growth online, but rather have been focused on creating growth for myself in my real life world. While there are numerous benefits of social media and PLN use, I have found that social media tends to harm my mental health more than help it. For many people, social media can be a challenging space of perpetual negative comments, unhealthy comparisons, and perfected highlight reels of experiences. Perhaps this will change as I merge into the professional world and require a professional PLN, but for now I do not utilize my PLN for growth.

• How would you create a PLN prior to engaging in a social media campaign on a topic of your choice? Consider how you would introduce yourself to others consider how you would engage in initial conversation to generate interest in your campaign professionally.
• To answer this question, I’ll use an example of creating a social media campaign for participating in climate change action, such as organizing beach clean-ups around Victoria. Firstly, I would choose multiple platforms on which to build a PLN as a way of generating interest across diverse modes of delivery. I would use Instagram to build an initial basis for introducing myself and connecting with others more personally, through direct messages and interacting with posts. I would introduce myself through highlighting my personal interest in taking action to fight climate change and my aims for the campaign. I would create multiple engaging and educational posts that link to work other activists have been doing and generate an interest in being part of the community. To reach greater audiences, I would work to build a professional PLN based around climate change activism and reach out to others in my area with similar interests. Secondly, I would create a linked TikTok account, because I view TikTok as being an effective platform to gain more connections and spread the campaign further. I would create engaging videos of myself cleaning up beaches, talking about the effects of climate change, and the issues most salient to Vancouver Island. Similarly to Instagram, I would also use TikTok to find similar people, comment on their videos and perhaps plan a collaboration. I would build my professional identity around being engaging, reciprocal, and highly interested in collaboration, both digitally and in the world. To do so, I would be active in commenting, responding to comments, and direct messaging others in order to create this environment.

Thanks for reading everyone!

• Explore the videos provided and reflect on the themes of a PLN in professional capacity
• In professional capacities, the use of PLNs can be both beneficial and harmful. If we consider PLNs as existing on any platform where individuals intend to connect with and learn from each other, this can extend to social media posts as well. In the video from Common Sense Education, they encourage teachers to utilize PLNs as a way of broadening one’s professional and personal spheres of communication. This video emphasized the positive aspects of PLN use, given that these individuals are engaging online in a positive manner. I do think that social media PLNs can be very beneficial in increasing skills, tools, and lesson plans for educators. As I come from a psychology background, I think about this in terms of finding innovative and compassionate ways of engaging diverse learners. For example, a teacher who has a child with Autism in their class may be able to connect with educators who have the necessary skills and knowledge to help. The teacher could then discover new ways of engaging the student in learning, skill strategies for challenging moments, and adjust their style of teaching for this student. On the other hand, as the video from Steward Fundamentals showcased, social media PLNs can have a detrimental effect on professional environments. When professionals do not use their PLN in a positive manner, but rather an overtly negative manner, there are consequences. In the examples shown, the individuals were using their PLN to spread negativity and sexual harassment, thus violating codes of conduct. Social media, though pervasive in society, is often thought of as a personal expression rather than a public display. This leads to a sense of anonymity and false security, which is when such posts are created. In this aspect, when used negatively, PLN use hinders professional development.

• Which social media platforms are beneficial in education?

In thinking about this question, the first platform that comes to mind is YouTube. I would argue that YouTube is a social media site which is extremely beneficial in education. Personally, I think I’ve been watching YouTube videos in classes practically since the platform launched in 2005 and this week’s videos provide concrete evidence. YouTube is home to millions of educational videos from TedTalks to Hank Green’s Crash Course, a series of videos that pretty much saved my grades in biology. Having such a vast expanse of multi-disciplinary educational videos enables teachers to bring in new information and students to further their learning. Another platform that I consider to be educationally beneficial is TikTok. To be honest, I have learned a lot from watching TikTok videos that span from health to science to archeology to psychology. Though I wouldn’t be surprised to see teachers showing their classes certain TikTok videos, I think TikTok remains a more private source of education. For example, I watched a video on prosocial activities for pre-schoolers and then went to work and proposed we implement the activities there. In this way, I am both learning and teaching, using this one TikTok as the basis.

• When working with the vulnerable sector, how does social media fit into professionalism and regulations?

In my opinion, social media use requires consent. This is not a universal rule, of course, but I believe it to be especially important when working with vulnerable sectors. It does depend upon the sector in question and the governing bodies that create the regulations for social media use. I currently work with children as an employee of a licensed daycare, and we have extremely strict rules on social media use and photographs. As children are a vulnerable population, they must first have parental consent to any photograph taken, even if it goes nowhere. Secondly, as employees, we are forbidden from ever posting images of the children, explicitly saying their names online, or posting anything about them at all on our personal social media. In fact, any images we do take of the kids must be deleted from our camera roll in the event of theft or misuse. However, we do have a secure, password protected, app called Workplace where we are encouraged to post pictures of the children and what we are doing that day. Workplace is confined to only the current employees of the center and is, ideally, confidential. On one hand, I think this is a great way for the staff to connect and see images of what craft or activity the kids were doing that day. On the other hand, I continuously question the true security of social media, particularly given that the app is owned by Facebook, which is not exactly the pinnacle of data protection. Though I have trust in my co-workers, the truth is that any of them can go into the app and screenshot the images. I do not think any of us would actually maliciously do this, but the threat still exists. I believe this example is applicable to all vulnerable populations, and showcases the necessity of privacy and respect in social media use.

