Caitlin Galbraith

Consider the guest and their steps in building a podcast relying on a PLN:

In the podcast interview, Mo Amir explains that from the beginning of his podcast he has always kept the contents of his podcast authentic to himself and what he was personally interested in. He doesn’t worry about external, differing opinions which allows him to be freer in his creative decision-making process and produce more successful episodes. Mo Amir describes that he has bigger guests on such as comedians and explains that if he lands a very large guests, their peer and colleagues will reach out which will therefore expand his audience. He claims that one could episode can give you a lot of attention and land you on the media. One important step in building his podcast platform was utilizing Twitter, where he was able to engage with local journalists and local entertainment people to gain traction. Through relying on his PLN and using a combination of these steps, Mo Amir was able to make it to the top 20 iTunes charts.

Can your PLN be used to help professional development post-course? If yes, how? If no, what limitations exist?

A PLN can definitely be used to help professional development. As described in the article Social Media and Emerging Economies, “Globalization and the explosion of instruments of mass communication especially social media have made audiovisual human interaction across national boundaries as easy as the push of a tiny little button on a small device that fits into the pocket” (Del Giudice et al., 2013, p.73).  For instance, Instagram and Twitter allows you to interact with people in similar disciplines, gain traction for a cause you are supporting through your profession, and even promote a brand you are creating. Although I do not currently have professional accounts on social media, I look forward to creating them in the future to effectively expand my PLN. Social media is a great way to expand a PLN because it is fairly easy to gather attention on these platforms and therefore build your network. In addition, LinkedIn has allowed me to communicate with employers to find jobs, as well as gain insight into the professional requirements of a job I am interested in. LinkedIn is an important platform in a professional network because it establishes credibility in your industry and highlights individual skills and achievements. You can also join LinkedIn groups which allows you to interact with people with similar interests and fields and expand your network to those already in professional settings in your industry. You can also take part in discussions where you can ask questions, showcase your knowledge on certain topics, and start conversations with people apart of leading companies.

Can your PLN be relied on to open professional opportunities?

Your digital PLN can be a tool to expand your professional opportunities but should not be too heavily relied on. For instance, forming connections online is a great way to network, however, in-person connections are important to establish and maintain. With Covid-19 shifting all of us into a predominately digital world the past two years, I believe that people have forgotten the importance of non-digital based relationships. On the other hand, a digital PLN can be a great tool to open professional opportunities. As I previously mentioned, LinkedIn is a great way to get your name out there. As Mo Amir explains in the interview, he was successful in utilizing Twitter to expand his digital PLN and therefore bring an impressive amount of attention to his podcast. I believe that finding healthy balance between creating a digital vs. non-digital PLN is key to opening professional opportunities.  

References:

Del Giudice, M., Della Peruta, M. R., & Carayannis, E. G. (2013). Social media and emerging economies: Technological, cultural and economic implications. Springer Science & Business Media.

Miller, Jesse. (2021). EDCI PODCAST-2021-10-24 Mo Amir. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgoDet6pwaI

What is media literacy?

Media literacy refers to a channel for conveying messages (such as audio, Web sites and animation), the crafting of a message for a specific channel, and the effect the media message has on audiences (Trilling & Fadel, 2009, p.66). Selecting the appropriate channel for a certain topic and designing it in a way that reflects the message being conveyed requires a high level of media literacy. By building on media literacy skills, one can effectively produce “a framework to access, analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a variety of forms, build an understanding of the role of media in society, as well as [develop] the essential skills of inquiry and self-expression” (Trilling & Fadel, 2009, p.66).

Why is it important?

There is an overwhelming number of sources of information in the world today and having media literacy is a necessary skill to have so people can detect reliable sources of information. Media literacy allows people to properly understand the messages that are being communicated and therefore creates more honest learning. This is particularly important for young students who are being raised in an environment of information overload. Having the appropriate skills and guidance to navigate the internet and discern reliable sources of information is important to establish integrity in their work. This skill of media literacy can foster necessary critical thinking skills which is not only necessary for future jobs but is also a valuable skill to have for day-to-day activities such as reading news articles.

Why is it dismissed?

