Do we have multiple identities online? Reflective Summary of Topic 2
The aim of topic 1 was to discuss arguments for and against having more than 1 online identity.
Reflecting back on this topic my opinion has somewhat been swayed by the interactions with my peers. I began my post with Mark Zuckerburg’s statement – “You have one identity. The days of you having a different image for your work friends or co-workers and for the other people you know are probably coming to an end pretty quickly. Having two identities for yourself is an example of a lack of integrity.”. I sense that many people dislike this statement but the more I’ve thought about it the more I think Zuckerburg knows what he is talking about.
Privacy is slipping away, the information you share online on any platform is now accessed by anyone who wants to find it. You may have a professional presence online as well as a personal one but I strongly believe they will both contribute to one online identity. There is no hiding anymore. You HAVE to use your real names on the majority of sites including Facebook, Linkedin and Google+, therefore these accounts are tied to you and your identity. Just as people draw conclusions about you in real life based on your interactions with different people, in different contexts, in different places they do the same online. If I were an employer I would firstly look up my potential candidates on professional sites including Linkedin. Then I would check social media sites including twitter and facebook to see if potential candidates are suitable online but if they would also fit in with my company culture. Many of you would disagree with me here. You would suggest that there should be a divide between professional appearances online and personal identities and I shouldn’t be looking at my candidate’s personal lives. But we all know this isn’t the case. it’s human nature to be nosey, to search for more information, why wouldn’t we search every online platform we can.
It’s more important now more than ever to think long and hard before posting anything online. Who knows where your personal information could end up or how it could affect you in the future.
I have noticed a range of different perspectives from different students, online articles and twitterers, but the only consistent view points have been from my fellow marketing peers. As marketing students we have explored the benefits of having online identities and how companies use our details to tailor our brand or service experiences to our own requirements. Brands, companies, marketing agencies compile databases of our online activities through digital marketing analytics including data-mining, online CRM, click-through rates, google analytics and much more. The importance of having one online identity will not just benefit brands but will also benefit us as consumers. My online searches, emails, offers, banner advertisements, etc is now tailored to my online activities and personal preferences.
I believe people SHOULD be allowed some kind of privacy but we all know that the luxury of remaining anonymous on the web is disappearing. Maybe it’s time we embrace an authentic identity and remain conscious about the consequences of our online actions.
