Over the Internet where others have no idea who you are, it is important for us to establish an online identity. It provides a platform for people to express feelings and an identity to communicate with others.
Source: Self-produced from PiktoChart
“An online identity is one’s best assets on the Internet. It is your personal brand name.” – Tom Lynch
However, is the ‘Sandy’ that you are talking to online really called Sandy?
Source: DailyInfographics
‘The ability to be anonymous is increasingly important because it gives people control, it lets them be creative, it lets them figure out their identity and explore what they want to do, or to research topics that aren’t necessarily ‘them’ and may not want tied to their real name for perpetuity.” – Andrew Lewman
As we can see from the picture above, both approaches has its pros and cons. Personally, I feel that it is okay to do either, but it boils down to individuals acting responsibility on the Internet.
In a survey by CareerBuilder in 2014, 51% of employers who research job candidates on social media found content that caused them not to hire the candidates.
With the increased scrutiny on social media by employees, is there a need to have multiple online identities?
Source: Self Produced from PiktoChart
Personally, I am an advocate of multiple online identities. As a digital resident, I connect to different online communities for different purposes and sometimes, the views between these communities might clash.
Different Sites, Different Audiences, Different Purposes.
– dana boyd
I disagree with Mark Zuckererg when he said that having two identities for yourself is an example of a lack of integrity. When communicating with different people, we tend to use different tones and self censor certain contents to suit the needs of different audience. If we are already doing so in real life, why can’t we do it online as well?
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References
CareerBuilder. (2014, June 26). Retrieved November 20, 2017, from CareerBuilder: http://www.careerbuilder.com/share/aboutus/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?sd=6%2F26%2F2014&id=pr829&ed=12%2F31%2F2014
Krotoski, A. (2012, April 19). Technology. Retrieved November 20, 2017, from theguardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/apr/19/online-identity-authenticity-anonymity
Future Learn. (n.d.). (University of Southampton) Retrieved November 20, 2017, from Future Learn: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/3/steps/263025
Zimmer, M. (2010, May 14). Retrieved November 20, 2017, from MichaelZimmer: http://www.michaelzimmer.org/2010/05/14/facebooks-zuckerberg-having-two-identities-for-yourself-is-an-example-of-a-lack-of-integrity/
Young, R. (2017, May 17). Retrieved November 20, 2017, from HuffPost: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ruth-young/your-online-identity-your_b_9994346.html
Darren Chua 
Hey Darren, great post! I particularly liked the infographic you shared contrasting the views of Zuckerberg and Poole. The part that stood out to me was the people who benefited from each approach. Advertisers stand to gain a lot from audience data, especially with the advent of programmatic and targeted advertising. This would mean the interests of Zuckerberg and advertisers align, seeing as digital advertising makes up the crux of Facebook’s revenue (Sharma, 2017). Increased anonymity would obviously disrupt this (Card, 2015).
Is the argument that a single, authentic and verifiable identity is better for the internet with the users in mind, or the people who make money off it? From the infographic, it seems that authenticity benefits a single entities while anonymity can benefit a community.
You’ve mentioned that you advocate multiple identities, but I would also like to know your views on preserving anonymity.
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Facebook’s Revenue
https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/120114/how-does-facebook-fb-make-money.asp
Anonymity is the internet’s next big battleground
https://www.theguardian.com/media-network/2015/jun/22/anonymity-internet-battleground-data-advertisers-marketers
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Hi Shanelle,
Thank you for taking time out to read my blog post. I certainly do agree on your point that Advertisers stand to gain from transparency.
Regarding anonymity, I believe that anonymity allows an individual to speak their mind without fear of negative unintended consequences. In one way or another, it allows the user to be more truthful. Anonymity too increases the security of one’s data, reducing the chances of identity fraud.
However, anonymity breed courage in people. It will give rises to negative consequences such as cyber bullying and the psychological effects of cyber bullying goes a long way.
Personally, I feel that it is alright to remain anonymous on the Internet but we should be responsible in everything that we say.
Cheers!
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Hi Darren! I like the infographics you have on your post about the pros and cons of transparency and anonymity! I agree that it boils down to the individual’s responsibility and actions on the Internet. I relate with your statement, “multiple identities helps us to connect to different online communities for different purposes” that will suit various context as I have multiple identities online too (e.g. Reddit).
In a test done, it has been noted that our patterns of social media activity can be accurately predicted by scores on scientifically valid personality tests and studies show that Facebook “likes” reflect how extroverted, intellectual and prudent we are (Kosinski M, Bachrach Y, Kohli P, Stillwell D, Graepel T, 2014).
Should we then regulate and cater our preferences of our social media handles towards a more neutral standpoint? When do you draw the line when it comes to alteration of your real personal identity for professional use?
I would love to hear from you, cheers!
(152 words)
Source: https://www.mendeley.com/research-papers/manifestations-user-personality-website-choice-behaviour-online-social-networks/
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Hi Marianne,
Thanks for taking time out to read my blog post. I believe that everyone have the rights to state their view points on social media. Personally, I tend to speak my mind off in social media, and this is why I have multiple online Identity so that I could keep personal accounts and professional use apart.
Cheers!
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Hi Darren, interesting read you have there! Particularly referring to the part where you mentioned that being anonymous gives people control, creativity while letting them figuring out their identity, yes I agree with this but I wonder what’s your view on people taking advantage of being anonymous to create chaos online? In this article, it states that more than 800 victims fell for online shopping scams on the platform ‘carousell’ where I personally shop as well! On this platform, sellers are allowed to stay anonymous or not use their real names.
Next, you also highlighted that with the increased scrutiny on social media by employees, is there a need to have multiple online identities? My answer to this is definitely yes! As a university student, I feel that we should have distinct accounts set up professionally or privately so we can control who watches what, especially it might affect our job opportunities. What’s your view?
Cheers buddy!
[155 words]
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Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for taking time out to read my blog post. I certainly do agree that with the pros that anonymity brings to an individual, it has its cons as well. Other than the scams that you mentioned, it gives rise to cyber bullying as well now that people could hide behind the screen and speak as they like. The effects of cyber bullying could last a long way, and it would not simply go off by logging off the net.
Personally, I feel that everyone should take responsibility in their speech as it could affect readers to extents that we could never imagine.
Cheers!
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Hi Darren, I enjoyed your post. Thank you for reminding me of the linkage of topic 3 with our learnings with the first topic on digital visitors and digital resident. Speaking of which, I believe that it would be more common for digital residents to have multiple online identities, considering the amount of time and effort that digital residents spend “living on the web”.
I would also disagree with Mark Zuckerberg’s saying. I feel that having multiple identity compromises an individual’s credibility but not necessarily his integrity. He can be honest in all his online identities but be selective on the content to share on the various platforms.
However, unlike you, I consider myself a digital visitor and I personally prefer to only maintain one online identity!
Also, as a digital resident, does your multiple online identity include anonymous identities? If yes, what do you use them for?
(148 words)
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Hi Darren,
Thank you for your prompt reply and yes, I agree with the negative effects such as cyber-bullying that anonymity may cause too! Next, I also agree that everyone should take responsibility for our own actions to prevent affecting other online users. However, apart from playing our individual roles, do you think our government can also play a part as well? Other than the already set laws to punish cyber crime makers, do you think there are other actions that the government could undertake? What are your thoughts?
Hope to hear from you soon buddy!
[100 words]
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