Media literacy is often dismissed for a variety of reasons. Access to a plethora of information makes it difficult to discern what is true and creates extra work on our part to decipher why we choose certain sources. As Julie Smith notes in the interview, “fact-finding in a fire hose of information is up to us” (Miller, 2021). An additional reason as to why media literacy is often dismissed, is due to personal bias. Individuals tend to search for information that already aligns with their opinion on a certain matter and feel less obligated to critically evaluate such information sources than they would with sources that oppose their viewpoints. Finally, media literacy can often be dismissed because of the tendency for people to be overconfident in their ability to distinguish truthful versus bias sources. Having proper education on media literacy from a young age is necessary to avoid media falsity and to develop important critical thinking skills.

Why should you aim for varied views but the factual consensus in your PLN?

Having a factual consensus in a PLN is necessary to establish an even playing field among viewers and open the ground for honest and constructive communication. The goal of a PLN is not to argue what is true but is rather to have meaningful conversation about what we already know is true. Lacking established truths in a PLN would create confusion and would deter from the primary objective of these platforms. One truth can be perceived from a variety of positions and still equally remain true. Varied views should therefore be supported, as this creates a diverse and inclusive PLN that can explore important topics from a variety of perspectives.

References:

Miller, Jesse. (2021). EDCI 338-MEDIA LITERACY with JULIE SMITH. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57r3-aEnci0&ab_channel=MILLER

Trilling, B & Fadel, C. (2012). Digital Literacy Skills. Media Literacy Chapter 4, pp. 66. https://learning-oreilly-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/library/view/21st-century-skills/9780470475386/fade_9780470475386_oeb_c04_r1.html#h2

Explore the video provided and reflect on the themes of a PLN in a professional capacity

Brad Baker brought to light many ways in which a PLN can be used appropriately and effectively in a professional capacity. He mentioned how a PLN is a support system for yourself to further your own well-being as well as establish a healthy community. He explains how PLN is a place where many stories from many perspectives can be brought together. He adds on to this, by saying that PLN allows stories to be told directly from the source, as stories can lose their importance if they come from second and third sources. Another important theme he brought up was that a PLN doesn’t have to be a place where people must agree on every matter discussed. It should be a place where people can support and challenge each other, whilst still fostering healthy and respectful dialogue. This is an important aspect of a PLN, as people are not necessarily going to agree on every topic introduced, especially when PLN creates an environment which brings together people from different backgrounds and unique experiences.

What social media platforms are beneficial in education?

As stated by Alec Couros in the book Emerging Technologies in Distance Education, blogging, video and photo sharing, social bookmarking, and microblogging are some of the most important social media tools in education (Couros, p. 125). Video sharing is an important platform to utilize for education purposes, as many people are visual learners and videos provide an effective way to convey information that may be difficult to teach remotely. Here, you can access online lectures, relevant interviews, and quiz and homework solutions that will certainly create a better understanding of the topic of interest. In addition, blogging is an effective platform for creating a safe and interactive learning environment, as you can post individual perspectives on topics as well as interact with other people’s posts and opinions. This promotes a more connected educational community, which has unfortunately been largely absent in many educational environments since the onset of Covid-19.

Consider the equality that exists when all have the same platform to engage in community dialogues

When everyone belongs to the same platform, it means that everyone has equal opportunity to participate in discussions. They have the ability to contribute to community dialogue at their own pace at a level that they are comfortable with. Having access to the same platforms also means equal access to information, resources, and opportunities. In addition, online platforms allow students to feel more comfortable to express their individual opinions as there tends to be more pressure associated with in-person discussions. This therefore promotes more authentic and inclusive discussion.

References:

Couros, A. (2010). Deveoping personal learning networks for open and social learning. In Velestianos, G., (Eds.). Emerging technologies in distance education. (pp. 109-128). AU Press.

Miller. (2021, June 10). Brad Baker EDCI 338. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5z8iHxW2n4&ab_channel=MILLER

What are the benefits of a diverse and inclusive PLN in social media sharing that understands where you are coming from with messaging that impacts the community?

In order to gain maximum traction for certain ideas and make all members of a community feel supported and heard when discussing important issues, it is necessary to have a diverse and inclusive PLN in social media. This inclusivity in PLN brings together people from various backgrounds including different ethnicities, careers and education that contribute to the cultural mosaic of Canadian communities. It allows everyone to feel comfortable to share their opinions and perspectives while also allowing people to learn from one another based on individual experiences.

