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Personal digital identity is a specific digital identity associated with an individual person. It refers to the online presence that a person identifies in the digital world. Personal digital identity typically includes Social media profiles such as LinkedIn, which provides a digital identity and helps individuals to connect with others online.

Professional digital identity, on the other hand, represents an individual’s online presence that is specifically tied to their profession.

Usually, there will be an overlap between personal and professional digital identities, however, individuals often maintain separate online personalities between personal and professional digital identities for the purposes to manage their online image appropriately in different contexts.

Using Visitors and Residents mapping showed that I mainly use Instagram for personal use while LinkedIn for professional use. This is true because I have different online image depnding on the platform I use.

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

Students, nowadays, use different platforms to grow and maintain professional relationships with their peers and larger network. For example, LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that helps students to connect with classmates and professionals. Moreover, it is a great way to search for job opportunities related to the field of interest. Facebook Groups also offer groups focused on specific industries which allow students to join groups and connect with their peers who share the same interest.

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

Students can expand their professional learning networks by first defining their professional goals and interest that they want to connect with their PLN. Also, Engaging in online communities such as social media groups on their areas of interest can help the students to build a relationship and expand their networks. Moreover, using LinkedIn to connect with professionals by reaching out and asking for Informational interviews. This can help students to learn more about the industry they are interested in and potentially build a mentorship relationship. last but not least, using LinkedIn to connect with professionals

How do data privacy and security limit and/or promote a PLN?

Data privacy and security has an crucial effect on Professional Learning Networks (PLN). Some of the limitations include restrictions on access to certain resources. Data privacy will limit access to certain databases which might contain personal information such as in health care system where it is essential to have data privacy to protect patients’ personal information from being hacked. Moreover, data privacy promote trust and confidentiality. For example, having strong data privacy and security build trust between health care institutions and patients and this building trust within PLN

In your network how can you create a digital identity/ reputation?

I can create a digital identity by using the resident mode method where I share thoughtful content that aligns with my professional goals and expertise. Since I am interested in the pharmaceutical industry, I can share articles, blog posts to showcase my knowledge on the healthcare system by making sure that everything I am sharing is well researched to reach the target audience.

Also, using a consistent profile picture and bio to help people recognize and connect with my digital identity.

Moreover, being authentic and transparent and showing my personality in a professional manner

Building digital identity takes time, but it is important because it would be one of the main things employers will consider before hiring you, so it is important to maintain professionalism and respect while being authentic to your digital presence.

Reference

• Privacy, Ethics & Security in Digital Spaces Developing Awareness of Privacy Regan, P., & Jesse, J. (2019) https://digitaltattoo.ubc.ca/quizzes/privacy-and-surveillance/
• The Digital Visitor and Resident Continuum White. D. (2017). V and R Mapping. Retrieved from http://daveowhite.com/vandr/vr-mapping/
• What is a Visitor/Resident (PDF) http://experimental.worldcat.org/vandrmapping/assets/documents/VRAMappingInstructions.pdf
• Visitor & Resident Maps http://experimental.worldcat.org/vandrmapping/signIn

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

Humans are network individuals where they live and learn in a network society. These individuals interact with people, digital devices, information sources and services through this network. Individuals mainly start looking into personal learning networks (PLN) through the pandemic. They use PLN to learn professional learning and derive knowledge. The PLN was developed by building and maintaining connections that allow the person to learn from other resources and help develop their own personal learning network. 

• What does it mean to a network using social media? 
  • As humans, we are network individuals. We learn and live in a network society. People use networks to interact with people they prefer, digital devices, and gather information. However, the network can also be used to develop our network skills and digital literacies (website). This can be achieved using social media, where technology offers some support in developing relationships through connecting with people on social media such as networking on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. 

•  How are we motivated to participate in networked publics? 
  • Networked publics allow people from different expertise to interact with one another. This type of networking allows for the possibility to ask advice from people who have experience and are knowledgeable. Nevertheless, reflecting on work in a broader perspective than day-to-day help to be motivated. This can be achieved by participating in networked publics where individuals can communicate with people in the network through networking platforms. Furthermore, remaining in touch with these people in the network further enhances the relationship. Also, these continuous searches to network with people can help find hidden people and experiences that allow the individual to develop their PLN.  The benefit of networking is the motive to participate in the network public. 

• What are the risks & rewards of public communications? 
  • Public communication has its pros and cons. Interacting with people and sharing personal information or events you want to share with others is very rewarding. Public communication can be a way to connect with your ancestor, such as using 23andMe to learn more about your origins and where you come from.  However, this type of public communication can reach beyond the people you want to connect with and, nevertheless, has its cons regarding the individual’s information being online. It is challenging to achieve privacy in a network setting. 
  • The risk of public communication is that there is no information privacy. It is very challenging to achieve privacy in the network public. This invasion of privacy has risks in terms of being judged by what you posted from long ago. Individuals may share their thoughts about a certain topic online, then realize this opinion was not fully accurate. It would be hard to remove the original thoughts from the internet, and individuals might be judged later on in life based on that thoughts. Colleges may reject people based on the information they read about them that is found online. Moreover, risks can include digital identity theft. If an individual shares personal details about their life, digital identity theft might use personal information illegally.

References

• What is a personal learning network (PLN)?. FutureLearn. (2022, October 25). https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/learning-network-age/0/steps/24644
• View of understanding personal learning networks: Their structure, content and the networking skills needed to optimally use them: First Monday. View of Understanding personal learning networks: Their structure, content and the networking skills needed to optimally use them | First Monday. (n.d.). https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3559/3131
• View of networked privacy. (n.d.). https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/surveillance-and-society/article/view/networked/networked