Discovering Online Identity

Social media gives us the power to shape a powerful online identity established across many communities and websites. Every piece of content a person contributes builds onto this unique, far reaching identity. For the most part this sharing of information is voluntary—we choose what to share, what to add, and who to communicate with. A handful of years ago this was not possible, but nearly everyone now has a social identity that can help or hinder them depending on how they go about sharing and shaping how they are seen.

In talking about online identity, I may be one of the worst people to take advice from. This isn’t because I follow terrible practices. I simply have a very small online presence. A Google search of my name brings up an almost pitiful list. The ever-present list of profiles on Facebook to look out for with that name—my account is quite low on the list, given my lack of activity. A link to my Google+ profile, a defunct Pinterest account I no longer have the password for, and the blog I use for these assignments. Going further through results even takes me to old, unimpressive comments on various blogs through the years. There are no images, no videos, and so little else it almost makes me laugh.

 
Privacy online is one of the areas many people feel is most important, and it is provided we don’t become completely silent in a digital world. This lack of presence means my privacy is safe. It also means I have no way of making online connections, contributing content, and building a carefully curated online name for myself. When building a carefully crafted identity is a requirement versus a luxury (Dixson and Arruda), I have fallen short. A plan for me to manage and grow that online presence means two things—crafting positive image for myself and creating a plan of what to contribute. 

As I head into job hunting this is important. Protecting ones privacy often means there isn’t much for prospective employers to look at. Whether we want to or not, everyone from schools to workplaces look at social media. They make judgements based entirely on what they find online (Dixson and Arruda) and simply keeping content about a person offense-free and positive is only the beginning of how to create a positive experience. Your name should be tied to your accomplishments, qualifications, and interests based on what is shared and contributed. 

For me, I don’t have to correct any damages. I know the major points of keeping my identity safe—such staples as guarding unique passwords, monitoring my name with alerts, keeping information I don’t want shared or to be attached to out of the way. Without a presence I have the unique ability to simply start from the ground up. My profiles can be optimized with the pieces of information that matter. I can choose what topics, blogs, and websites to offer thoughtful comments to. I can even deliver detailed reviews to products, books, and services I am familiar with. By keeping growth steady and my contributions positive there is little damage I can do.  

A blank slate is a nice starting place. Not everyone is afforded such a luxury, but we know the ways to begin tidying up and, in extreme cases, reversing damage. Controlling Google results—from a company with a staggering online market share (Schawbel)—is a start many people forget to keep track of. Right alongside managing passwords and shared information should be tracking what is being searched about you and why. Tracking Google gives us a chance to improve on what is being said and viewed, and to continue boosting with positive accounts on a social media resume of sorts.

Online presence and identity can be daunting. Privacy is something most of us learn about online, but curating a presence from virtually nothing can be a bit tricky. Taking time to find areas where we can contribute thoughtful information, deliver a positive experience, and show exactly the parts of ourselves we want people to know will create a powerful identity that takes us to the goals so many of us set. I’ll be working from the bottom up to create a strong presence for myself. Not everyone gets to work like that, so I’m sure to be careful so as not to make any missteps along the way. The online world can be tricky to navigate, after all.

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

The Internet Society. (2016). Protecting Your Identity Tutorial. Retrieved from http://www.internetsociety.org/protecting-your-identity

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