In an interview with Markiel Simpson, he shares that his passion for advocacy ignited when he realized that “you are the expert of your own lived experience, and there is value there”. As a black man who lives with disabilities, he found that he could use his unique experiences to share an important perspective on prevalent issues that need to be heard. One way he has effectively used messaging when spreading his ideas is using Twitter not as a personal account, but as a professional account to effectively advocate for important issues he is passionate about. He claims that he gained followers and attention slowly and naturally over time once he truly found his niche and effectively applied his voice. He shared that he did not become disheartened with low follower counts, as he knew that overnight attention and virality is a very common in social media platforms such as Twitter which makes advocacy through a PLN on social media extremely effective. One way he has utilized twitter to his advantage is to use the hashtags “strongertogether and #togetherwerise in his Twitter bio. He often uses these hashtags as a “call to change” to promote his advocacy as well as encourage others to use the same hashtags. This allows his voice and other people’s voice on the matter to be heard much more easily, which can therefore foster important discussion many different people including politicians.

References:

Miller. (2021, June 1). EDCI-338 MARKIEL SIMPSON. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsoDHGaXNNs

How would you create a PLN prior to engaging a social media campaign on a topic of your choice? Choose a topic, consider your audiences, and consider how you would create a social media campaign leveraging your PLN.

The very first step I would take in creating a sustainable clothing brand is to create an attractive and memorable name that corresponds to the types of clothes I will be selling. I will also follow other small clothing brands to gain traction and possibly gain knowledge from their PLN on strategies on how to launch a successful brand. While doing so, I would promote my new brand and corresponding social media account for the brand from my already personal media account to gain support from friends and family. I would then create a highly anticipated launch on social media platforms that will tease the types of products I will be selling and announce a launch date when the items will be open for purchase. When establishing an attractive and effective social media brand page, it is important to produce an aesthetically pleasing account where people will be drawn to. This includes vibrant colours, bold wording, and an aesthetic that matches the products I will be selling. My target audience would be young women from ages 16-30, and thus, creating a pre-launch video with an eye-catching cover photo is a good strategy for attracting young women. In addition, I will also work towards creating a dynamic relationship with future supporters of the brand by creating giveaways and responding to comments on posts. Creating an inclusive brand is also very important to me, and so I will want to hire models or friends to model the products that are from various backgrounds and that have very different body shapes. This will hopefully help people feel connected to the brand and therefore be more likely to offer their support.

How do notable individuals use social media?

Notable individuals utilize social media in order to create a large following and attract as many people to their craft or profession as possible. These people hold a lot of power, and sometimes I don’t think these people understand the weight of their words. They have the power to sway people’s opinions with a simple post on their account, which can be very effective but also very dangerous if these people hold radical and potentially harmful views. They also must realize that even if they delete a post on their social media, the information they have shared can never truly be erased from the internet. Whatever they choose to post on their persona social media will become a part of their digital footprint which will remain with them.

What are the benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN?

The benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN are endless. Multiple personal and professional opportunities can present themselves, as many people can learn who you are through social media for instance. In addition, you can promote a business or brand easily through having a large following on social media, which is also very economically favourable since it does not cost anything to simply post a picture. Through being in the public eye and having a PLN, you can also reach many followers and create a positive impact in their life and in your community. For instance, posting about the importance of getting vaccinated or discussing important topics like gender equality and mental health advocacy can generate real and important changes.

Building a community with online tools provided by the employer can be limiting, what are the perceived restrictions and benefits?

Utilizing online tools in a workplace can be very beneficial, as it can allow individual workers and companies as a whole to store more information in a compact, digital space which can be readily accessible to employees. These online tools can also allow for easy communication among co-workers, that can result in a more teamwork aspect and create a more cohesive workplace. A restriction of online tools is that although digital communication can be effective, this may in turn limit in-person communication among co-workers which proves to be a very important part of a healthy workplace.

Delivering information in a connected society requires verifiable resources, how to build a PLN to rely on?

Incorporating reliable information and utilizing reputable sources on social media is an important aspect of building a reliable PLN. The act of spreading misinformation is very prevalent on social media and can be quite dangerous considering the fact that social media is an instantaneous form of communication that is utilized around the world. Deterring from this behaviour and rather spreading true and accurate information on social media is an important step to take to communicate effectively and appropriately within society and create a reliable PLN.

How do those, who are veteran storytellers, minimize risk in sharing misinformation?

Careful revision before sharing information on your PLN is an important step to take to minimize the spread of misinformation. Making sure that that each sentence is crafted mindfully to ensure that the wording is precise and accurate ensures that viewers aren’t receiving bias or exaggerated opinions. This also establishes trust between yourselves and viewers, and ensures a reliable and reputable PLN. In addition, referring to and learning from other people in similar situations and how they effectively share information is an important point that the interview notes.

