Our identity comes from two areas. Our reflexive identity, who do I think I am? Or our ascribed identity, who do they tell me I am? Outside forces & inside forces interact to help shape our identity.
The internet allows for greater potential of anonymity, and a high level of self disclosure because you can share things online without people knowing you or seeing you.
Your online identity can make or break you.
Either you have a great online identity and when Googled the search engine spits out information filled with informing blogs, a clean Facebook, and possibly a witty Twitter, or you have an identity online that shows you as someone you really don’t want the world to see.
You’re virtual identity, how you present yourself online, is sometimes different from the person you are when interacting in person. The dangerous thing about having an online identity and posting your personal information and life online: there’s no going back. Once it’s online it’s out for anyone and everyone to see.
The New York Times ran an article last fall about online identity and how it can effect your chances at finding and landing a job. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/jobs/10search.html?scp=1&sq=online%20identity&st=cse
It is very common now for companies to run a Google search of a job applicant online to see what comes up. If it’s a Facebook account that shows a picture of you dancing on a table, your chances of getting hired may have lowered a bit. (Unless you were aiming for a job at a strip club, in that case you might just be hired!)
“Do not mistake the fact that you’re a decent person for the notion that you’ll look that way online,” said Michael Fertik. Fertik is the founder of ReputationDefender, a company that helps people improve their online profile and maintain privacy.
Sam Grobart, an editorial writer for the New York Times recently wrote a piece about online identity on Facebook.
“When so many things are virtual and the actual effort to accomplish things is so low, all that’s left is the perception,” said Grobart.
Grobart criticizes himself and how judgmental and sometimes uncaring we can be online, and how we let other peoples opinions of us alter who we are online.
A challenge that I have made for myself, and encourage for you too, is to remain the same person on and offline.
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