THE
FOUNDATION UNIVERSITY EXPANDED LEARNING (FUEL)
SOCIO-DIGITAL
SELF
Instructor: Lj Zaphan Lamboloto, MA Cand.
INTENDED LEARNING
OUTCOMES
At the end of this section, students are expected to:
1. Discuss and elaborate the different concepts of the socio-digital self;
2. Identify factors that influence one’s online behaviors; and
3. Analyze and evaluate one’s socio-digital behaviors and identify ways to manage them
effectively
If you think that the statement is correct, write agree, otherwise write disagree.
1. One’s personality can be manifested through social media.
2. It is impossible to establish meaningful relationships in social media.
3. How one presents himself or herself on social media is the same with how he or she
presents himself or herself to the real world.
4. Technology influences how people relate with one another.
5. People can develop a digital identity.
THE SELF IN THE AGE OF
TECHNOLOGY
Social Media
- Defined as the websites and applications that make it easier to create and share information,
ideas, and interests.
- It allows people to create other forms of self-expression via virtual communities and
networks.
It has features that allow people to communicate to specific groups sharing common interests
through chat, video call, or posting of status and photos) and become members of virtual
communities, be it locally or globally.
Through the use of social media people may act differently since interaction in
social media do not happen face to face and there is no physical presence
required – this is called online disembodiment.
With this, people are less likely to display their real selves to others, especially
to strangers.
Based on different studies, individuals are prone to create digital identities
which are different from their real selves.
DIGITAL IDENTITY
People generally have “role identities.” These are the characters and roles an
individual creates as a member of a particular social group.
The self is composed of identities ranked by importance.
- the greater the commitment an individual to a particular identity, the greater
the importance of this identity. Hence, the importance of one’s particular role
identity influences the behavioral choices an individual makes in a given
situation.
In an online environment, one’s role identity is vitally important in order for
him or her to project himself or herself in the said environment.
Amidst the technological tools and channels surrounding individuals and
online activities that people engage in, one’s online identity enables him or her
to participate in a virtual society.
Online activities such as chatting, blogging, and even shopping online would
require the person to establish a “digital identity” which is defined as the
identity a person claims in cyberspace.
A digital identity allows a person to be part of a virtual community that goes
beyond physical and geographical boundaries.
- By having a digital identity, one is able to leave online footprints in
cyberspace. (the posts one makes on social media platforms, the online names
one creates, the internet friends one acquires, and things one ”likes, comments
on, and shares” become part of the digital identity an individual creates.
However, participation in virtual environments may entail changes that may
affect a person’s sense of self. In fact, in cyberspace, people are capable of
creating multiple digital identities.
People are likely to behave differently when they are engaged in interactions
on social media since physical presence is not required of them.
Social media enables individuals to adopt identities independent of one’s
physical image.
According to Turkle (1995), people can redefine themselves on the internet.
Assumptions made on the virtual world are different from those of real life.
- in some cases, people present themselves differently in online interactions as
compared to the face-to-face interactions they engage in.
Social media also enables people to create fake identities.
(An individual can create different social media accounts to hide his or her
real self. People tend to resort to creating fake digital identities so that they may
be capable of doing inappropriate acts without being identified.)
ONLINE DISINHIBITION
EFFECT
When people adopt fake identities, they are likely to engage in behaviors that
they would not do in real life interactions.
This effect is known as online disinhibition effect: benign disinhibition and
toxic disinhibition.
- Benign disinhibition occurs when people tend to self-disclose more on the
internet than they would in real life or go out of their way to help someone or
show kindness. On the other hand, people take part toxic disinhibition when
they use rude language, bully or threaten others on online platforms, and go to
websites with contents of violence, crime, and pornography.
People engage in online disinhibition due to a number of factors. These
include the advantage of
anonymity,
virtual invisibility, asynchronous communication (where there is no need to deal
with another person’s reaction or feedback immediately), and personal
introjection (people tend to assign an identity to the other person that is also a
reflection of their own self).
Somehow, these factors contribute to bridging social gaps and expressing
oneself in a way that one will not do in face-to-face interactions.
MANAGING RESPONSIBLE ONLINE
BEHAVIOR
It is important to regulate online behavior.
Cyberbullying happens because of individuals who display
irresponsible and inappropriate online behavior.
How can one behave responsibly online?
The following are some suggestions:
Do not post or send anything that will embarrass you.
Avoid posting statements when experiencing strong emotions.
Do not hang out with the “wrong crowd” online.
Do not hang out with the “wrong crowd” offline.
Be careful with oversharing, especially confidential information
that may be used irresponsibly.
Respect other people in the online community.
SEE YOU NEXT CLASS!