How to best address negative replies and critiques reflective of your personal values and employer social media policy?

As Jody Vance notes, we must prepare ourselves for criticism, and we cannot change everyone’s minds and convince them to hold the same opinions as ourselves. Moving past people that voice negative opinions toward your values not only saves time but is important to show that their opinions do not affect us and that we have better things to do with our time than dwell on trivial matters such as a hateful comment. However, it is important to critically analyze valid points people make and remain open to new perspectives and opinions.

Identify the risks and benefits of engaging with a public audience in a media space – what are the risks for a public figure or person in a position of trust (educator, lawyer, government official)?

There are several risks and benefits that come with social media. Social media allows people to create many relationships within their community and worldwide that can kickstart various personal or business-related opportunities. Engaging with followers on social media can also establish real and rewarding connections. For instance, when Covid-19 was at its peak, personal connections were impossible to form in person. During this difficult time, social media was a saving grace for many, as it allowed people to form new connections with people online. Engaging with a public audience online is also an effective way to tackle business endeavors, particularly during the pandemic when many in-person businesses were forced to close. There are also many negative effects that stem from public social media usage of public figures or a position of trust. Social media can create a space of negativity, where people’s every move can be critically evaluated and judged. With cancel culture being such a prevalent issue in today’s society, many public figures have resorted to shutting down social media accounts or taking a break from the space due to the deterioration of their happiness and/or mental health.

How diverse is your existing PLN?

I believe that my PLN is very diverse, as I interact with many people from various backgrounds via social media. Through social media I am able to gain insight on politics, current events, and social movements that I would otherwise be unaware of. Having a diverse PLN allows me to understand the opinions of others and potentially share my own opinions on certain topics I am passionate about. For instance, I am very passionate about protecting the environment. New and critical information I have seen through credible social media platforms have allowed me to educate myself on important issues and share them with people in my life. Petitions and GoFundMe pages posted on social media have allowed for a growing audience and community to form and fight against critical issues that are happening in the world.

In your PLN, are you learning from a variety of voices or are you the loudest in the room?

Personally, I do not see myself as the loudest in the room when it comes to expressing my opinions on important topics. Although I have strong standpoints on certain issues, I want to make room for everyone to share their own opinion rather than overpowering the conversation. I have learned that when expressing my opinion on topics close to my heart, it is better to push people to learn on their own rather than forcing my opinion down their throats. In addition, I often keep a lot of my opinions off of social media in order to prevent people from getting offended or making them uncomfortable. However, in a classroom setting (in person or via zoom), I share my opinion on topics that are discussed in class, but I do so at the minimum in order to maintain an equal and healthy class discussion.

Do you participate in a silo of information sharing (similar themes or wide range of interests)?

My PLN does not participate in silo information sharing. I often see people on social media share opinions or information about important political, social, or environmental issues going on in the world. Although I do support their decisions to share this information, I choose not to do so myself. For instance, during the BLM movement people shared black squares on their social media accounts to demonstrate their support. I chose not to do this, and instead conducted my own research on the issue and participated in my own learning. I found that many people only posted a black square because they noticed other people doing it on social media, even though many of them had no concept of the importance of the BLM movement. Personally, I found it to be inauthentic and felt that it took the attention away from the actual work that has to be done.

How can you use a diverse PLN to broaden your views of inclusion?

Incorporating inclusion into my PLN is extremely important. If someone does not possess a diverse PLN and rather has a PLN that contains similar values, they will be restricted from looking at different, and likely important perspectives. Being more inclusive with a diverse PLN means sharing viewpoints and connecting to people globally. From this, you will be able to be more understanding and appreciative of other people’s viewpoints and broaden your perspective on various issues at the same time.

In your professional setting of choice, do you think inclusion is actively embraced?

Zoom is a professional setting where inclusion is actively embraced. In Zoom classes, we are able to participate in class discussions as a whole or are separated randomly into breakout rooms where we can discuss topics more intimately. Having breakout rooms allows for people who may be more timid to discuss things in a smaller, less intimidating setting. The students that are apart of Zoom are all various ages and are from different backgrounds and places in the world. For instance, Zoom allows me to become close to people that are quite different to me and that I may otherwise not know in a different circumstance.

