Talking about Digital Identity… – Gunpreesh Kaur

What is a digital identity?

The definition of digital identity can be difficult to explain as it has many layers. According to Binary Tattoo, ” Our digital identity is the permanent collection of data about us that is available online.” Every time we post a picture, a video, or even a comment, we are adding to the digital identity that we have online. It is important to distinguish between the user and digital identity. A user refers to the individual that operates a website/ blog to whom the digital identity is assigned. The set of links users keep in the network is considered a social graph that reveals information about the individual’s identity (Writing Cooperative).

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

People use separate accounts for their personal and professional life. For example, many people use Instagram to share their social life, trips, and hobbies while using Linkedin to share all their experiences in one spot for employers to check their work experience.

It is important to distinguish between using social media for personal or professional use. The personal approach to digital identity using social media is where individuals share their personal life, adventures and lessons they learn with their friends and surrounding community on the internet (Identity-Making and Social Media). Thus, sharing your personal life as your digital identity.

However, professional approaches to digital identity can be achieved by establishing a positive digital presence by joining and optimizing their social media presence, such as LinkedIn. This can be achieved by having positive photos and comments on social media and sharing an E-portfolio containing blog posts of their personal learning and issues related to their profession. These will allow for positive feedback when employers look at your social media platform since many employers check candidates’ social media before hiring them. Zippia says, ” 54% of companies have eliminated a candidate based on their social media feed alone.” Thus, a positive digital identity is essential in the workplace. A couple of companies contacted me through my LinkedIn account, where I share my work experience in one spot, which allows the employer to learn more about me and offer me a position at their company.

Thus, it is important to remember that your digital identity is not just something you can change; it is a tattoo that will stay for the rest of your life!

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

Through social media, people can quickly connect with others around the world. Since digital identities are represented by “ you are what you share,” people with similar ideas and commonalities can connect and learn from each other. Moreover, individuals also share their digital identities with the networked public. For example, many clinics use digital identity to register patients for consent and doctor appointment (Education for Health (Abingdon, England)). This is helpful in terms of saving time, where patients can do it from any place, and they only need a device and internet. However, this means that people’s information and online activity are online, and others can access it. This can lead to dangerous consequences if this healthcare system is not protected.

My Social Media Present

My digital identity is informal and formal, depending on the social media platform I am dealing with. For example, on Instagram, I am very informal; my digital identity represents what I like to do in my free time and share my hobbies with close friends. On LinkedIn, my digital identity is more formal and with a broader audience. I only share posts regarding my achievement and what skills I gain with professionals. Learning how to use WordPress can help develop my professional digital identity to be able to share
PLN

References:

  • Cover photo credit: https://edusites.uregina.ca/gunpreesh/2022/02/21/talking-about-digital-identity/
  • How are you defining your digital identity? – BINARYTATTOO – data privacy & compliance. BinaryTattoo. (2021, August 9). https://www.binarytattoo.com/about-us/
  • 15+ Essential Social Media Recruitment Statistics [2023]: How effective is social media recruiting?. Zippia. (2023, May 12). https://www.zippia.com/advice/social-media-recruitment-statistics/#:~:text=What%20percentage%20of%20employers%20check,their%20social%20media%20feed%20alone.
  • Orihuela, J. L. (2023, March 2). Digital Identity and Social Networks. Medium. https://writingcooperative.com/digital-identity-and-social-networks-8726a80ee725
  • Identity-making and Social Media. (n.d.). Digital Leisure, the Internet and Popular Culture. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137405876.0007
  • Mahboob, U., Jawed, S., & 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_1