Nowadays, most people will have social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and others application. In fact, at least people will have one of these no matter they like or dislike it. I am not very fond of Social media, but I have twitter as well as Instagram.
However, each platform has different purposes which making me confused with my identity online and offline. The identity we presenting online and offline could be different as Paul Longley Arthur claims that online identity has the ability to change the way we see ourselves and each other as it is easy to be manipulated by individual subjects or by the others at any time (Smith S & Watson J 2014 p.83).
For example, people who knew me in real live, follow me on Instagram and twitter will have different view of my identity. It is because, my identity on twitter knowns as Student in Deakin College.
Here are examples of how I use twitter:
While, I set my identity as a person who is excited about everything and happy in Instagram, as I only share my daily activities, and all the good things. However, in reality, I tend to be quiet towards people who I’m not close to and serious which creating my identity as a lonely person. All of these had made me to have different identities online and offline.
What kind of persona do I build on Instagram?
Although I have multiple online identity, but I usually try to keep one persona on each platform as possible. I have been using Instagram since I was 13 and I usually share my daily life on it.According to Marshall, Barbour & Moore (2019 p.2) the notion of persona is best describing as the new technologically mediated but naturalised identity which we inhabit individually and collectively.
As I mentioned above, I am using Instagram to share my daily routine and also all the activities I enjoying such as food that I have eaten it and places that I visited during vacation so that others will try the food and visit the place.
Since few years ago I have been shared all of these, but last year, one question comes across my mind ‘Am I the same person?’ this question has made me to create different persona on Instagram. Now, I tend to be quieter on Instagram and do not much engage online’s activities just like my behaviour in reality.
How do I formed and maintain Network online?
Kumar B (2019) wrote that “Networking today is about establishing meaningful relationships with people to help you further your own career or pursue a venture by collaborating with others.” Which means that the relationship or network we are building online can be a part of our future career as we will be benefited from it.
However, I don’t really care about building a network online as I am using my Instagram as my personal account and I following people who I want to follow, such as friends, family and also celebrities.
I’m only allowing some people to be my followers, such as people I already know or a new friend I’ve met in real life, to be my followers on Instagram.
Most of the time I’m going to check their Instagram profile to find out more about them and whether I can trust them. Then I’ll see their feed or story to find out whether or not we have anything in common, such as interest or School.
If we have something in common, we can talk about it and even build a small group chat. Then we also can invite others who have the same subject with us to discuss together.
At the same time, I’m also trying to preserve my privacy while maintaining my relationship with my friends.
Keeping my online identity safe is important because it prevents identity theft and protects my financial information. That’s why I need to find a balance between social networks and my personal information online.
For me, I’m using the Social Networking Site (SNS) is for entertainment and to have fun with my friends as we can discuss our interests and keep up to date with each other.
I don’t really use SNS as a platform to start a business or something professional. It’s because I’m not really interested in it, and actually, I still simply can not trust the people I have met online. However, it makes my life easier, especially to communicate with a friend and family who are separated from me.
Reference List:
Kumar, B 2017, How to Network in Today’s World: Tips and Tactics for Creating Priceless Connections, Shopify, weblog post, 30 May, retrieved 26 April 2020, <https://www.shopify.com.au/blog/how-to-network>.
Marshall, PD, Barbour, K & Moore, C 2019, Persona Studies : An Introduction, ProQuest Ebook Central, retrieved 26 April 2020, <https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy-f.deakin.edu.au/lib/deakin/reader.action?docID=5732751&query=persona+studies&ppg=17>.
Smith, S and Watson, J 2014, ‘Virtually Me: A Toolbox about Online Self- Presentation’, in Poletti, A and Rak, J (eds.), Identity Technologies: Constructing the Self Online, The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, p. 83, retrieved 26 April 2020, <https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy-f.deakin.edu.au/lib/deakin/reader.action?docID=3445384&ppg=32>.
Vania (1) 2017, Figure 1. Arc de Triomphe at France, Instagram, 19 February, retrieved 28 April 2020 ,<https://www.instagram.com/p/BQp_4JpBeis3sGiuLNoH46N_jUBPLxdv8UZ1Lg0/> .
Vania (2) 2016, Figure 2. Nitro Lab ice cream at Melbourne, Instagram, 13 June, retrieved 28 April 2020 ,<https://www.instagram.com/p/BGlwCcCJxUUtVMOeQKEvZSnJ9j8CZrtAYfMdw40/>.
Vania (3) 2020, Figure 3. Vania Following list, Instagram, 26 April, retrieved 28 April 2020, <https://www.instagram.com/aurelliavania_/following/>.
Vania 