What is the learning outcome of your PLN and how are you ensuring your exposure to diversity and inclusion?

The learning outcome of my PLN is to explore different areas that I wouldn’t normally. For instance, following different pages on social media such as various environmental pages that discuss important current events broaden my horizon. In addition, exploring various people’s business accounts online that include real estate, crafts and clothing, allow me to connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Being adventurous with my PLN allows me to be more inclusive with my learning and expand my diversity in certain areas.

How has your thinking about inclusion and PLN evolved after reviewing the videos and readings?

After reading the articles and watching the videos, I thoroughly believe that my perception of inclusion and diversity in relation to PLN have improved immensely. It has shown me that I have much to do in terms of increasing my inclusion in everyday life and also allows me to appreciate the inclusivity that I already do embrace in my life. Pushing myself to learn more from people with different perceptions and from different cultures and backgrounds are important steps to take in my life in order to enrich my learning and growth.

Below is my V&R Mapping. I use social media primarily for personal uses, such as Snapchat and Instagram. I use YouTube, Google, and Zoom for both personal and institutional reasons. I use LinkedIn to build my professional learning networks, and Gmail and Google Drive for school-oriented tasks.

What digital platforms are students currently using to develop their professional network?

I primarily use zoom, email, and LinkedIn to further develop my professional network. I use Gmail as my formal form of communication. For instance, when I need to reach out to club facilitators, a boss, or a landlord, I prefer to use email rather than text. Email contains the necessary space to send lengthy, work-related emails and contains a subject bar so the viewer can understand the subject of the email prior to opening it. When contacting friends or family, however, I prefer to use iMessage or alternatively WhatsApp for people residing outside of Canada. In addition, LinkedIn is extremely popular software for forming professional relationships. Here, you can connect with people from various professional fields and present your work experience for potential job opportunities.

Zoom has been a particularly important aspect of my professional learning since the start of COVID-19. Rather than using casual platforms for face-to-face communication such as Skype or Facetime, Zoom allows students to interact with other classmates and professors on a professional level. This interaction consists of lectures, labs, meetings and also allows people to create their own zoom invitations for other work-related requirements. For instance, I have participated in quite a few job and club interviews via zoom over the past several months which allows a more personal connection to form rather than a phone call.

What could a student consider in expanding their professional learning network?

Before relying on online software to expanding professional learning networks, people should focus on forming in-person professional connections, such as with TAs, professors, classmates, and like-minded family friends. In person connections are much more meaningful than online connections and tend to create more professional opportunities in the future. With the COVID-19 pandemic persisting the last couple years, forming these real-life connections have been difficult. Hopefully with in-person classes resuming this semester, more in person professional connections can be established and professional learning networks can be expanded.

In the future if I wish to create a professional brand or business, I will utilize social media to expand my professional learning network. Social media allows you to attract and connect with many potential customers or potential business associates. In particular, I would open a professional Instagram page (separate from my personal Instagram page), and further my business plans from there.

In your network how can you create a digital identity/reputation?

When creating and maintaining a digital identity and reputation, it is important to maintain your personal integrity. For instance, you must be honest when sharing professional skills or experiences in order to maintain a good and honest reputation. If false information is discovered belonging one’s digital identity, it can be extremely damaging to one’s reputation and can follow them into the future. For instance, if someone posts a controversial or offensive opinion online or lies on their resume, even if it gets deleted later on, this becomes a part of their digital footprint and will remain accessible to others in the future. This can be particularly damaging when employers conduct background checks on potential employees, and therefore, it is important to be careful when posting content online.

Find out what a local employer would find based on your V+R Map if you applied for a job with them?

Local employers would readily find my LinkedIn account and be able to gauge my professional skills and abilities. From here, they can contact previous employers I have had and understand my work ethic and experience level. They would be able access my social media accounts, such as Facebook and Instagram, and judge what I have posted or shared there. They would also be able to access my email and understand my ability to focus on professional communication. From these platforms, they will better understand the type of person I am and if they believe me to be well suited to the job at hand.

What does it mean to network using social media?

Social media is technology utilized by most of society in today’s age, including myself. Social media allows people to contribute to social networking by sharing various pieces of information including photos, personal or educational videos, news articles, opinions, and much more. For myself and my peers, social media allows for us to stay connected and share important parts of our lives. With the effects of COVID-19, people have been prevented from important human connection that has a particularly large impact on young people’s lives. Networking through social media has allowed for people to stay connected in a safe manner during the pandemic and engage in necessary social interaction. Further, social media has allowed for students to still attend university classes via zoom and connect with other students as well as professors. Many companies and businesses have also moved online and now conduct meetings and other events on zoom as well. Networking through social media has become increasingly more prevalent emerging from the pandemic and suggests a new world of work and communication.

