Creating my resident-visitor typology map was an eye-opening exercise full of reflection; on my lack of an online footprint and what type of online presence I’d like to cultivate as I move forward. I’m a self-proclaimed lurker on social media with most of my mapped items landing on the left side, or ‘visitor’ category. I have not made a space for my thoughts/opinions/observations to be viewed by those online and I believed this was the safe thing to do in a world where ‘if you submit, you commit’. I have always put a premium on building my network, but focused on the personal and professional connections one makes ‘IRL’ while ignoring the online communities and the possibilities that come with connecting in a digital world. I will focus more effort into the right side of the matrix, stop lurking, and instead start cultivating an online presence as I move forward in the program.
April 23, 2023 at 3:02 pm
Reading Dave Cormier’s blog post about looking at analogue vs. digital has added another layer to my reflections above. I certainly skew towards analogue (no surprise there) so the questions become a) why? What’s my motivation to stay analogue myself when I preach innovation to others? and b) where is the lowest hanging fruit that allows me to make impactful changes by switching from analogue to digital that also moves me towards the goal of curating a professional online presence?
April 23, 2023 at 4:46 pm
I enjoyed looking at your map, Jessica, and thinking about how it wasn’t too much different from my own. I feel like in the early days of the internet we were taught (especially as women) about how online spaces could be dangerous, full of predators, and how we had to protect our online identities. As you become more open in your online presence, are there parts of yourself where you’re likely to still stay private or protected? This is something I’m thinking about myself, especially with this week’s readings challenging many of my pre-concieved notions about online presence.
April 24, 2023 at 9:19 pm
Andrea, excellent question about privacy as it relates to my digital persona, and I’m still exploring the answer to be honest. The article by Kelly Schryver (Schryver, 2013) from the reading list really has me questioning exactly what you mention – how much of myself do I want to make accessible to the online community? Do I want a curated version (likely), and if so, who is the target audience? What is the intention of my online presence, and based on that intension am I promoting or am I exploring… I seem to be stuck in analysis paralysis with these questions as I try to decipher where it’s appropriate to be vulnerable online and where protection is required. I’m sorry that I don’t have an answer (yet!) to your question but I think reflecting on it and the others is where I start for the next assignment!
KELLY SCHRYVER. (February 5, 2013 Tuesday). Guest Post | Who Are You Online? Considering Issues of Web Identity. The New York Times Blogs (The Learning Network). https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:57NS-B791-DY2M-W4PJ-00000-00&context=1516831.
April 27, 2023 at 11:47 am
Jessica – this is so well articulated. You provide some great questions in preparation for our next step posting – Digital Presence Plan. As I consider the most popular social media platforms, there are a few that I refuse to join, for personal reasons. Being able to rule some out helps me to creates a shorter list to chose from. Also, I’m sure there are platforms that I don’t even know exist that could support the motivation or purpose for joining.
Are there certain platforms you would not consider joining (no need to name, just to consider). Also, are there any cool new social media platforms you know of?
May 1, 2023 at 5:44 pm
Hi Lara,
I like your question of platforms I wouldn’t join… it really had me thinking. I have never been interested in Twitter, and with it’s recent purchase and change in management I will likely continue to avoid it due to personal values not aligning, and the way I see the platform being used to spread mis0information by a subset of it’s users.
I don’t know enough about the new social media platforms, this is a gap that I need to explore – and I’ll take recommendations!
April 24, 2023 at 5:40 pm
Hi, Jessica. I appreciate that you identify the spaces where you are ‘lurking’ and that you are naming a desire to be more active in spaces where you aren’t already. I think it important to keep in mind that sometimes the desire to share and create will call to you and draw you to a space you feel comfortable in. Thanks for sharing.