What is my is my Digital Identity/Digital Presence? I have a Facebook account, a LinkedIn account, and I had a web site for a business I ran. How much of my life is searchable? I did a Google search on my name and found some interesting information. The top hit was my LinkedIn account, a few hits down was a link to Zoominfo, an AI platform for go-to-market teams. A page or two later was a link to the post I put on LinkedIn about the Virtual Symposium at RRU. The most interesting thing was the writeup that the AI platform did on me, nothing incorrect, but very polished with a few items left out. My current DIDP is the recounting of my work and education thus far, facts, no opinions, no plans or ideas or speculations, very basic.
If it wasn’t for this course requiring me to keep a blog, I probably would never consider creating more of an online presence than I already have. As I read more on the subject and gain a greater understanding of the impact that a digital identity and presence can have, my view is changing. I do not see myself living my life online, but using the internet to connect with others and share ideas related to work and school could have some benefits. Using my blog to share ideas and solicit feedback at school and sharing innovations and successes at work and school on LinkedIn are the two goals I will strive towards to cultivate my Digital Presence and Identity.
For me to achieve my goals, I will have to overcome my posting paralysis and become more comfortable with sharing my ideas and writing. The MALAT program at RRU uses open education practices to help develop a digital mindset, part of that is posting material into blogs, this practice will help me create a digital presence and shape my identity. As I move through the next two years of study I will add to my LinkedIn presence by posting content and commenting on others posts, trying to add value and share ideas.
I have made approximately four posts to the public digital world, this is one of them. My preferred form of communication is face to face, talking to someone makes it easier to adjust to the ebb and flow of the shared information. I am good at expressing myself and gaining understanding of someone’s perspective when we are in direct dialog, it is harder for me to achieve this when the communication is written. Add to this my lack of understanding of the software being used and it gets harder to feel comfortable sharing.
To overcome my knowledge gaps will require diving deeper into the required readings and asking for support from classmates, instructors and those around me. Practicing written communication by doing assignments, typing and sharing notes with team members will also help to develop skills and bridge the communication gap. The more I post the easier it should become.
When I start to feel comfortable posting a blog and each sentence takes less than five minutes to write, success is on the way.
Image was downloaded from vecteezy.com
Hi Ron,
Your reflection on “posting paralysis” was very telling. I experience something very similar, and for me it comes from not having many positive interactions online, especially on social media. At one point, I was actually stalked online, and that experience was unsettling enough that I deleted all my accounts. It left me with a lasting sense of caution, and even a bit of fear, about what the online world can become.
Since then, like you, I’ve become much more intentional about what I share and how I present myself. I think carefully before posting anything. But the downside is that I often feel like I’m not showing my authentic self on social media. It’s more like a filtered or controlled version.
I also relate to your point about preferring face-to-face communication. There’s something about the immediacy and nuance of in-person conversations that feels much more natural and safe. At the same time, I appreciate your goal of gradually building comfort through practice. It makes me think that maybe overcoming posting paralysis is about finding ways to feel safe and genuine while posting, and not actually posting more often.
Hi Christiane, finding ways to feel safe and genuine while posting is, as you pointed out, very important. Posting quality and sticking to facts is probably safer than posting opinions and personal life stuff.
Hi Ron,
I found your Google search reflection interesting. Seeing how platforms like ZoomInfo can create polished versions of our professional identity without direct input was surprising. It shows how much our digital identity is shaped for us and not just by us.
I also related to your point about “posting paralysis” and being much more comfortable with face-to-face communication. I feel very similar.
Do you think MALAT will change how you use LinkedIn, or do you still see it mostly as a place to keep your resume?
Hi Craig, thanks for the comment. I think that I may start to use LinkedIn more, I would sooner present myself the way I want to appear then have my identity shaped by someone/something else.
Good point, let me do that now!
Hi Ron,
I found it really interesting how you described your digital identity as mostly factual and shaped by others, especially with the AI-generated profile. It is a bit unsettling how much can exist without our input.
Your idea of “posting paralysis” stood out as well. It makes a lot of sense, especially coming from a preference for face-to-face communication.
I like that your plan focuses on small, consistent steps like blogging and engaging on LinkedIn, it feels realistic and achievable.
Do you think your comfort will come more from practice, or from getting feedback from others?
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
I think comfort will come from both practice and feedback from others. Posting and not getting a response I feel would be akin to teaching a class on zoom and only seeing the icon thing and not the actual person, you assume someone is there but you are not sure. Practice should make it easier to post, feedback validates the idea.