How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?

The use of social media has increased dramatically over the last few years, leading to a surge of public opinion and news reports that are now widely accessible to the public. Social media also allows for people to readily share such information with others, promoting the spread of information not only among friends and family, but globally. With an increase in networking through social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, many social movements have emerged including Black Lives Matter, climate change protests, and more locally, the Fairy Creek Blockade. Incidents posted to social media have sparked massive social movements that have caught the attention of the government and various people of authority that have led to real changes in legislation and governing. In addition, people are motivated to update each other on their lives via social media through sharing various photos, comments, or videos. With school moving online for most of the world over the past year, students are motivated to participate in zoom to interact with classmates and professors in order to support better learning.  

What are the risks & rewards of public communications?

There are several risks to public communications, one being the spread of misinformation. This is particularly dangerous as it can affect the integrity of politics, news information and general knowledge. Public communications can also help perpetuate the use of cancel culture which is especially prevalent today. Cyberbullying and social peer pressure are also very common due to social media and can result in many people struggling with mental health and self-assurance. The increase in public communications can also cause people to spend too much time on social media and disengage from important, real-life connections, which can also lead to a deterioration in mental health.

In contrast, there are many rewards that come from public communications, including the fostering of important social movements discussed above. Social media also helps raise money for important local and global issues such as GoFundMe campaigns for the Vancouver Aquarium, the George Floyd Memorial Fund, and the America’s Food Fund. Public communications also allow for easy and instant communication between friends and family, the public and political parties, the public and government and many more. This allows for people to easily obtain news information and supports more opportunities for business owners. For instance, many businesses have been able to survive through the pandemic because of the possibilities that are offered through public communications.

What is digital identity?

Digital identity is one’s personal data that is found online that can be comprised of characteristics such as medical history, date of birth, search history, photos posted to social media, username and passwords, social security number, and more (Jawed et al., 2019). This data can be traced back to real people which makes individual privacy and digital identity theft a large concern. One’s digital identity is accessible to the public and can therefore affect job opportunities, university acceptances and overall reputation that can never be completely erased. For instance, people who post offensive comments on social media such as Twitter leave an online footprint that may have a negative impression on viewers which will likely follow them into the future.

Digital identities can also be fabricated to hide one’s true identity. For example, many people will post to social media sharing staged or edited posts, which makes them appear a certain way to their followers. In reality, the people posting behind the screen may not live the extravagant or “perfect” life they choose to share online.

How do personal versus professional approaches to digital identity affect social media use?

Several businesses and companies utilize social media to advertise their product or brand. They do so by creating professional and creative social media pages to attract potential customers and encourage them to buy into what they’re selling. Alternatively, the goal of personal digital identity is to share personalized information with viewers that involve emotions and individual passions.

For instance, my friend recently launched a sustainable swimsuit brand during the pandemic and was able to attract customers through the use of social media. She created an Instagram page for her brand that included creative advertisements showcasing her swimsuits, a link to the brand website, and prices of the swimsuits. On the other hand, her personal digital identity consists of pictures from vacations and daily life, and opinions on certain political or social issues. Combining these two social media accounts would decrease the professionality of her brand and would likely result in less customer support.

How do digital identities converge in networked publics – what are the impacts and/or benefits?

Because one’s digital identity can be accessible to the public, people can have preconceived notions about someone before actually meeting in person. Therefore, it is essential to limit the amount of information one shares online in order to protect certain people from viewing one’s personal information. For instance, employers may conduct background checks on people before potentially hiring them and can readily find information online which can leave a lasting impression.  

References:

Jawed, S., Mahboob, U., & Yasmeen, R. (2019). Digital professional identity: Dear Internet! Who am I? Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31512590

Hi there! My name is Caitlin and I’m 20 years old. I’m from Vancouver and I just transferred to UVic this year from Queen’s University. I’m majoring in biology and want to get my MBA or a dual masters in biology and business after I graduate, but I’m still not entirely sure exactly what I want to do yet career-wise. I love hiking, crafts, hanging out with friends and travelling. I’m super excited to see what this course offers this year!