As we learned in Ch. 6, people produce and manage their sense of self and identity online through constructed versions of themselves that convey certain perceptions and impressions of who they want to be. The textbook presents several theories regarding the development of self or identity and impression management online.
Respond to all of the following in a minimum total of 175 words:
Do you believe one’s sense of self is the same online as it is offline? Justify your answer.
Think about the various groups or networks you belong to. How have the various groups or networks helped to shape your identity or personality?
How have you developed your identity or personal story online?
How have the social networks you belong to influenced how you’ve developed your identity or personal story?
Based on what you’ve read in the textbook, what advice would you give to your kids (digital natives) for how they can develop their identity, sense of self, and future?
Think about the various groups or networks you belong to. How have the various groups or networks helped to shape your identity or personality?
I belong to several distinct networks, including a professional industry group, a close-knit family chat, and a local community service network. The professional group reinforces my expertise and professionalism, prompting me to adopt a more analytical and structured personality when interacting there. Conversely, the family network encourages nurturing and vulnerability, allowing for expressions of humor and emotion that would be inappropriate professionally. These different contexts shape which facets of my overall personality are emphasized or suppressed at any given time, demonstrating how groups act as social mirrors, reflecting back different versions of our identity.
How have you developed your identity or personal story online? How have the social networks you belong to influenced this development?
I have developed my identity online by focusing on a narrative of continuous learning and resourcefulness, primarily through platforms like LinkedIn and specific industry forums. This narrative is significantly influenced by the networks I participate in. The feedback loop (likes, comments, and endorsements) on LinkedIn acts as a form of social validation, reinforcing the professional parts of my identity. If I post about a technical achievement and it receives high engagement, I am motivated to create more content about that topic, thereby deepening the "expert" identity I present. Conversely, if a post receives negative or dismissive feedback, I modify or abandon that facet of the story.
Sample Answer
Reflections on Online Identity and Self-Development
Do you believe one’s sense of self is the same online as it is offline? Justify your answer.
I do not believe one's sense of self is the same online as it is offline, though the two are intrinsically linked. Online identity is often a carefully constructed version of the Ideal Self. We engage in conscious impression management, selecting and presenting only warranting information—the best photos, the greatest achievements, the most refined opinions—while omitting the mundane or negative aspects. This selective self-presentation creates a hyperpersonal model effect, where the digitally mediated self is often more deliberate and positive than the spontaneous, complex, and sometimes contradictory offline Actual Self. The offline self is authentic because it is uncontrollable; the online self is aspirational because it is highly controlled.