Topic 2: Multiple Online Identities
Prior to technological determinism and globalisation, the Internet was a place where your identity could remain unattached from real life, leading to online personas being formed (Krotoski, 2012). However, in the real world, there are only a handful of situations where it is useful/desirable to be anonymous, apart from anti-social or criminal behavior such as bullying and fraud (Vronay, 2014).
In society today, many people are unaware that:
- They have an online identity
- They have more than one!
Every time we click on to web browsers such as Safari, we sign into an online community where our digital footprint connects us through cookies, cache etc. However, our digital footprint allows companies to track our behaviour/interests and gather information, forming a database that we are unaware of. Facebook and Google use data sharing to gather information about online users. Many websites now have the option to either register with them, or sign in using your Facebook or Google account.
Whilst this might appear convenient, those against multiple online identities argue that this forms an online surveillance community, similar to ‘Big Brother’ where users are watched and lacks privacy. With this, personal online identities can be tarnished, as everything is interlinked and things you wanted to remain private away from employers, may appear on your Facebook feed.
Despite this, many, including myself, are in favour of having multiple online identities. Having multiple online identities is at the forefront of driving social change, as long as it is generated by an authentic source. There is now a need for personal websites to be created and separate identities formed in order to target different audiences for different gains. As my course consists of a year in industry, I’ve acknowledged the importance of building both a personal and professional online identity in multiple ways that appeals to employers such as creating a LinkedIn account and following BBC News on Twitter (not just the Kardashians!).
Blogger ‘Patricia Bright’ demonstrates the success of multiple online identities, leading to successful branding, huge fan base and attention from companies. Creating my own blog and being Social Media Officer of the Fashion and Style Society allowed me to see how blogs eradicate the issue of a split audience. Audiences remain connected in one place and can be linked to other social networking sites through your blog.
To conclude, I believe that whether you like multiple online identities or not, we all have them! Yes, some people take it too far and use multiple identities with malicious and deceitful intent, but used correctly, multiple online identities can lead to multiple opportunities.
References:
A.Krotoski, 2012, Online identity: is authenticity or anonymity more important? Available: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/apr/19/online-identity-authenticity-anonymity [Accessed on 19th February 2015]
D.Vronay, 2014, The Online Identity Crisis, Available: http://www.wired.com/2014/11/the-online-identity-crisis/ [Accessed on 19th February 2015]
Patricia Bright, 2014, Get Ready With Me: Khloe Interview and 3 Bold Looks, Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Hx5UTxuUk [Accessed on 21st February 2015]
