Social Media and Online Identity

An online identity is a social identity that a user establishes in online communities and websites. From the first time you log on to a social networking site like Facebook, tweet a message on Twitter, or post a comment on your favourite blog, you're creating an online identity. The more content we contribute to social media sites, the more we grow our online identity.

I have been active on social media for over 8 years now, I created my first social media profile by registering to Facebook, In short I use social media not only for personal use but also to connect with people professionally. When I searched myself on google with the keyword "Kristen Prouse" the only relevant result I found was from Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram it also had 411.ca giving the public my phone number and address. When I did a search for “Kristen Gear” I got the top 5 Kristen Gear Profiles, Facebook but it was not relevant, Twitter, YouTube  and my recent Blog postings. When I did a search for “Kristen Prouse Gear” and I got my up to date Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook profiles. The sadest one was for yourlifemoments.ca an Obiturarie for my step-mother.

When I did the google image search for “Kristen Prouse Gear" I got a couple profile images and a video I did for the CMHA. But what I found most interesting was it even used images that I have pined to my Pinterest account. My “celebrity pic” was Kristen Bell, nice complement. My google Search for "Kristen Prouse" was an image I used for a houzz.com profile and again my Pinterest profile. Finally my last image search was “Kristen Gear" and most of the images were of Kristen Stewart and Kristen Wiig. So most of the information I found on internet was only related to my social profiles. With a couple exemptions of my personal family obituary, home phone and address information.

Having thought about strategies to have a positive online presence, I came across Kirsten Dixon and William Arruda (2007) article, which talks about how determining your message and considering your personal brand will help you build your presence both online and in the physical world.  According to Dan Schawbel (2009), writing blogs, creating a social media resume and starting a wiki under your name will not only help you increase your social media presence, but it will also help you define and maintain your positive online characteristics (para. 6-8). Creating blogs and writing about yourself and others is not sufficient to create and maintain your social identity and as such, you must also participate in online discussions which enable you to connect and become more visible to other. However in order to be more visible, you also need to be transparent and constant with your post. Creating a volume of high ranking positive information will not only help you push your page to the top of your Google search but it will also help you stay on the top of any digital media that may have the same online characteristics. Undoubtedly, all of these efforts will take time to reap its fruits however it will definitely payoff, “ as only 20% executives take proactive steps to increase their online presence. This gives people like you and me an opportunity to stand out by steadily building your brand online and putting yourself on the path to true career distinction” (Arruda & Dixson, 2007, para. 23).

Find out what people are saying about you. Keeping tabs on your online identity by doing regular Google searches of your name to see what turns up. Set up alerts on Google, Yahoo or other search engines to get daily or weekly notices when your name’s mentioned.

What we publish can be traced back to you and reflects our personal character. It's becoming a very common practice for colleges and workplaces to look up potential students and job applicants to find out what kind of person they are, and many people have been turned down because of what they put on the Internet. Instead, why not we use your Internet permanent record to our advantage? Making sure that the only things published by or about us online are good things. Things that show we are an honest, considerate, hard-working person, and someone a college or employer would be honored to have as part of their organization.

References

Schawbel, D. (2009). How to Take Control of Your Google Search Results. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2009/02/19/control-google-search-results/

Dixson, K., & Arruda, W. (2007). Managing Your Reputation Online. Retrieved fromhttp://www.cio.com/article/142550/Managing_Your_Reputation_Online

Real Change or Slacktivism?

Slacktvism is an action performed via the Internet in support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or involvement. It is a term that combines the words “slacker” and “activism”. Critics believe these actions are merely for participant satisfaction because the lack engagement and commitment fail to produce any tangible change in promoting the cause.

Benefits of Slacktivism:

• Awareness-  Liking a page, post and any other action may not make real impact but it does create awareness. Ultimately you never know who will read your post and take action to it. Although it may not be a financial action, it should not be dismissed as not adding to the bottom line. As Jason Stern, an attorney says “Slacktivists are not useless because by raising global awareness, the do contribute in a small way. But they are not activists.”

Disadvantages of Slacktivism: 

• People aren’t doing anything, awareness may be good but action is needed to make real change.
• No physical or direct involvement like sitting at a segregated lunch counter in Greensboro in 1960.

Malcolm Gladwell believes social media is build around weak ties and real social change can never come from loose networks of people that do not know each other. I agree with this belief, its just to easy to say “I agree” and then LIKE SHARE TWEET. Social media may create awareness but I don’t see an ultimate change in using this network.