Discuss in the Mattermost group aspects of education outside of the traditional classroom, include dialogue about how education in the workplace in any capacity can consist of social media & what boundaries should be considered before encouraging discourse in a professional environment.

As social media use becomes increasingly important across multiple domains, it provides extensive opportunities for education. Outside of the classroom, platforms like YouTube and now, TikTok, have become hotspots for information sharing. Personally, I think I’ve learned more from watching Hank Green’s crash course and TikTok videos than from my first year biology course. However, this digital education extends beyond science, but to include social justice education worldwide. For example, without the brave voices speaking out to the world about the current Iranian revolution, it would be unlikely that us in the West would ever know. Another example is the Black Lives Matter movement that took center stage across social media in the spring of 2020, for it began with the dynamic use of widespread engagement. In these ways, social media has become a powerful tool for education, across countries and disciplines that exist outside of the classroom. In the workplace, social media also has its place in marketing, communication, user engagement, and prospective employee screening. In my job at a small restaurant, the company has effectively used Instagram to advertise our food and build a following of loyal customers. This use has provided education for the growing consumer base, but also the employees themselves. For me, I see the images they post of certain meals or drinks, and thus I can know exactly how the company wants it to be presented. However, because I use my personal Instagram when interacting with the company one, I must always be careful of my digital footprint and maintain professionalism. Thus, there are certain boundaries I do not cross, such as complaining about my job or posting negative comments about the company. As a whole, social media has become a central aspect in education, both within and outside the traditional classroom.

Thank you for reading!

References:

• What digital platforms are students currently using to develop their professional network?

Based upon some of the V&R maps other students have posted this week as well as my own, I would say we currently use very few platforms. I personally don’t use LinkedIn, but some other students do, which I believe is an effective tool in building a professional network. In fact, I noticed that very few students use any form of professional networks and I believe this is a reflection of the stage of life we are in. At least for me, I have not yet entered into my field and thus I don’t particularly see the need to truly develop a professional network. As a psychology major, it is very challenging to work within psychology without a degree, most often a master’s degree. Thus, I have no credentials or qualifications that I can utilize to build a professional identity. Furthermore, I have held the same two jobs for the past three years; neither of them requiring a professional presence online, other than interacting on our employee websites.

• What could the student consider in expanding their professional learning network?

I think that all of us, as students, should consider the benefits of creating a professional network presence. Despite still being in school, with many of us having part time jobs, it is important to begin the process of building a professional identity that is separate from our personal one. For me, I will graduate this year with an extremely limited professional network and this is something I have begun to think about. I do think it is important to start this process but at the same time, but becoming a professional still seems so far away. I believe a good place to begin is likely on LinkedIn, and thus we should all consider the expansion of our professional digital identities.

• Thread Discussion: How do data privacy and security limit and promote a PLN? In your network, how can you create a digital identity/ reputation?

The creation of a successful PLN requires a strong balance between privacy and self-disclosure. If we consider a PLN as being primarily used in institutional settings, rather than personal ones, the user must be aware of their digital identity and what information is appropriate to disclose. It is imperative to remember that one’s digital identity is seen as a direct reflection of one’s real self, and thus becomes subject to judgement. For example, an individual who posts images or tweets about drinking or drug use is unlikely to attract professionals who can expand their PLN. In comparison, someone who posts about their field, or otherwise presents as a well rounded individual has the potential to successfully build a professional PLN. Now these two examples are not mutually exclusive, so it becomes a balance of disclosing certain aspects of the self while keeping others private. In my own network, I am very careful about what I post and which aspects of myself I share. I often consider how it will be seen by employers, family members, or other professional contacts. I work to curate a digital identity that emphasizes my interests in psychology (my major), literature, the outdoors, and travel. As social media becomes an increasingly important aspect in society, I believe that it is important to create a digital identity that showcases the best parts of myself and my life.

• Consider in your blog submission how an employer would respond if you applied for a job with them and they assessed your social media presence via your digital identity.

I believe this response is dependent upon the context of employment. I primarily use Instagram as my basis of digital identity, and I post images that are reflective of who I want to be seen as. The majority of my presence emphasizes my love of nature and travel, presenting a person who is free-spirited and connected to the earth. If either of my current employers had looked at my Instagram before hiring me, I truly do not think they would care at all. I do not post distasteful images, and thus I don’t think it would be a problem. However, if an employer was hiring me for a long term, stable position, I think they may have reservations about my ability to stay in one place for so long. Truth be told, I wouldn’t apply for a job that required such stability, but I’m sure they might question whether I was the right person for the job. I dislike being stuck in the same place for too long, despite my holding jobs for multiple years, I have continuously left and returned after travelling. I think, in most realistic contexts, any employer would respond with neutrality or positivity to my digital identity. Another aspect to this is the reality of ‘pretty privilege’ and the ability for more attractive people to be more liked. This is not to sound conceited, but simply a truth. For example, in the restaurant industry and many others, one is almost required to be attractive. I’ve worked in restaurants for years now, and I know this to be true because I have seen it happen. So, my digital identity is a reflection of my best self; the images where I look most attractive and happy. Therefore, in certain employment contexts, they would likely respond positively if I match the ideal image of who they want as an employee. Overall, I think any employer would either not care, or be more inclined to hire me, based upon my digital identity.

Thank you for reading!

References:

http://experimental.worldcat.org/vandrmapping/editMap

https://digitaltattoo.ubc.ca/quizzes/privacy-and-surveillance/ Regan, P., & Jesse, J. (2019).

http://experimental.worldcat.org/vandrmapping/assets/documents/VRAMappingInstructions.pdf

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!