In Woodstock, Ontario this past June high school students held a walkout following teen suicide crisis urging the government to address what many see as a growing problem in small communities. News and social media bought awareness. But it took the students to speak together in a protest. The school board is talking now about adding mental health to the curriculum and adding additional support into the local schools. This example proves that activism is a much stronger way to pursue a problem because people directly connectied to an issue have more passion for change.

Activism and fundraising are always something that come hand and hand.

Fundly an online fundraising site that helps you raise money. They help you tell your story and connect with donors. Your family and friends help thorough social media by linking to a direct ROI (Return on investment). I think it only works if you know the person directly, personally I would never give money online  to someone or something that I did not know firsthand.   Microphilanthropy is a form of charitable donation that is small in the donated amount. In the past micro-donations have been used most effectively by companies collecting spare change at registers and checkouts. I think that sites like Fundly is a good way to get more action from “slacktivist” moving forward. Although with anything there are always disadvantages. They are working out laws and restrictions to make sure that people cant take advantage of this type of fundraising. Making sure that it is used in the proper way for the proper people.

References

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/woodstock-suicide-teen-school-walkout-protest-1.3619752

http://dannybrown.me/2013/04/25/benefits-of-slacktivism/

http://blog.oup.com/2014/11/slacktivism-clicktivism-real-social-change/

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/10/04/small-change-malcolm-gladwell

Jason Stern, an attorney specializing on internet and social media issues:

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/04/13/slacktivists-changing-world-with-likes-clicks-and-tweets.html

https://fundly.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Donations

For my course at Conestoga College I was assigned to go on a digital sabbatical for 48 hours. I must say I did procrastinate on this project a bit, knowing how much my world is dependent on digital media. For my first step I decided to let my family and friends know on Facebook that I will be out of touch for 48 hours so they wouldn’t worry about me. Then I turned all my notifications OFF! This way my temptations would not get the best of me.

As the first day began, I found myself wanting to check my emails every couple hours or so. At work it was impossible to not use my e-mail so I did do the bare minimum that I could without it affecting my job. But I must say it was irritating not being able to look up something quick. Knowing the answer is at your fingertips but unable to get it. I made plans with my husband that night so we went out for dinner to a friend’s restaurant, delicious! He is a good friend so I wanted to “check” in on Facebook to help promote his business but refrained from my impulse to help a friend. Hope he doesn’t take it personally. The rest of the night I was happy enjoying quality time with my husband and forgot about the world happening in my other dimension.

Because I told most family and friends that I was going on this sabbatical the reaction was limited. Some of them were just curious to why.

I am a mom of a 3 year old and decided to make a day of fun in the sun with my little princess. This day was going well for me until we got home and I wanted to post all the fun we had together on Facebook. After the little one went to bed I crashed on the couch to watch some TV. This is when it happened, I picked up my phone and went into my e-mails and sorted through the junk. It wasn’t until I was done that I realized what I had done. I blew it! I was doing so well and so close to the end of the finish line. “Oh well”, I said to myself and reflected on my two day sabbatical. All in all I did well and I enjoyed being unplugged. Focused on my family and blocked out the world. So what if I didn’t know that my BFF went on a hike that day and my Dad was at Peggy’s Cove. I didn’t have to know that minute. I found it out on my own time.

I did however miss out on the news and world events. I was blissfully unaware of so many little and big new stories. I realized that the only way I receive my news updates are through Facebook and Twitter. I will get the odd tidbit from the radio on the drive to work in the morning but other then that, I solely rely on social media.

Social media has enabled us to communicate with a much greater population on a global scale. While this is great, when it comes to keeping friendships alive over great distances, it also increases the demands on people to keep a much larger number of people happy. Seriously, how do I even know 714 people and that is a low number considered for Facebook users.

Social media has impacted my job in the past 14 years because when I started working Mark Zuckerberg was only 18 years old. I think we have always wanted to be able to have a conversation directly to our consumers but it was always one sided. We never really knew what our customers wanted we would just tell them what we thought they wanted. Now we get to have that real conversation, we get to build a stronger customer loyalty and many other functions. We now understand the market and have fine-tuned our strategies. We organize contests and give away prizes and we are excited to see first had how they enjoy our products.

I thought about how easy it would be for a more introverted person to become more of a recluse. With too much emphasis on virtual interaction, and ignore the real world. I sometimes find in our house we will all be in one room on our devices not interacting with each other. I think this can not be a good thing and try to divert to an activity or conversation.

Social media has it’s advantages and disadvantages, but I think its up to each user to use social sites wisely to enhance their professional and social life. Always use caution to ensure we don’t become victims to the dangers.